TPPF’s Derek Cohen to testify before the House Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Center for Effective Justice Senior Policy Analyst Derek Cohen will testify before the Texas House Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee TODAY, Wednesday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. CDT or upon adjournment in room E2.016 of the Texas State Capitol. Mr. Cohen will testify on House Bills 53, 330, and 1205, which relate to the age of criminal responsibility. 

“Three of the four bills being heard in committee today share one common aim: raising the age of jurisdiction of the juvenile court to cover 17 year-olds,” said Cohen. “The evidence is clear: children handled in the juvenile courts versus the adult criminal courts are less likely to reoffend. This, in turn, leads to increased public safety and long-term savings. Further, the most dangerous juvenile offenders would still be able to be handled in the adult court and receive an adult sentence. The policy put forth in this legislation stands to benefit all Texans.”
 

More information about the hearing can be found at: http://txpo.li/1agnZVm
 
To schedule an interview with Mr. Cohen, please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.