[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6277844,"mediaKeyId","2646123-bbd17b1454ed4a975fa46fc7622792a1","parentId",2646123,"title","Debate over moving juveniles to adult court resurfaces as senators weigh transfer procedures in LB407","audioSeconds",995,"startMs",3574000,"endMs",4569000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2646123-bbd17b1454ed4a975fa46fc7622792a1&start=3574&end=4569","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2646123-bbd17b1454ed4a975fa46fc7622792a1/thumbnail_3574000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277844/Nebraska/Debate-over-moving-juveniles-to-adult-court-resurfaces-as-senators-weigh-transfer-procedures-in-LB407","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277844-7c1ead8094af264192a036f087c755dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140079&Signature=HWFUuKgcpz5Dxi4jdqPKj7msxZWmRfdjepLvl0zqMHSlTQqYFfn3D9cG7~5RSLATV8EkEM-L4fZxxqLrMjY-v8awKYz0RC9dUECgiPlj4KmRZIWo8uQDjXtjijKbEEPhHyc59leXfDhOg~OL09wo2ODl9Y~Ro~BKcbOywXV88sYMyOfk8z0-SQbwRue40~vYZ8bMCZpb-5plDJYIgb4Wr5XQEf3qlCdlso1TgtogJ0xYuZkA0-SsCR52TjPw38Bvn487jeZY9j8BhjXJ4B~hDLbkIjOWjg8ypONFG~GpqvLOCkDkWhefvh9JoC1KuA1cI03AHNyAo5QLndGdTP0UMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nebraska Legislature","date","2025-03-14T00:00:00Z","article","Lincoln — Sen. John Kavanaugh (D–District 9) introduced LB407 as an alternative approach to proposals that would allow younger children to be prosecuted initially in adult court.

The bill would place original jurisdiction in juvenile court for children ages 13 through 16 charged with serious felonies (class 2A or higher), and allow proceedings to transfer to adult district court if the juvenile court finds the youth \"not amenable to rehabilitation\" under statutory standards.

Kavanaugh said the measure is meant to preserve the rehabilitative focus of juvenile court while providing a carefully calibrated backstop: \"Sometimes it may be necessary to charge children as adults, but only after we've demonstrated that rehabilitation has not worked,\" he said. \"Maybe that means this is onto something.\"

Opposition testimony came from the Omaha NAACP, the Sarpy County Public Defender's Office and the Nebraska County Attorneys Association. Meghan Bucher (County Attorneys Association) argued LB407 raises jurisdictional and constitutional problems, including potential double jeopardy if an adjudicated juvenile case were later refiled in district court. She said the bill's post‑dispositional refiling language (a new filing \"after disposition\") could mean an adjudicated juvenile would face a second proceeding for the same conduct.

Sarpy County public defender Chelsea Crels said the bill's transfer wording would create a second trial years after an adjudication in juvenile court — when memories fade and witnesses are harder to locate — and that would be unfair to youth. Several defenders urged preserving the existing juvenile transfer mechanisms (initial filing choices and transfer hearings) over the post‑dispositional refiling scheme proposed.

The County Attorneys Association and other prosecutors told the committee they recognize rising serious juvenile crime and asked for tools to address repeat high‑risk offenders. Don Kleine, Douglas County Attorney, provided county-level numbers showing a rise in juvenile felony filings and said prosecutors would still often file in juvenile court but need workable statutory procedures when rehabilitation fails. Sheriff Aaron Hansen of Douglas County said his office has had to monitor some younger juveniles who could pose immediate risks and supported creating options for detention and careful judicial review.

Supporters and opponents agreed on several technical points: juvenile records sealing rules, whether juvenile adjudications can later trigger adult jury trials, and the need for clear procedures for preliminary hearings and custody transfer if cases move to district court. Opponents urged the committee to narrow any statutory changes to avoid constitutional challenges and to preserve juvenile court's rehabilitative mission.

Kavanaugh told the committee this is his third attempt at related juvenile court reforms, noting prior bills — including proposals to extend juvenile jurisdiction and to require original filing in juvenile court — advanced the same goals. He said LB407 attempts a middle path and welcomed further technical work.

Ending: Testimony drew a wide range of juvenile justice stakeholders and highlighted three recurring themes: (1) desire to keep low‑level and early cases in juvenile court, (2) prosecutor concerns about repeat high‑risk juveniles and public safety, and (3) significant technical and constitutional drafting issues (jurisdictional mechanics and double‑jeopardy risk) that defenders insist must be resolved before moving the bill forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judiciary Committee - Room 1525 3/14/2025, 2:30:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Lincoln — Sen. John Kavanaugh (D–District 9) introduced LB407 as an alternative approach to proposals that would allow younger children to be prosecuted initially in adult court.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NE, Nebraska","taxId",77675,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277849,"Nebraska hearing spotlights bill to reduce adult-style penalties for juveniles charged as adults",167,189000,356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2646123-bbd17b1454ed4a975fa46fc7622792a1&start=189&end=356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2646123-bbd17b1454ed4a975fa46fc7622792a1/thumbnail_189000.jpg","/articles/6277849/Nebraska/Nebraska-hearing-spotlights-bill-to-reduce-adult-style-penalties-for-juveniles-charged-as-adults","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277849-41d5ca0e373f9218291fe62513485c8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140079&Signature=Ptm2nLPR343p6a4FvRoTf99S4YEPMlDIxRfJpY4JPD6Vvpjt3XJGrX38J0V-x0xAkV6-DFpTlCdipksPl2tyMsPjm79qPEvJlrRnQv0q~oLoH6860UiYLXtJvCynHFCdfJY9f3jLFPnKRbgTWJ4E6g9Cnr0ZinWNh6AOKzZ7nX9Yd3JGZUh7csBAJsv4TGzV1DZFLCPsWxt3TkzHZLkwr2HPC9IDowNaI4zJegg8RHqZPjXcEbsIzQcl-m-E2fCF6BIqtDvYCv8dMfmVvFLaIXyyKTvKHuwPxmFqkrObclxz0a~r0hWIKbDKRWNkZ1SOOJa1fSaxf7vmindyWDHTqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln — Sen. Ashley Spivey (D–District 13) told the Judiciary Committee on March 12 that LB584 would moderate criminal penalties for children charged as adults, arguing the change would stop juveniles from receiving de facto life sentences and align Nebraska law with constitutional and scientific precedent.

Spivey said the bill narrows sentencing ranges for serious felonies when the defendant was under 18 at the time of the offense, and she read an email from an incarcerated person who said the proposed limits could give juveniles a chance at rehabilitation. \"We don't need to throw them away,\" Spivey said.

Supporters said the bill responds to Miller v. Alabama (2012), in which the U.S. Supreme Court held mandatory life without parole for juveniles unconstitutional, and to later state and national reforms that recognize adolescents' distinct development. Jennifer Holden, chief deputy of the juvenile division in the Lancaster County Public Defender's Office, told the committee the proposal \"synthesizes principles\" from the courts and gives judges ranges suited to minors. Juliet Summers, executive director of Voices for Children in Nebraska, and Jason Witmer of ACLU Nebraska backed the bill, citing developmental neuroscience and national trends that have reduced or eliminated juvenile life-without-parole in many states.

Proponents pointed to data they said show low recidivism among people resentenced after juvenile life terms and to Nebraska figures supporters cited for people serving virtual life sentences: \"the latest number we were able to find is 59,\" Summers said during questioning.

Opponents included Meghan Bucher of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association, who said existing statutory sentencing ranges reflect the severity of offenses and noted juvenile court already offers transfer and placement mechanisms. Bucher warned the bill would create inconsistency in sentencing simply because of a defendant's age and said victims and community safety could be harmed if ranges were reduced. County attorneys also pointed to statutory transfer and preliminary hearing mechanics that they said still need to be considered if prosecution practices change.

Committee members questioned implementation details: whether the bill affects consecutive sentences or mandatory minimums (Holden said it preserves consecutive sentencing discretion and converts statutory mandatory minimum language in some lower felony classes to ordinary minimums that allow good time). Holden and others emphasized the change targets \"de facto life\" outcomes created when decades stack across multiple counts.

Context and outlook: The committee heard more than a dozen in-person proponents and several opponents. The committee clerk later reported 24 proponent written comments and five opponent written comments on LB584. Senators asked whether the bill would leave judges adequate tools for very serious cases; proponents replied the measure preserves broad sentencing ranges while explicitly curbing sentences that functionally amount to life imprisonment for conduct committed as minors.

Ending: Spivey said the bill is focused on sentencing proportionality and urged the committee to advance it so judges and communities would have clearer statutory guidance for cases involving young defendants.","Sen. Ashley Spivey urged the Judiciary Committee to advance LB584, a bill that would lower sentencing ranges for youths charged as adults so fewer receive effectively life-long terms; supporters cited brain science and low recidivism among resentenced juvenile lifers while county attorneys warned of inconsistent sentencing and victims' interests.","actionData","errors"]

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Debate over moving juveniles to adult court resurfaces as senators weigh transfer procedures in LB407

Nebraska hearing spotlights bill to reduce adult-style penalties for juveniles charged as adults