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Montana bill would update Youth Court Act, expand offenses that can transfer juveniles to adult court; debate centers on rehabilitation vs. public safety
Summary
Representative Bill Mercer told the Senate Judiciary Committee that House Bill 332 is intended to modernize Montana's Youth Court Act, adding and removing specific offenses from the list that may be transferred to adult court and clarifying detention and transfer procedures.
Representative Bill Mercer opened the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on House Bill 332 as an effort to "update the Youth Court Act" and to bring statutory transfer provisions into line with crimes the Legislature has created since the statute's language was last revised.
Mercer said HB 332 would add certain crimes to the list of offenses that may be transferred from youth court to district court, change which offenses are transferable for 16- and 17-year-olds, and clarify procedures for hearings and detention. "This is merely trying to update the Youth Court Act to bring it into conformity with things that we have done legislatively," Mercer said.
Supporters included representatives of county attorneys and local business groups. Nanette Gilbertson of the Montana County Attorneys Association said elected county attorneys need the discretion to pursue adult prosecution in appropriate cases. Dan Brooks of the…
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