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

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…