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Debate over juvenile justice overhaul lays out costs, capacity and public‑safety tradeoffs
Summary
Committee staff briefed on HB 23‑89, a package of juvenile justice changes that expands community disposition options, creates midpoint reviews, and adjusts eligibility and capacity rules for juvenile rehabilitation facilities; the hearing drew strong testimony both for reform and against, with county officials warning of unfunded local costs and victim advocates urging continued confinement for some violent offenses.
Committee staff summarized substitute HB 23‑89 as a multi‑part juvenile justice reform that expands eligibility for two suspended disposition alternatives, requires courts to grant those alternatives unless they make a preponderance‑of‑evidence finding otherwise, creates a midpoint review for certain long commitments, and requires DCYF to develop rules about rated bed capacity and monitoring. Staff said the bill reduces certain standard ranges for robbery dispositions and allows transfers to adult correction facilities in narrowly defined circumstances when safety is at risk.
Representative Cortez, an early proponent, told the committee the…
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