More young people could be tried as adults in North Carolina under bill heading to governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More young people accused of serious crimes in North Carolina would have their cases tried automatically in adult court, under legislation that received final General Assembly approval on Wednesday. The changes would rework some bipartisan juvenile justice reforms that took effect over four years ago addressing 16- and 17-year-old offenders.

The House voted 71-33 to accept changes made last month by the Republican-controlled Senate — with the support of a lobbying group representing elected local prosecutors — to what is known as the “Raise the Age” law.

In late 2019, the bipartisan “Raise the Age” effort ended a mandate that children ages 16 and 17 be tried in the adult criminal justice system. By trying them in juvenile court, the law aimed to help more young people avoid the stigma of having lifetime criminal records and provide services that reduce chances for recidivism.

Still, the law in its current form says that cases of 16- and 17-year-olds accused of the most serious felonies must be transferred to adult court after a notice of an indictment is handed up, or when a hearing determines there is probable cause a crime was committed. There are exceptions.

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