Alabama Possibly Making Changes Juvenile Justice System

MONTGOMERY, Al. (WCBI)- Lawmakers in Alabama will possibly consider an overhaul of the state’s juvenile justice system.

Advocates say Alabama is locking up too many kids in detention centers for low level offenses.

The legislation that’s been introduced to the House and Senate, puts an emphasis on intervention and wants to limit which children get sent to lock up or move straight to adult court.

Representative Jim Hill is sponsoring the bill.

Nearly two-thirds of referrals to the Department of Youth Services in 2016 were children who didn’t commit a felony. That’s according to the Alabama Juvenile Justice Task Force.

The legislation is the result of Task Force recommendations.