Raise the Age for Delinquency
Same youth. Different door.
The young people we see in child welfare are often the same young people we see in juvenile justice. Sometimes, it simply depends on which system gets to them first.
That’s why Minnesota’s current approach caught my attention. As of August 1, Minnesota raised the minimum age of juvenile delinquency from 10 to 13. Children under 13 who are alleged to have committed a delinquent act are no longer subject to a juvenile delinquency petition. Instead, they fall under the definition of a child in need of protection or services and are served primarily through the child welfare system.
What I find especially interesting is not just the change in age. It’s the shift in how we respond. At that age, a behavior may be telling us much more than simply, “This child broke a rule.”What is happening at home?What has this child experienced?Are there safety concerns?What is happening at school?Are there unmet behavioral health or developmental needs?What support does the family need?And perhaps most importantly: What happened to this young person?
Minnesota’s implementation guidance recognizes that this change cannot be handled by one system alone. It calls for coordination among child welfare, courts, law enforcement, schools, Tribes and community partners.
🎉 👏 Congratulations to Minnesota on implementing this major change to support our youth!#childwelfare #MinnesotaDCYF #juvenilejustice #youthjustice #raisetheage #m3consulting #delinquency
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