Minnesota’s New Juvenile Justice Shift

Starting August 1st, Minnesota will stop charging kids aged 10 to 12 with crimes—sending them instead to social services. While advocates like Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty see it as a step toward helping troubled youth, county officials and social service groups are raising alarms. They worry about public safety, lack of secure facilities, and whether local staff can handle serious offenses without legal exceptions. Even states like Maryland and New Hampshire, which set the minimum age at 13, include carve-outs for violent crimes—something Minnesota’s law doesn’t yet have. The Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee is calling for more research before full rollout, but Moriarty insists her county is ready to provide the support these kids need to avoid future harm. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9d0649a88692f63c