The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for adult offenders are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend various codes as they relate to the age of criminal responsibility and to certain substantive and procedural matters related to that age. The sections of the bill changing the age of criminal responsibility would take effect on January 1, 2017 and apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act.

Under the provisions of the bill, individuals who are17 at offense would be considered juveniles and would be under the jurisdiction of juvenile courts and the juvenile justice system instead of the adult criminal justice system. In fiscal year 2014, there were 514 new admissions to adult correctional institutions for persons who were 17 at offense and who, under the provisions of the bill, would no longer be eligible for adult correctional institutions.  It is assumed a portion of new admissions would be eligible for release to parole supervision and based on the sentencing an release patterns those releases would occur after the first five years following passage. In fiscal year 2014, 1,897 persons were placed on adult felony community supervision that were 17 at offense and would no longer be eligible for adult felony community supervision.  Assuming sentencing patterns and policies not addressed in the bill remain constant, the probable impact on adult correctional populations of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: