Raise the Age
Improving Outcomes for Youth
Raise the Age, or the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act, placed 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes in North Carolina under juvenile jurisdiction, removing them from the adult criminal justice system. The Raise the Age initiative became law only through a strong, bipartisan coalition of support from all three branches of government, law enforcement and advocacy organizations.
A Brief Timeline of Raise the Age
Raise the Age Signed into Law
Lawmakers raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction for nonviolent crimes to age 18, following years of research, study and education on this topic.
Raise the Age Implemented
Effective Dec. 1, 2019, 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes in North Carolina are no longer automatically charged in the adult criminal justice system.
HB 834 Becomes Law
Effective Dec 1, 2024, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with class A-E felonies now begin their cases in adult court, with the opportunity to have their cases remanded to juvenile court.
