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Sena⁠t⁠e Comm⁠i⁠⁠t⁠⁠t⁠ee Approves Res⁠t⁠r⁠i⁠c⁠t⁠⁠i⁠ons On When K⁠i⁠ds Can Be Charged As Adul⁠t⁠s

By: Guest Author / 2016

Press

2016

wFSU
Senate Committee Approves Restrictions On When Kids Can Be Charged As Adults
By Lynn Hatter
2/12/2026

The Florida Senate’s Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee has cleared a number of bills related to juvenile justice reform. One proposal changes how and when juveniles can be charged as adults.

Senate bill 314 put caps on the number of so-called “direct file” cases prosecutors can send to adult court. Judges could still determine other cases where a child is tried as an adult. Prosecutors argue the move takes away a major crime deterrent, but supporters of change like First Judicial Circuit Judge Terry Ketchel says the move could lead to a drop in recidivism:

“Non-violent cases, the data shows, is that there is greater recidivism and more violent cases when these non-violent cases are dealt with in adult courts. And therefore, we’d urge that the discretion lies in the juvenile courts.”

Ketchel serves on a Florida Supreme Court Steering Committee, and believes decisions on whether to charge kids as adults should be handled in juvenile and family courts.

Juvenile Justice reform is a priority of the committee Chairman, Joe Negron. He’ll be the next Senate President and has argued against what he calls criminalizing childhood.

Article:http://news.wfsu.org/post/senate-committee-approves-restrictions-when-kids-can-be-charged-adults