Sponsor Statement for HB 5

District Court for entry level offenses by minors

If we are to avert miners from a lifestyle of crime - we need to provide defined limits to their behavior, and this requires consequences for acts that are criminal in nature. To be effective consequences must follow quickly after an offense is committed. This bill shortens the time lag for consequences by exempting the least serious offenses from the juvenile code and taking them directly to district court. The offenses included in this list are ones that the system almost universally ignores at present.

The juvenile justice system is very slow to provide meaningful consequences for offenses committed by minors. In contrast, District court can quickly schedule and order community service, fines - not to exceed $300, restitution, etc., but it cannot order a minor to serve time in jail. Because district court is limited to $300 in fines it is able to dispense with expensive attorneys and ligitative processes.