There are currently thousands of kids in the system, and the goal is to divert first-time, low-level offenders into other programs by referring them to a youth service bureau or juvenile review board.

By Lisa Backus, CTNewsJunkie.com

The Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee agreed last week to advance to the legislature initiatives that would expand the committee and prevent juveniles from being arrested for certain petty crimes in favor of diversionary programs.

The recommendations didn’t include a push to raise the age of arrest from 10 to 12. It also didn’t include a proposal that would unify the role and scope of duties for School Resource Officers.

Under the proposals that were approved, juveniles who were charged for the first or second time with simple trespass, creating a public disturbance, disorderly conduct, and sixth-degree larceny would not be arrested but instead referred to a youth service bureau or juvenile review board in their town or area.

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