Consensus Question #9 is related to emerging adults. The current League of Women Voters of Illinois position is  stated below, followed by the updated consensus study question on this topic.

Consensus Question 9. Emerging Adults

Existing position: NONE

Consensus Question:

Should emerging adults (ages 18-25) in the criminal justice system be treated in a developmentally appropriate manner, recognizing that those in this age group are not fully mature and culpable for their actions?

PRO: Research has shown that most crimes are committed by this age group, largely owing to the incomplete development of the brain, which causes them to make rash decisions and youthful mistakes.

CON: Leave age out—further research might expand or contract the ages involved. Young people are considered adults; e.g., in voting and serving in the military; why should they be treated differently here?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

October 22, at 1 p.m., League of Women Voters of Evanston, Patrick Keenan-Devlin, Executive Director of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy
https://youtu.be/A4aH8lwYqvg

Emerging Adult Justice in Illinois: Towards an Age-Appropriate Approach

https://justicelab.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/EAJ%20in%20I...

The Legislative Primer Series for Front-End Justice: Young Adults in the Justice System

https://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/Documents/cj/front_end_young-adults_v04_w...

Rethinking Justice for Emerging Adults: Spotlight on the Great Lakes Region

https://jlc.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2020-09/JLC-Emerging-Adu...

If you would like more information on this question, please contact Mary Tworek-Tupper, LWV of Wheaton at tupper41 [at] comcast.net.