Youth Justice Legislative Roundup - March 2026

Many state legislative sessions are well underway this year, addressing a range of critical issues that could redefine youth justice for years to come. Because most young people affected by these policies have already experienced significant trauma, we are tracking these developments through a healing-centered, trauma-responsive lens, with the intention of advancing policies that support wellbeing and recovery rather than perpetuate further harm. We invite you to share policies that are being considered in your state so that we can track, respond, and advocate together for what young people need most.

Age of Jurisdiction

• Virginia - SB 18 would establish a minimum age of 11 years old to be found delinquent. Virginia currently has no minimum age for prosecuting children. The bill has passed both chambers and the House version is pending concurrence by the Senate.

• Maryland - On March 6th, the Maryland Senate passed a bill (SB323) limiting the use of automatic transfers of minors to adult court. Maryland currently sends more youth automatically to adult court, per capita, than any state other than Alabama. While the bill was amended to limit the extent of this reform, it is a significant first step forward given that a version of this legislation has been introduced for approximately 14 years and never made it out of committee. Additionally, the bill would eventually end the practice of locking up youth in adult jails. Kudos to the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition (MYJC) and their many partners, including many young people, who have worked so hard on this bill!

• New York - Until 2017, New York was one of two states treating all 16 and 17-year-olds as if they were adults. Since the Raise the Age law fully went into effect in 2019, youth arrests and youth crime is down across the state. Nonetheless, prosecutors, police unions, and conservative tabloids are clamoring to roll it back. 

Legal Representation & Due Process

• Nebraska - Voices for Children in Nebraska is advancing LB995, which would ensure that all youth in Nebraska have access to legal representation in juvenile court.

  
  

• Illinois - The Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative is championing HB 4640/SB 2973, which would require lawyers for children throughout custodial interrogation in cases that could lead to an adult prosecution or sentence. 

Restorative Justice & Community-Based Models

• Illinois - Also championed by the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative is HB 4639/SB 2974, which would expand the use of restorative justice by encouraging juvenile justice courts to consider restorative justice alternatives at all stages of the case and allowing the court, and the State’s Attorney, to establish a community mediation program.

  
  

• New York - Rather than dismantling Raise the Age, the New York Civil Liberties Union is calling on legislators to pass the Youth Justice Innovation Fund (S643) and unlock the hundreds of millions of unspent Raise the Age dollars and earmark it to directly fund community-based organizations to provide services to help young people, such as mentoring, school support, counseling, and internships.

Restraint, Seclusion & Conditions of Confinement

• Nebraska - Voices for Children in Nebraska is working on LB996, which would end the routine shackling of youth, allowing restraints only in rare, documented cases where they are truly necessary for safety.

Detention & Incarceration

• Kansas - The Kansas legislature passed HB2329, a step backwards that ignores all evidence to the contrary: the bill expands incarceration of youth for longer periods of time and funds previously unsuccessful options, such as a congregate care treatment proposal.

  
  

If you’d like us to include legislation in your state in our next Roundup, please contact Melissa Goemann at mgoemann@nextgejustice.org.