Raising the age will improve public safety, save taxpayer dollars, treat families fairly, and get better outcomes for vulnerable young people.
Raising the age means including 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system. Right now, Missouri is one of only five states that automatically prosecute all 17-year-olds as adults — even for the most minor offenses.
UPDATE: SB793 has been signed into law by the governor, making Missouri the 46th state to Raise the Age! Thank you to Sen. Wallingford, Rep. Schroer, and all the advocates in our coalition who made this possible.







Read: Economic Costs and Benefits of Raise the Age Legislation in Missouri
Read: Raising the Age: Shifting to a Safer and More Effective Juvenile Justice System
How did we do it?
HB1255 and SB793 were filed for the 2018 legislative session. These bills supported bringing 17-year-olds into the juvenile justice system, holding kids accountable in juvenile court, while still allowing 17-year-olds accused of the most serious offenses to be prosecuted as adults. On June 1, 2018, SB793 was signed into law!