Republican senators introduced legislation Thursday to make it easier to bring federal criminal charges against certain violent juvenile offenders who are over the age of 16.
Spearheaded by Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, the Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act amends 18 U.S. Code § 5032, which governs the federal juvenile delinquency proceedings and the transfer of juveniles for criminal prosecution.
The legislation would make clear that any person at least 16 years old and accused of committing certain violent crimes like homicide, assault, carjacking, robbery or aggravated sexual abuse may be prosecuted without having to go through the current “transfer” process.
Such transfers currently go through U.S. attorneys and the process is very complicated.
As a result, Republicans say, few juveniles between the ages of 16 and 18 are currently prosecuted in the federal criminal system.
Other Republicans co-sponsoring the legislation include Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Bill Haggerty of Tennessee, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Tim Sheehy of Montana.
“Violent criminals shouldn’t be let off the hook just because they are under the age of 18,” Ms. Blackburn said.
“We must hold violent juvenile offenders accountable for their actions while also working to prevent youth crime in the first place. The Violent Juvenile Offender Accountability Act would build upon my work to combat juvenile crime by empowering prosecutors to bring federal criminal charges against offenders aged 16 and older.”
Mr. Cornyn said that age “should not absolve someone of a heinous crime like murder, armed robbery, or assault on a federal officer.”
The bill would change only the rules for federal offenses.
A 2025 Justice Department report found that juveniles accounted for just 1.2% of all defendants charged in federal district court in fiscal 2023.
House GOP lawmakers, along with eight Democrats, in September approved legislation to allow 14-year-olds to be tried as adults for serious crimes and to treat youthful offenders more harshly in the D.C. justice system.
Democrats have pushed back on efforts by Republicans to lower the age of criminal defendants charged in court, arguing that it contributes to the “school-to-prison pipeline” and leads to more minorities being incarcerated.
But backlash is building over violent youthful offenders who have not faced harsh consequences for violent federal crimes.
In Oklahoma, a teenager accused of multiple violent sex assaults will avoid prison time after the court reclassified him from being tried as an adult to a “youthful offender.”
Now 18, Jesse Butler recently entered a no-contest plea to 11 felony charges, including attempted first-degree rape, strangulation and violating a protective order.
However, authorities said the crimes occurred prior to his 18th birthday, so the court altered his legal status under Oklahoma’s youthful offender laws.
Several cities, including Washington, D.C., contend with different forms of cashless bail or restrictions on how harsh consequences should be for juveniles when they commit violent crimes.
In August, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro advocated for charging more juveniles as adults.
“I can’t arrest them. I can’t prosecute them. They go to family court and they get to do yoga, and arts and crafts. Enough. It changes today,” she said.
