SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Kids who commit serious crimes in Tennessee could soon be put away for far longer under new 'blended sentencing' laws, but critics say it's too broad of an approach.
The term 'blended sentencing' can refer to many things, but largely, the current proposal is about giving court systems greater ability to treat juvenile offenders as if they were adults.
"We're just putting too many violent criminals right back out on the street, creating havoc in our communities, and it's costing our community," said Rep. Mark White (R-Germantown). "We've got to stop there. We've got to make Memphis a safe place."
White is the author of a TN House Bill that would require serious juvenile offenders, like those who have committed a felony, to remain under juvenile court supervision long past their 19th birthday.
"It's really a protection not only for our community, but for the juvenile. What it does is, if you're arrested for a violent crime, say at 14, 15, 16, 17, you can be put in juvenile detention. We can keep you to age 25," White said.
Not everyone is on board, however, and many local organizations are sounding the alarm against the proposal.
"The challenge is we’re taking a sledgehammer to a fly, when we know that there might be one instance of a young person meeting these parameters. Now, we’re widening the net completely so we’re sucking more young people in," said Cardell Orrin, Memphis Executive Director of Stand for Children.
Critics argue the proposed law makes no effort to rehabilitate young offenders, and this strategy will only prevent more young people from getting on the right track.
"What we can’t do is give up on our young people. We can't just say we’re going to lock up as many young people as possible to create safety in our community. Because the truth of it is the vast majority of young people in our community, even if they’ve made mistakes, are on the right path," Orrin said.
Despite the pushback, the bill is set to be voted on early next week and could become law very soon in Tennessee.