Bill
SB 888
84(R) - 2015
Senate Criminal Justice
Senate Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Vote Recommendation
Yes
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Positive
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Positive
Author(s)
John Whitmire
Bill Caption
Relating to the appeal of waiver of jurisdiction and transfer to criminal court in juvenile cases.
Fiscal Notes
No fiscal implication to the State or local government anticipated.
Bill Analysis
SB 888 would expedite an appeal of and order to have a child transferred from a juvenile court to a criminal district court to be tried and sentenced as an adult. This bill would also would protect the right to appeal when the juvenile court waives their jurisdictional authority.
Vote Recommendation Notes
As Americans and according to our sixth amendment rights, we shall all “enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” SB 888 is a bill that is determined to cut through unnecessary government regulations that may delay a trial. Currently, juveniles do not have the ability to appeal a decision to waive the juvenile court’s jurisdictional authority which would result in the child defendant's case being adjudicated a criminal court. Generally, children should not be tried as adults in adult criminal courts and housed with adult inmates. This is why we have juvenile courts in the first place. There is and should remain a high bar to transfer a juvenile case to a criminal court. Whether a case meets that bar should be tested though a healthy appeals process. We support this bill for preserving limited government and individual liberty.
Organizations Supporting
Texas Public Policy Foundation