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February 5, 2008

Fate of 17-year-olds charged as adults to be announced

PROVIDENCE -- A judge will announce whether 17-year-olds charged with felonies over the summer and early fall should have their cases transferred back to the Family Court.

A short-lived law enacted last July treated 17-year-olds accused of crimes as adults.

The move was intended to save money since it's typically less expensive to house someone at the state prison than at the Rhode Island Training School.

The law was repealed in November after lawmakers realized that it wouldn't save money.

Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini was expected to announce today whether 17-year-olds prosecuted during the four-month window should remain in adult court or be treated as juveniles.

The state's public defender has led efforts to return the teens to Family Court. But the attorney general's office says it would create chaos to apply the change retroactively.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry  at 7:02 AM | Permalink

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