Juvenile Justice Update | December 2025

Juvenile Justice Update | December 2025

Hawaii Prohibits Life Imprisonment Without the Possibility of Parole for People Under 21

This year, Hawaii became the second state, and the first to pass it through the legislature, to prohibit life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for people who were under the age of 21 at the time of the offense. The law does not dictate when a person under 21 sentenced should be eligible for parole, only that they cannot be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The bill's preamble stated, "The legislature finds that through a court decision, Massachusetts became the first state to ban life without parole sentences for individuals 18 through 20 years old, considering those in this age group to be 'emerging adults'. The court extended the bright line age cut-off from 18 to 20, in part, due to neuroscience research that supports that brain maturation continues through an individual's mid-twenties." The Aloha state also passed two other bills related to youth justice. Senate Bill 691establishes the minimum age of juvenile court jurisdiction at age 12. Senator Mike Gabbard said, "We must do better for our keiki, no child should be treated like a criminal before they even reach their teenage years." Senate Bill 544 ends the use of mandatory minimum sentences for young people in the juvenile justice system and requires judges to consider a child's full history-including trauma, abuse, and other Adverse Childhood Experiences at sentencing.

To read these bills in their entirety, please visit NCSL's Juvenile Justice Legislation Database

Juvenile Court Fees in Pennsylvania: New Study Reveals Costs and Collection Gaps

New research from the Juvenile Law Center provides insights into Pennsylvania's juvenile court system assessment and collection of fines and fees. It found: Pennsylvania law gives juvenile courts discretion in assessing fees and fines but also contains mandatory fee provisions in some cases. Discretionary fees in some counties can include $140 initial intake fee for probation in Montgomery County or a $57 clerk fee in Bedford County. Mandatory fees include a $25 crime victim compensation fee and a $42.25 judicial computer system filing fee. In 2023, Pennsylvania courts assessed young people an average of $311 in fees and fines per case. The average amount paid per case was $166. By August 2024, Pennsylvania counties had collected an average of 58% of fees assessed in 2023. No courts, probation offices or counties in Pennsylvania collect data associated with collection costs of fees.

Special Report: Legislative Trends and Priorities for 2026

Forecast '26 is a special report from State Legislatures News covering the topics NCSL's policy experts anticipate will occupy state lawmakers' time in 2026 legislative sessions. Here's what lies ahead for state lawmakers in the juvenile and criminal justice space in 2026: 

• State legislatures are navigating budget realities and debating ways to manage corrections costs.
• Lawmakers aim to keep communities safe while considering the rehabilitative priorities of the juvenile justice system.
• A focus on pretrial release at the federal and state levels.

Georgia Representative Mandi Ballinger

Georgia Rep. Mandi Ballinger, a Canton Republican known for her work on juvenile justice and protecting children, died on Oct. 1 after a long bout with cancer. She was 50. Ballinger was chosen for NCSL's Emerging Leaders Program and was named to the inaugural class of NCSL's Child Welfare Fellows Program. As the chair of the Judiciary Juvenile Committee she sponsored raising the age legislation in Georgia throughout the years.

Juvenile Justice Publications and Resources

See the latest research and publications on juvenile justice policy.

• Conditions of Youth Confinement Facility Standards and Resources. Juvenile Justice Advocates. September 2025.
• Promoting Public Safety and Positive Youth Development: Judicial Decision-Making in Judicial Transfer, Blended Sentencing and Reconsideration Hearings. National Center for Juvenile and Family Court Judges. September 2025.
• Reducing Juvenile Involvement in Violent Crimes: Perspectives From DC Youth, Families, And Community Members. DC Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. September 2025.
• Strategies and Insights to End Girls' Incarceration: Lessons from the Field. Vera Institute of Justice. October 2025.
• Building Skills Outdoors: How Nature-Based Programs Strengthen Youth Development. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. September 2025.