AN ACT RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE FOR ARREST.

HB 6385 raises the minimum age for juvenile court jurisdiction in Connecticut, moving it from 10 to 12 years old effective July 1, 2026, and then to 14 years old effective July 1, 2028. This means children under 12 will no longer be subject to arrest or juvenile court processing for most offenses starting in 2026, and those under 14 starting in 2028. The bill directly affects children aged 10-13 (and younger) who might otherwise face arrest for minor offenses. It changes the legal threshold for when the juvenile justice system can intervene, without altering criminal penalties for adults.