210 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106, Map & Directions
Norwalk’s own State Representative, Kadeem Roberts, is taking bold steps to protect and uplift Connecticut’s youth. Inspired in part by powerful conversations during his recent Black History Month programming in partnership with the Connecticut Justice Alliance, Rep. Roberts has proposed new legislation: AN ACT RAISING THE AGE OF ARREST OF A CHILD AND THE USE OF HANDCUFFS ON YOUNG CHILDREN.
Public Hearing Details:
📅 Wednesday, March 26, 2025
🕙 10:00 AM
📍 Room 2C, Legislative Office Building (LOB), Hartford
💻 Also available via Zoom and YouTube Live
This bill proposes raising the minimum age at which a child can be arrested under certain circumstances from the current age of 10 to 12 in 2026 and then to 14 in 2028. It also seeks to restrict the use of handcuffs on children under the age of 14, a move supported by child development experts and youth justice advocates.
Rep. Roberts notes that, before 2021, children in Connecticut could be arrested and placed in handcuffs as young as 7. Connecticut's current minimum age of 10 still places it behind international recommendations and several U.S. states that have made meaningful reforms.
How Connecticut Compares
United Nations guidelines recommend 14 years as the minimum age of criminal responsibility, and many European countries—such as Germany, Italy, and Portugal—have already adopted this standard.
In the U.S., the picture is more mixed:
North Carolina still has one of the lowest minimum ages at 6.
New York and several others set it at 7.
California, Massachusetts, and Utah have more recently reformed laws, setting 12 as the minimum age.
28 states still do not have a minimum arrest age on the books.
Connecticut has an opportunity to be a national leader in youth justice reform, putting the needs of children and families first and reducing early trauma caused by contact with the justice system.
Your Voice Matters
Rep. Roberts urges parents, educators, youth advocates, and anyone who cares about this issue to participate in the upcoming public hearing by attending in person, tuning in virtually, and/or submitting written testimony. Those who wish to testify in person at the State Capitol should reach out directly so that accommodations can be made, including notifying building security and providing lunch.
📧 To coordinate your attendance or ask questions, contact:
Devin Avshalom-Smith, Legislative Aide (@Avshalom-Smith, Devin)
Mikaela Shea, Outreach Coordinator (@Shea, Mikaela)
Rep. Roberts is also organizing a press conference at the Capitol on the day of the hearing. He welcomes the community to stand with him as he broadcasts this bill to the entire state.
Carver’s Perspective
At Carver, we serve thousands of youth across Norwalk and surrounding communities. We know childhood is a time for learning, support, second chances, and safety. We applaud Representative Kadeem Roberts for spotlighting this critical issue and inviting all voices into the conversation.