SB 5735 would assume kids under 14 incapable of committing crimes

• More than 3,000 12- to 14-year-olds were charged with crimes in Washington state over the last six years

• Bill would presume this age group incapable of committing crime in an effort to keep more juveniles out of detention

• Prosecutors worry this would create too many additional procedures and clog courts

Over the last six years, more than 3,000 children between 12 and 14 years old were charged with crimes in Washington’s juvenile courts.

Senate Bill 5735 aims to reduce that number by raising the age that a child is presumed to be incapable of a crime from 11 to 14.

As the current law stan...