Group criticizes Virginia's handling of youth offenders

Richmond (WBQB/WFVA/AP)  -- A new report says judicial reforms in Virginia that made it easier to transfer juvenile offenders to the adult system went too far. These reforms were enacted in 1996 in response to a projected increase in juvenile crime. In the report, JustChildren says the changes usurped the authority of juvenile court judges. The report says sentencing was left to circuit court judges who lack the training and experience to deal with juvenile cases. JustChildren is an arm of the Charlottesville-based Legal Aid  Jusice Center. Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission director Richard Kern says only juveniles charged with the most serious crimes, such as homicide, must be transferred to higher courts.