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H.R. 7644House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Juvenile Incarceration Reduction Act of 2020

Sponsored by John LewisRep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Introduced July 16, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 1:46 PM UTC

The Juvenile Incarceration Reduction Act of 2020 would change federal law to stop the use of risk‑and‑needs assessment tools when making decisions about juveniles in the criminal justice system. It adds a new section to Title 18 that bars these tools from influencing whether a juvenile is tried as an adult, how likely they are to reoffend, whether they can be taken into custody before a delinquency finding, or whether they qualify for recidivism‑reduction programs. The rule also makes any assessment results inadmissible as evidence in certain felony‑type juvenile cases.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits using risk and needs assessments to decide if a juvenile should be prosecuted as an adult or if it serves the interest of justice.
  • Bars these tools from being the sole basis for judging a juvenile’s likelihood of reoffending, especially for non‑violent offenses or felony‑level acts.
  • Prevents the assessments from being used to place a juvenile in custody before a formal adjudication of delinquency.
  • Stops the assessments from automatically qualifying a juvenile for recidivism‑reduction programs without other evidence.
  • Makes any assessment evidence inadmissible in court when it is used to show a juvenile committed the charged act in felony‑type cases.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 16, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 16, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E636)

July 16, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 16, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 16, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7644

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 16, 2020

Mr. Lewis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the use of risk and needs assessment tools in juvenile incarceration decisions, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Juvenile Incarceration Reduction Act of 2020.

2.

Delinquency proceedings in district courts

(a)

In general

Subchapter D of chapter 229 of part II of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3636.

Limited application to juveniles

(a)

In general

In the case of juveniles, the risk and needs assessment system developed under this subchapter may not be used—

(1)

to determine whether a juvenile may be proceeded against as an adult or whether it is in the interest of justice to proceed against a juvenile as an adult under section 5032;

(2)

to determine the recidivism risk of a juvenile charged with any nonviolent offense, or as the sole factor to determine the recidivism risk of a juvenile who has committed an act of juvenile delinquency which if committed by an adult would be a felony offense;

(3)

to determine whether a juvenile is to be taken into custody for an alleged act of juvenile delinquency prior to being adjudicated delinquent pursuant to chapter 403; or

(4)

to establish, without additional evidence, a juvenile’s eligibility for a recidivism reduction program or likelihood of benefitting from a recidivism reduction program.

(b)

Limitation on use of risk and needs assessment system evidence

In the case that a risk and needs assessment system is used to determine the recidivism risk of a juvenile who has committed an act of juvenile delinquency which if committed by an adult would be considered a felony offense, evidence established by the system is inadmissible as evidence to establish that a juvenile committed the act of juvenile delinquency for which the juvenile is being charged.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for subchapter D of chapter 229 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3636. Limited application to juveniles.

.