A bill known as “Jonathan’s Law” passed by the Missouri legislature last week will ensure judges at least consider giving juveniles a juvenile sentence, even if they were convicted as adults. It’s named after Jonathan McClard, a 17-year who committed suicide in an adult prison.
Jonathan McClard’s mother, Tracy McClard, led the fight to reform how youths certified as adults can be sentenced.
“It fixes the problem of kids that are certified as an adult. It will save some of the kids that would have gone on into the Department of Corrections,” McClard said. “This bill will save them from going into the Department of Correction and will send them into the dual jurisdiction program.”
The dual jurisdiction program keeps juveniles certified as adults through their 21st birthday and provides education, drug rehabilitation and other services and is considered a model for other states. McClard said it became her passion to hold youth accountable for their serious crimes, but not by sending them to adult prisons.
“I wanted an outcome of kids going back into society and living as productive citizens and doing as they should and having normal lives instead of losing their lives in the adult facilities where they don’t belong,” McClard said.
The bill unanimously passed the Senate and House. The Senate sponsor is Cape Girardeau Republican Wayne Wallingford.
Governor Jay Nixon indicated he plans to sign the law.
