Support HB 272 and Raise the Age in Georgia

HB 272 - Raise the Age

EMI Georgia Network has been supporting Raise the Age since the first bill, HB 53, was filed in 2017 by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver. We are now in 2022 and looking to push HB 272, by Rep. Ballinger, across the finish line. Here are several ways that you can help raise awareness and support for HB 272 "Raise the Age" with your legislators and local sheriff, as well as in your network and community.

Support HB 272

Call

CALL the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and ask the executive officers to no longer oppose "Raise the Age." Phone Number: 770-914-1076

What to say:  "Hello, my name is [give your name], and I am a Georgia resident in [name of county] County.  I am calling to encourage the Georgia Sheriffs' Association to support and not oppose HB 272 "Raise the Age."  This legislation is our next logical step to creating better outcomes for Georgia's 17-year-olds and continuing the reforms already universally supported by Georgia’s lawmakers.

Georgia is one of three states left in the nation that has not raised the age. Reports from other states have shown that they did not realize extensive additional costs when they raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to age 18. Let's make sure that Georgia's youth have the same care and consideration as 47 other states by supporting HB 272.

I have emailed, via your website (Contact Us (georgiasheriffs.org), a document that provides additional common sense and data-driven reasons why HB 272 should be passed into law.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the Georgia Sheriffs' Association's support for HB 272."

Write

WRITE and send a letter to your local sheriff and ask him/her to support "Raise the Age."  You can find your local sheriff's name and address at:  Georgia Sheriffs by County

What to write:  "Dear Sheriff [Name], My name is [your name], and I am a [name of county] County resident.  I am writing to encourage you, as a member of the Georgia Sheriff's Association, to support HB 272 "Raise the Age."  This legislation is our next logical step to creating better outcomes for Georgia's 17-year-olds and continuing the reforms already universally supported by Georgia’s lawmakers.

Georgia is one of three states left in the nation that has not raised the age.  Reports from other states, such as Missouri and Connecticut, that have "raised the age" have shown that they did not realize extensive additional costs when they raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to age 18. 

In 2020, 10,700 17-year-old Georgia youth were burdened with an unnecessary criminal record.  Why is Georgia using mass incarceration as the answer for youthful offenses?  Let's make sure that Georgia's youth have the same care and consideration as 47 other states by supporting HB 272.

The attached document provides additional common sense and data-driven reasons why HB 272 should be passed into law.  Please review the contents, and let's continue to make Georgia a place where youth can aspire to be greater than their last mistake.

Thank you for you service to Georgia's children and families.  I look forward to hearing from you."

Post

POST our "Raise the Age" graphics on your media platforms.  Two graphics are listed below for your reference and use.

Georgia one of three graphic
 
10,700 graphic

Share

SHARE our social media hashtags when posting our advocacy messages:

#RaiseTheAgeEMIGA

#SupportHB272

Tag: @emiganetwork 


Contact your State Senator

Take Action with your State Senator with JRP's ACTION ALERT

HB 272 Raise the Age currently sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It will need to be passed out of Judiciary, and then out of Rules, before it will be sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Please contact your State Senator today and ask him/her/them to vote "YES" on HB 272 when it comes up for a vote.


FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR

Other Ways to Advocate

Learn the FACTS from this Barton Child Law and Policy Center FACT SHEET

SHARE JRP's Faith Leader Sign-on Letter