Letters: Stop sending 17-year-olds to adult prisons

I was encouraged to read that the Legislature is considering legislation to stop treating 17-year-olds as adult offenders (“Fewer 17-year-old offenders are being treated as adults,” May 15).

While the article focused on those committing crimes at age 17, my major concern is for those offenders who are placed in the Department of Juvenile Justice prior to age 17 and then shipped out to the Department of Corrections when they turn 17. This was a common occurrence when I worked with youthful offenders at the agency. Can you imagine the trauma for a 17-year-old to receive that type of birthday gift from the state of South Carolina?

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Letters: Stop sending 17-year-olds to adult prisons."