RISE for Youth Celebrates Passage of SB18 Establishing Minimum Age for Charging Children in Virginia
Richmond, VA — RISE for Youth celebrates the passage of SB18 during the 2026 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, marking a major milestone in the effort to ensure elementary-aged children are not treated as criminals in the Commonwealth.
For five years, RISE for Youth has worked alongside youth, families, advocacy partners, and legislative champions to establish a minimum age in Virginia before a child can be charged with a crime. Over that time, legislation led by Delegate Vivian Watts, the previous Senator John Edwards, Senator Mamie Locke, and Delegate Patrick Hope steadily built bipartisan support in the General Assembly. Although similar bills passed both chambers in the previous two years, they were vetoed by the former governor.