Closing a loop-hole that has allowed juvenile child abusers, specifically ages 14 to 16, to age out of their prosecutions.

That's the intention of Bill 351, co-sponsored by Senators Frank Blas and Joanne Brown. 

The measure was discussed on the session floor Tuesday. 

Blas said the bill would provide the court with the ability and discretion to prosecute these individuals that committed such crimes at minor ages.

“This is not a bill that would basically provide carte-blanche in being able to go after 14 to 16 year-olds. This is a bill that would basically say that if you committed a crime when you were 14 years of age, just because you’re an adult and you get caught as an adult, you’re not scott-free of this, but just for homicides and criminal sexual assaults,” said Blas. 

Sen. Brown spoke to closing a gap in our justice system.

“But we need to address this because at the end of the day, there has to be justice. If there is no consequence, then somebody is always going to look to take advantage of that loop-hole,” said Brown. 

Building a system that people can trust when faced with these difficult situations is paramount for Speaker Therese Terlaje.

“The more we prosecute these successfully, the more we can get victims to trust our system. That's what this bill is trying to do: Get prosecution for the perpetrators so that the victims, and more victims, perhaps of the same person, can come out and report what has happened to them,” said Terlaje. 

Breaking the cycle of abuse and assault, each senator in attendance stands in support of Bill 351-37 and requests co-sponsorship.

“We need to take back this island and again, this bill goes a long way, again, in closing up that gap,” said Sen. Jesse Lujan. 

“I’ve always been one for restorative justice, but when people hurt children we should absolutely throw the book at them and use every tool at our disposal to keep our children safe,” added Sen. William Parkinson. 

“How old are you before your choice is your choice? How old must you be before you are punished for that choice,” said Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas. “And the law will fall on good, the law will always seek good, the law will always seek justice.”

The bill was moved into the third reading file. Senators are back in session Wednesday morning.