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RALEIGH—A panel of experts discussed proposed changes to the state's juvenile justice system today at Campbell University's law school in Raleigh.

The forum weighed the pros and cons of proposed legislation to raise state's age limit for juveniles. Currently, 16-year-old and 17-year-old defendants are prosecuted through the adult court system in our state. The standard is not the mainstream protocol in most states.

The founder and director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, Shay Bilchik , said the state is simply sending teenage offenders back to prison.

"When you treat, wholesale, treat 16 and 17-year-old as adult offenders—you end with higher levels of recidivism; faster levels of recidivism and recidivism for more serious crime. For me that's the trifecta of bad criminal justice policy," said Bilchik.

The Campbell Law School Black Law Student Association organized the event.