AUSTIN, Texas - A group of advocates is pushing for juvenile justice reform as part of Youth Justice Action Month.

State officials and several organizations gave statements on changes they feel are needed within the juvenile justice system.

Texas is currently one of a few states where juveniles can be tried as adults for various crimes.

State Representative Gene Wu, D-Houston, said Texas is behind the curve on making simple reform.

"In 2017… we started session as one of seven states that had not raised the age. We are now one of five states left that has not raised the age. Texas is poised be dead last in the entire nation to make this simple common sense reform that the rest of the nation has already done," said Wu.

Wu will be pushing for new legislation to raise ages so juveniles aren't tried as adults.