Help Restore Juvenile Justice in California

Dear Friends,

SB 1151 and SB 1223 are in the homestretch, but we need your help once again to write letters to your local legislators for that final push. If you're a California resident, please reach out to your legislators immediately, or if you know Californians, please forward this email on to them. Details of the bills and suggested letters are below.

Thank you all so much. Aaron

For peace and justice,
Leslie Neale, Traci Odom and the Chance Films team
Filmmakers of Juvies and ________________________________________________________

The Youth Law Center asked me to forward this excellent appeal for action on Senator Kuehl's juvenile justice legislation. Please take a moment to send e-mails and place phone calls in support of these measures:

The first bill, SB 1151, will make it less likely for youth to end up in the
adult criminal system because it will require judges to consider certain
factors before sending a youth to the adult system. This bill is likely to
pass on Monday. We ask that you send letters of support (see sample below)
to the Governor's office urging him to sign the bill.
The second bill, SB 1223, helps youth in custody by allowing judges to
reconsider the sentences of youth after a significant part of their sentence has been served. This bill is currently on the Assembly Appropriations suspense file (because there are costs associated with the bill), and the committee will make a determination on Wednesday, August 11th, whether to take the bill off of suspense. Please FAX or mail letters of support to the Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Judy Chu, and Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Nunez, as soon as possible (see samples below). For more information about either of these bills, you can search for these bills on the California State Legislature, Bill Search website,
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-bilinfo.html. If you would like
additional information, please feel free to contact Neelum Arya at the Youth
Law Center, narya@ylc.org, (415) 543-3379 x. 3909.
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html
*Sample Letter of Support for SB 1151*
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for SB 1151
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
My name is ____________. I am a (youth
advocate/educator/pastor/rabbi/priest/etc.) at (congregation/organization).
I write to ask you to sign S.B. 1151, sent to you by the Legislature.

I am aware that a significant number of minors are tried as adults in
California. I am concerned that in some cases, minors who could benefit from the programs and services available in the juvenile justice system are nonetheless tried as adults in the criminal system where they receive little or no education, mental health services, and rehabilitative programming. Requiring juvenile court judges to consider factors such as the minor's degree of involvement in the crime and the level of harm actually caused by the minor when making fitness determinations will help prevent the unnecessary transfer of youth from the juvenile to the adult system. SB 1151 is necessary to ensure that only minors who are truly unfit for juvenile court are tried as adults in criminal court.
Thank you for your commitment to children and youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
Sincerely,
Name, Title
*Sample Letter of Support for SB 1223 to Judy Chu *
Given the urgent nature of this action, please FAX your letters if possible.

The Honorable Judy Chu, Chair
Committee on Appropriations
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 2114
Sacramento, California 95814
Sent Via Facsimile to (916) 319 - 2149
Re: Support for SB 1223
Dear Chairperson Chu,
I write on behalf of ___________________. I am writing today to inform you
of my support for SB 1223, which will allow judges to reconsider the adult sentences imposed on minors. Given our State's fiscal crisis, it is
important to release prisoners that are unnecessarily incarcerated.

SB 1223 gives judges from the sentencing court, discretion to leave the
original sentence intact, reduce the time of incarceration to any sentence that could have been lawfully ordered at the time of original judgment, or suspend the sentence. This enables judges to determine whether incarceration is appropriate, and in the best interests of society. Recent changes in our state law have resulted in an increase in juveniles prosecuted in our adult system. Many of the juveniles convicted as adults are serving long sentences (such as 15-35 years). I support SB 1223 because allowing judges to use their expertise and experience to ensure a sentences is appropriate will make our justice system more effective, rehabilitative, and just. Reconsideration of sentences will give youth incentives to rehabilitate, reduce violence and criminal activity in our prisons, and also make prisons safer for inmates and prison employees. By providing incentives to rehabilitate, SB 1223 will help ensure that when these young people re-enter society (and many will because of the young age at which they were incarcerated), they will be prepared to be productive members of our communities.
Research shows that youth given adult sentences were given longer sentences on average than adults who committed similar crimes. Our youth should not face longer sentences for their crimes simply because of their age. SB 1223 will help address these disparities. SB 1223 will increase the effectiveness and fairness of our justice system as it relates to youth tried as adults, and will make our communities safer.
Thank you for helping support our youth, rehabilitation, and increased
fairness in our justice system for voting for SB 1223.
Yours truly,
Name
*Sample Letter of Support for SB 1223 to Fabian Nunez*

The Honorable Fabian Nunez
Speaker of the Assembly
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 219
Sacramento, California 95814
Sent Via Facsimile to (916) 319 - 2146
Re: Support for SB 1223
Dear Speaker Nunez,
I write on behalf of ___________________. I am writing today to inform you of my support for SB 1223, which will allow judges to reconsider the adult sentences imposed on minors. Given our State's fiscal crisis, it is important to release prisoners that are unnecessarily incarcerated.

SB 1223 gives judges from the sentencing court, discretion to leave the
original sentence intact, reduce the time of incarceration to any sentence that could have been lawfully ordered at the time of original judgment, or suspend the sentence. This enables judges to determine whether incarceration is appropriate, and in the best interests of society. Recent changes in our state law have resulted in an increase in juveniles prosecuted in our adult system. Many of the juveniles convicted as adults are serving long sentences (such as 15-35 years). I support SB 1223 because allowing judges to use their expertise and experience to ensure a sentences is appropriate will make our justice system more effective, rehabilitative, and just. Reconsideration of sentences will give youth incentives to rehabilitate, reduce violence and criminal activity in our prisons, and also make prisons safer for inmates and prison employees. By providing incentives to rehabilitate, SB 1223 will help ensure that when these young people re-enter society (and many will because of the young age at which they were incarcerated), they will be prepared to be productive members of our communities.
Research shows that youth given adult sentences were given longer sentences on average than adults who committed similar crimes. Our youth should not face longer sentences for their crimes simply because of their age. SB 1223 will help address these disparities. SB 1223 will increase the effectiveness and fairness of our justice system as it relates to youth tried as adults, and will make our communities safer.
Thank you for helping support our youth, rehabilitation, and increased
fairness in our justice system for voting for SB 1223.
Yours truly,
Name

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