Instructions For Sample Letters In Support Of Sb 382 (Page 3 of 7) in pdf

Instructions For Sample Letters In Support Of Sb 382 Page 3

Honorable Jerry Brown

Governor of the State of California

State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

Re:

SB 382 (Lara) Support

Young People Sent to the Adult Criminal System

Dear Governor Brown:

I support passage of SB 382, a bill that would give judges more tools when deciding

whether to send teens to adult court. I hope you will sign it and I also urge you to lead the state to

change more of its laws so that fewer kids are sent to the adult system.

California removes some youth from the juvenile justice system, trying them as adults in the

criminal system, and sentencing them to adult prison terms. In this state, youth as young as 14

years old can be tried as adults. Since 2003 nearly 10,000 California youth under the age of 18

have been tried as adults in criminal courts and denied the services and treatment provided in the

juvenile system. There are currently over 5,500 people in California prisons who were under the

age of 18 at the time of their crimes.

Under existing law, there are five criteria judges are required to apply when deciding

whether to try a young person as an adult. If passed into law, SB 382 would clarify these criteria,

making clear that judges may consider, among other things, the maturity, intellectual capacity,

and physical, mental and emotional health of a youth involved in a crime; the effect of the

youth’s family and community environment, and childhood trauma; and the level of harm

directly caused by the young person. Many young people can benefit from the services and

treatment offered from the juvenile justice system, and this bill would help judges make a good

determination.

How we treat California youth is important, and this is true even when a young person is

accused of a crime. Please sign this bill, and please support further reform of this process.

Yours,

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Printed name

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Address

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City

State

Zip

Instructions For Sample Letters In Support Of Sb 382 Page 3