Instructions For Sample Letters In Support Of Sb 382 (Page 5 of 7) in pdf

Instructions For Sample Letters In Support Of Sb 382 Page 5

Honorable Jerry Brown

Governor of the State of California

State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

Re:

Support—S.B. 382 (Lara)

Clarifying the criteria Judges use in Fitness Hearings

Dear Governor Brown:

Please support SB 382. Young people have tremendous capacity to grow and change and not be

defined forever by their worst act. They are more likely to get that support and help in the juvenile

system, not adult prison. SB 382 would allow judges to consider a young person’s life carefully and

decide whether he or she should stay in the juvenile system.

This is important not only for the young person, but society. Scientific research has shown that

youths tried as adults are more likely to commit new crimes compared with those tried in the

juvenile system. Studies that compare youth who have similar crimes and backgrounds conclude

that the youth sent to the adult system are more likely to recidivate than those handled in the

juvenile system. A meta-analysis by the Centers for Disease Control concluded: “[T]ransfer policies

have generally resulted in increased arrests for subsequent crimes, including violent crime, among

juveniles who were transferred compared with those retained in the juvenile justice system. To the

extent that transfer policies are implemented to reduce violent or other criminal behavior, available

evidence indicates that they do more harm than good.”

Let’s move California closer to treating young people in a way that reduces crime, not

increases it. This bill is a good step in that direction.

Please sign SB 382 into law. Thank you.

Sincerely,

_________________________________

Printed name

_________________________________

Address

_________________________________

City

State

Zip

_________________________________

Email and/or phone

Instructions For Sample Letters In Support Of Sb 382 Page 5