Currently, 18-and-19-year-olds can be charged as adults automatically under current state law. In a news release, Senator Skinner’s office cited studies about adolescent brain development as a rationale, arguing that the change was in-line with things like the current drinking age, or raising the tobacco-buying age to 21.

“When teenagers make serious mistakes and commit crimes, state prison is not the answer,” Skinner said in a news release. “Processing teenagers through the juvenile justice system will help ensure they receive the appropriate education, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation services necessary to achieve real public safety outcomes.”

Judges shall consider the minor’s history of crime or lack thereof, the nature and sophistication of the crime, and whether juvenile rehabilitation would be sufficient. Anyone convicted as a juvenile can’t be incarcerated past their 25th birthday, including for crimes that would carry a life sentence in adult court, unless they’re deemed a danger to the public.  

We are asking to prohibit prosecutors from charging youth offenders under 20 as adults and  asking to retroactively apply this to people who are currently incarcerated for crimes committed when they were 18 and 19. 
Also, remove excessive sentences for enhancements. When someone completes their base term, they are serving an additional 20 years worth of enhancements. This must change! CDCR is overpopulated and costing tax payers millions of dollars. The current system isn’t built to rehabilitate the incarcerated.