The crimes Frankie was involved in were from the age of 19 or earlier. He had little to no parental supervision as a child and was neglected and abused both physically and emotionally. Left to his own devices Frankie made poor decisions that would negatively and severely impact his life. He did not have responsible adults he could lean on for guidance and likely due to the lack of parental supervision he got involved in gangs, which we know often take the place of family. He was also born and raised in an area void of great education or economic opportunity or resources. Frankie lived in abject poverty. His mom was largely uninvolved in his life and while he lived with his father his dad was an alcoholic with violent tendencies. There seemed to be no parental consequences when he dropped out of school in sixth grade, and prison loomed inevitable. 

Frankie was convicted to 18 years 8 months in State Prison just months after his 19th birthday where he has remained incarcerated since 2013.  In his 9 years in prison, Frankie has disassociated with gang involvement, taken several courses in NA, AA, Anger Management as well as completed his High School equivalency.  In addition he has sought out guidance from Mental Health professionals to address trauma and heal and rehabilitate.  

Much of Frankie's sentence is due to sentencing enhancements, which actually doubled his time.  Frankie has already served his base term of 8 years. Many  reform advocates argue these enhancements can be unjust because they punish inmates multiple times for the same crime. Advocates of reform also say sentence enhancements contribute to the high cost and overcrowding of California’s prison system by keeping many inmates locked up for decades past the point of being risks to society.

Frankie deserves to have his sentence commuted to time served of 9 years so that he may start his new life away from what he knew growing up and start fresh with his wife and 3 beautiful daughters.  A new life where him being responsible is of the utmost value and reward and where he has a huge new family to help him when he's down.  It is a life he is ready to embrace.  

Frankie has been accountable for his choices and paid the consequences.  His demonstration of change of behavior, heart and mind should be rewarded with the opportunity of a joyous life.