Many of our children are transferred to the adult system without consideration of their ability to change. Tremendous growth and maturity often occurs in the late teens through the mid-20s. The current system provides no viable mechanism for reviewing a case after a young person has grown up and matured. Georgia law should motivate young people to focus on rehabilitation and give them for individuals who can prove they merit a second chance.

Existing sentencing laws ignore recent scientific evidence on adolescent development and neuroscience. Research has shown that certain areas of the brain, particularly those that affect judgment and decision-making, do not fully develop until the early 20′s. Moreover, the fact that young adults are still developing means that they are uniquely situated for personal growth and rehabilitation. These decisions recognize that it is wrong to deny someone who commits a crime under the age of 18 the opportunity to demonstrate rehabilitation.  The role of judges and a careful considered process before transferring youth to the adult criminal justice system has been severely limited.

This brings me to the case of my Grandson Isaiah Riley who was charged with armed robbery at the age of 17 years old. He accepted the plea deal as suggested by his attorney and was sentenced by the court presided by the Honorable Judge Warren Davis to 15 years in prison. I am not by any means saying that he shouldn't be punished but I am asking  you to help us to get him out of the adult prison system by signing my petition. He is not a hardened criminal but obviously a confused young man with no prior record and the only problem we had with him at home was fact that he wouldn't clean his room.  Please help us to give him a chance to be rehabilitated in the juvenile system. Isaiah was born 3 months premature and he fought for his life and won. I am fighting for it now. Please help us win not just for him but for all of those who fall under the same injustice ! 

"Under no circumstances should children be tried as adults or housed in adult facilities. When they are, they tend to receive lengthy sentences and are exposed to greater levels of trauma. This makes it harder for these youth to be rehabilitated and get adequate skills to go back into the world and be successful when they are released."  ( a quote from a young man who has been there!)

Thank you so much!!!