fairsentencingforyouth.org

SB 399 PASSES IN COMMITTEE!

ecalvin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:17:07 +0000

The Assembly Public Safety Committee passed SB 399 by a vote of 4 to 2. The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where the cost of the bill will be analysed. SB 399 could save the state millions of dollars if it is passed into law. If passed in Appropriations, the bill move on to be voted on by the full Assembly. There, 41 of 80 votes are needed.

Senate Bill 399 to be Voted on in Committee

ecalvin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:25:54 +0000

Tuesday, January 12th, SB399 will face a vote in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. It needs four yes votes from the seven committee members to pass in committee and move to the next stage. Call committee members to let them know how important this bill is!

Senate Bill 399 Will Move Forward!

ecalvin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:22:11 +0000

SB 399 will be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee a second time, and sponsors of the bill are hopeful that it will win the committee’s approval. The bill now has until June 2010 to pass out of the Assembly. The State Legislature will be on recess from July 17th through August 17th (if the budget has been passed.) Watch this website for updates!

SB 399 Fails to Pass in Assembly—But—All is Not Lost for the Bill

ecalvin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:52:27 +0000

On June 30th, by a vote of three to four, SB 399 failed to pass out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Senator Yee moved for a reconsideration, however, which will allow the bill to be considered again at a later time. Voting “no” were Chairman Arambula (I), Assembly Members Gilmore (R), Hagman (R), and Ma (D). Voting in favor of the bill were Assembly Members Ammiano (D), Furutani (D), and Hill (D). Those opposed cited the interests of victim family members.

One family member testified to the pain she and her family endured when her husband was murdered by two teens. She opposes the bill, objecting the possibility of a lighter sentence, and what she believes would be a traumatic review process.

Another perspective was presented by Aqeela Sherrills. A long-time leader in anti-gang work, Mr. Sherrills told the committee, “I am all too familiar with the conditions that create despair in the hearts and imagination of many of our young people.” In early 2004, his 19 year old son was killed while home on break from college. The perpetrator was a 17 year-old. Mr. Sherrills spoke from the perspective of a victim family member who supports the bill. “I want my son’s killer to be punished, yes, but I also want him to have the chance to turn around. I support this bill’s giving him four chances to do so.”

Call Assembly Members Ma and Arambula encourage them to change their votes.

New Hearing on SB 399! June 30th at State Capital

ecalvin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:24:20 +0000

Contact committee members to voice your support now!! Go to the “Take Action” page. The State Assembly Public Safety Committee must approve SB 399, or the bill will die. A committee hearing is set for Tuesday, June 30th at 9:00 a.m. in Room 126 at the State Capitol building. Supporters should come to the hearing, but it is even more important for supporters to contact committee members this week.

SB399 Passes in the Senate!

ecalvin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:58:23 +0000

By a vote of 23 to 15, SB399 won passage out of the Senate. The bill next heads to the State Assembly. SB 399 would permit judges to re-examine youth offender cases. “A kid who did the crime is not necessarily the same person who’s doing the time,” said Senator Yee. ”This is a worthy bill and deserves to pass and be signed into law, ” the Los Angeles Times noted on June 2nd.

SB399 Wins “YES” Vote in Appropriations! Moves On to Full Senate Vote.

ecalvin — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:03:25 +0000

Go to the “Take Action” page here to see what you can do to help right now. In a 7 to 5 vote, SB399 was passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Now headed to a vote on the Senate floor, every Senator’s vote is needed. The week of June 1st Senators will be asked to state whether they believe young people are different from adults and cast their votes on this important bill.

200 Churches, Synagogues & Mosques Celebrate “Juvenile Justice Sabbath”

ecalvin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:26:45 +0000

Across the State, people attending religious services heard about how the major faith traditions teach that the young are special in the eyes of the Almighty, and how young people should be treated when they commit serious crimes. “This comes from our faith convictions,” said Jauvier Stauring, director of Faith Communities for Families and Children. “We should never ever give up on a child…[W]e should not look at them and declare that the worst thing they did as a child is how we’re going to label them for the rest of their lives.”

CA Court Overturns LWOP for 14 Year Old

ecalvin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:25:29 +0000

A state appellate court has voided a life without parole sentence for a 14-year-old from Orange County who was convicted of a kidnapping in which no one was injured. The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence life without parole for such a youthful offender constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, finding that the sentence violated both the Eighth Amendmentto the U.S. Constitution and Article I of the California Constitution. “We … conclude his severe sentence is so freakishly rare as to constitute arbitrary and capricious punishment violating the Eighth Amendment,” Justice Richard Aronson wrote. Antonio still may never get out of prison, however, because his crime resulted in several consecutive life sentences.

Senators Steinberg and Romero Join as Co-Authors of SB 399

ecalvin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:09:49 +0000

Senate President Darrell Steinberg and former Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero have announced that they will co-author SB399. They join author Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D., Assistant President pro Tempore of the Senate. Senator Steinberg is a long-time advocate for children’s rights, having worked for years to improve foster care for children and youth. Senator Gloria Romero, Senate Majority Leader from 2001 to 2008, is a leading legislative expert on reform of California’s prison system. Senator Romero will be a principal co-author. Their commitment indicates the growing support for ending life without parole for youth. “Life without parole means absolutely no opportunity for release,” said Senator Yee. “It also means minors are often left without access to programs and rehabilitative services while in prison. This sentence was created for the worst of criminals that have no possibility of reform and it is not a humane way to handle children. While the crimes they committed caused undeniable suffering, these youth offenders are not the worst of the worst.”