News Archive

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.

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!

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 (more…)

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 (more…)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”