Serious crimes committed by children are often brought about by extreme circumstances. Many children sentenced to life without parole grew up in an abusive or neglectful environment that contributed to their crime.
Furthermore,
research shows that a teenager's brain is still developing well into their early twenties. (Everyone knows a surly high school student who turned out just fine later in life.) So a kid who was easily persuaded to be an accomplice in a convenience store robbery will naturally improve their self-control and decision-making skills just by getting older. The facts show that a hot-tempered child can turn into a rational-minded adult.
SB 9 wouldn't free any inmates. It wouldn't even guarantee them parole. But it
would give them a chance to rise above a single terrible decision that would otherwise determine the course of their lives. So people like Cyntoia Brown-- whom
one college professor said "could be a gifted litigator"-- could get a shot at fulfilling some of their potential.
You should take action today:
Ask your Assembly member to support California SB 9.
Clarissa Woo is the Director of Policy Advocacy at the ACLU/SC.