ACTION ALERT: Help the Fair Sentencing for Youth Act Pass in California!

There are at least 2,570 people in the United States serving Juvenile Life Without the Possibility of Parole (JLWOP) for crimes they allegedly committed before they were 18.  At least 263 of them are incarcerated in California – arrested at the age of 16 or 17, they have been sentenced to die in prison. Due to the amazing work that many people across the state of California and the nation have been doing, Senate Bill 9 passed out of the State Senate, and has also passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee.  It will be heard on August 17th in the Appropriations Committee and will then go to the full Assembly soon after that.  We need your help again for the last big push to get SB9-- the Fair Sentencing for Youth Act--through the State Legislature.  Your participation will make history in giving people serving Youth LWOP an opportunity for release. 

Please use this information and these phone numbers and this fact sheet to make calls to each of the Assembly members.  Additional information is available at www.fairsentencingforyouth.org. 

If you're in California, put the SMACK DOWN ON SAC TOWN! Travel with us to the State Capitol to meet the Assembly members face-to-face.  We will be meeting at the YJC/Chuco’s Justice Center (address below) at 9pm, Wednesday, August 17th and returning to L.A. Thursday, August 18th at approximately midnight.  Youth who are or who have been in the system, family members of youth serving LWOP and Extreme Life Sentences, Lifers and other people who have been in prison as and are now home, and survivors of violent crime are especially encouraged to attend.  Call or e-mail back by the end of the day on Tuesday to reserve your seat.

Use the factsheet to discuss the bill – either by phone or face-to-face if you can set up a meeting either in their home office or in Sacramento.  If you have enough time, you can also add your own experience – use sample language like, "as a youth, survivor of crime, parent, teacher, juvenile hall counselor, member of the clergy, etc.  Hello, my name is ___ and I am calling from (city).  I am calling to urge the Assembly member to VOTE YES ON SENATE BILL 9.  In California, youth under the age of 18 are sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole.  No matter how positive their growth or how much they change, these 16 and 17 year olds will have no opportunity for release.  They will die in prison.  Senate Bill 9 will allow for a review of Juvenile LWOP cases and an opportunity for youth to receive rehabilitation programming while in prison.  If they can prove that they have made positive progress, they will have an opportunity for re-sentencing."

YOU ARE MAKING THE CALLS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE INSIDE WHO WON’T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, so please don't hesitate! Act now!