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Criminal

Jan. 13, 2025

Defending the progress of youth justice reform

See more on Defending the progress of youth justice reform

California's youth justice reforms focus on rehabilitation over punishment, but new policies pushing harsher juvenile prosecutions risk undoing progress and disproportionately affect youth of color.

Luis J. Rodriguez

Division Chief of the Youth Services Division, Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office

Nationally, courts have recognized in cases such as Roper v. Simmons and Miller v. Alabama, that children who commit crimes should be treated differently. Both scientific findings on adolescent brain development and studies focused on treatment of children within the carceral system support the fact that children are uniquely capable of change, and, therefore, opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation are paramount to incarceration.  

Over the past decade, California has enac...

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