juvenile justice

Making sense of California youth sentences

Sayre Quevedo — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:43:15 +0000

For juveniles in California being sentenced for crimes, things just got a little more complicated. Proposition 21 requires mandatory minimums for juveniles that often translate into long sentences. In California alone, there are hundreds of inmates serving juvenile sentences totaling between 50 and 200 years. Advocates argue that these sentences are the equivalent of life without parole. This summer, the State Supreme Court agreed and ruled that unusually long sentences for juveniles unconstitutional.

Sealing A juvenile record has its benefits and barriers

Sayre Quevedo — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:00:00 +0000

It’s widely assumed that most crimes committed by juveniles are sealed or expunged when the person turns 18, but that’s far from the case. In most states young people have to apply to seal their record, which can involve bureaucratic hurdles, fees and court appearances. Youth Radio spoke to Rourke Stacy, who has worked for the Los Angeles County’s Public Defender’s Office for nearly 11 years, as a felony trial lawyer, and an attorney doing juvenile delinquency trial work.
Turnstyle: How informed do you think the public is about sealing records?

Sealing a juvenile record has its benefits and barriers

Sayre Quevedo — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:11:07 +0000

It’s widely assumed that most crimes committed by juveniles are sealed or expunged when the person turns 18, but that’s far from the case. In most states young people have to apply to seal their record, which can involve bureaucratic hurdles, fees and court appearances. Youth Radio spoke to Rourke Stacy, who has worked for the Los Angeles County’s Public Defender’s Office for nearly 11 years, as a felony trial lawyer, and an attorney doing juvenile delinquency trial work.
Turnstyle: How informed do you think the public is about sealing records?

Is California juvenile correction so bad? Bill Sessa says, "no"

Sayre Quevedo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +0000

In 2005, California's juvenile prison system got a face lift. The name changed from CYA, short for California Youth Authority, to the Division of Juvenile Justice or DJJ. And many policies began to change along with the name.

Lead juvenile justice expert says state facilities should stay open

Sayre Quevedo — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:56:40 +0000

For more than thirty years, it's been Barry Krisberg's priority to fight for reforms in California's state juvenile correctional facilities, known as the California Youth Authority (CYA) or Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). And now a change is coming at the DJJ.