Pass Juvenile Points
Bill #: HB 1274Position: Support
Status:
Issue Area: Criminal Legal Reform, Racial Justice
ABOUT THIS BILL
In 2023, the legislature passed a correction to the law for new cases that stopped the practice of automatically punishing people twice because of their prior involvement as children in the juvenile justice system. This follow-up bill would go back and provide the opportunity to correct the sentences of those currently incarcerated, the majority of whom are people of color.
There are up to 1,700 people currently incarcerated who are serving unjust sentences they would no longer receive today under an updated and more just sentencing scheme. In 2023, the legislature stopped the practice of punishing people twice because of their prior involvement as children in the juvenile justice system. However, the legislature only applied this correction in the law to new cases and left behind currently incarcerated people, the majority of whom are people of color, who were involved in the juvenile justice system that may have been used to increase their current sentence. This follow-up bill corrects this generational inequality that disproportionately impacts young people of color, while also recognizing public safety, the support needs of victims, and taking care to not overwhelm the court system.
