This Act would eliminate the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole in California.

The Juvenile Life without Parole Reform Act recognizes that all young people, even those serving life sentences, have the capacity to change for the better and should have access to the rehabilitative tools to do so.

Juveniles could still be sentenced to life in prison, but would have the opportunity for parole consideration after serving 25 years or more in prison. At that time the offender must prove to the parole board that he or she should be paroled or he or she will remain in prison. More...

Read the Report: When I Die, They’ll Send Me Home
Youth Sentenced to Life without Parole in California

The report finds that in many cases where juveniles were prosecuted with an adult, the youth received heavier sentences than their adult codefendants.

There are 227 inmates in California sentenced as juveniles to life in prison without parole.


“The judge let me hug my mom and I cried and I couldn’t stop... I got life without and I didn’t kill anybody.” 
– Ray J., 17 at the time of his crime, described the moment when he heard the sentence.