California May End ‘Life Without Parole’ for Youth

The California Senate’s Public Safety Committee has taken a historic step toward ending the practice of sentencing youth to die in prison by passing a reform bill, according to Human Rights Watch . The committee voted 3 to 2 in favor of the Juvenile Life Without Parole Reform Act (Senate Bill 1199), which would eliminate life-without-parole sentences for offenders under age 18. It would instead impose a sentence of 25 years to life, giving young offenders access to parole after 25 years if they show convincing evidence of rehabilitation. Human Rights Watch and a wide range of organizations and individuals across California called upon the full Senate and Assembly to pass SB 1199 after a report they wrote "When I Die, They'll Send me Home."