Governor Jerry Brown of California recently signed three bills intended to protect children from injustice within the legal system. The laws act upon the premise that children do not fully mature until their mid-20s; the bills ensure that the youth of California is afforded a second chance to rebuild their lives and grow to their full potential. The laws put in place by Gov. Jerry Brown are a progressive step in child-centered reform of the juvenile justice system. The regulations set a new standard by increasing protections of children held in police custody and limiting juvenile prison terms. The first, Senate Bill 395, states that police cannot interrogate children fifteen and under until the child has met with an attorney. While police officers are always required to advise children on their Miranda rights, or right to remain silent during police questioning, the new law acknowledges that children are unable to fully understand the complexities or possible ramifications of submitting to police questioning (Human Rights Watch). Because children under the age of eighteen cannot fully process their individual rights due to a lack of education and mental maturity, they frequently fall victim to a pattern of judicial injustice. The bill will hopefully prevent children from falsely …show more content…
This bill operates on the assumption that children maintain a capacity to grow while serving their sentence. Because children are not fully mature nor entirely culpable under these statutes, the judicial system must treat children differently than adults. (Human Rights Watch). Senate Bill 394 emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment. If the prison system works as it should, specifically during juvenile prison sentences, children should emerge as adults ready for reintegration into