Assemblymember Mia Bonta Sends Youth Probation Reform Bill to the Governor

SACRAMENTO – Today, AB 1376, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), was sent to the Governor’s desk after passing its final vote on the Assembly floor. This bill is the result of a multiyear effort to deliver relief to youth who faced excessive, harmful, and seemingly endless probation sentences, which disrupted their education, livelihoods, and development.

“I appreciate that my colleagues recognized the need to pass legislation to improve the probation plans that over 10,000 youth in our state navigate each year. California’s youth deserve a probation system that aims to rehabilitate rather than perpetuate cycles of law enforcement interaction. This is a vital opportunity to support youth of color and address the school-to-prison pipeline,” said Assemblymember Mia Bonta. 

Under our current youth probation system, 86% of whom are youth of color, face lengthy and overly burdensome requirements. Some probation plans include as many as 50 requirements, each representing an additional technical rule. If violated, these extend their time under court supervision and keep them away from normal adolescence. Research shows that these excessive conditions and long probation periods set youth up for failure, leading to more technical violations, greater instability, and higher risks of school disengagement, struggled with employment, and repeated engagement with the juvenile justice system. 

AB 1376 aims to end endless probation by limiting non-custodial wardship probation to twelve months after a child’s most recent hearing unless the court determines that extending the probation is in the best interest of the youth and the public. The bill mandates that probation conditions be personalized, developmentally appropriate, proportional, and not excessive. Additionally, under AB 1376, youth on probation would receive regular check-ins with the court to ensure they receive tailored programs and necessary resources.

“Every young person deserves a chance at a bright future,” said Anne Irwin, Founder and Director of Smart Justice California. “AB 1376 is commonsense legislation that will ensure that justice-impacted youth are set up to succeed and get their lives back on track through a tailored, age-appropriate approach to justice.”

“With the passage of AB 1376, California takes a major step toward ending the harmful cycle of indefinite probation for thousands of youth. This bill addresses the stark racial disparities in our youth justice system – 86% of youth on non-custodial probation are youth of color, and they consistently remain on probation longer than white youth. We now urge Governor Newsom to sign this reform that will give young people the chance they deserve to build their futures while saving taxpayers an estimated $80 million.  The research is clear – long probation terms don't improve public safety, but they do harm youth development. Governor Newsom has the power to transform thousands of young lives by signing AB 1376 into law,” said Laura Ridolfi, Policy Director of the Haywood Burns Institute.

“Every young person deserves a chance at a bright future. By passing AB 1376, elected officials demonstrated their commitment to young people.  By setting regular check-ins and a tangible goal of completing probation, AB 1376 takes a more tailored, age-appropriate approach to justice, creating more opportunities for youth to succeed. Young people are our future and every youth deserves to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. When youth are supported, they can thrive and grow. By signing this bill, Governor Newsom has the opportunity to transform our current juvenile justice system,” said Keely O'Brien, Policy Advocate, Western Center on Law & Poverty.

“It will bring California in closer alignment with what the lived expertise of youth and the current scientific research tells us: endless probation harms children and makes our communities less safe. In passing AB 1376, the Legislature is building on its previous work to address discrimination in the criminal legal system and to shift to a more effective public health approach to justice. Ending Endless Probation centers the voices of those most impacted by the justice system and was supported by hundreds of community and policy organizations. Ultimately, AB 1376 is a step in the right direction. It gives youth hope and we urge Governor Newsom to do right by our future and sign the bill,” said Dafna Gozani, Legislative and Policy Strategies Director, National Center for Youth Law

AB 1376 is projected to save both the state and California families substantial amounts of money due to reduced probation caseloads and heads to the Governor with the support of a coalition of criminal justice organizations from across the state.

###

Assemblymember Mia Bonta represents California’s 18^th Assembly District encompassing the East Bay including Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville. She also chairs the Assembly Health Committee.

Courtesy photos can be found HERE.