In re M.R.: Truancy Courts Must Now Strictly Follow the Code of Civil Procedure Before Incarcerating Youth For Contempt

In a decision on September 27, 2013, the First District Court of Appeal held that a juvenile court must comply with the contempt provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure before ordering the secure confinement of a contemptuous habitual truant. These contempt procedures, applicable to adults, must now be applied to children in truancy cases,  …

Senate Bill 260 Becomes Law Giving Hope and a Meaningful Opportunity of Parole for Thousands of Youth Offenders Serving Extreme Sentences

On September 16, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 260 (Hancock), a new law that will give hope and a meaningful opportunity of parole for approximately 5,000 youth offenders serving extreme sentences in state prison in California.  The law will permit people whose crimes were committed as minors to appear before the Board of …