California prosecutes nearly 1,000 youth as adults each year despite research showing youth are capable of rehabilitation. The National Center for Youth Law is leading a campaign with partners to ensure California's justice system treats youth appropriately for their age by closing pathways to the adult system and creating opportunities to release prisoners serving long sentences for crimes committed as youth.

1. Ending the Practice of Trying and Incarcerating Youth in the Adult Criminal
System
California
Each year, nearly 1,000 California youth are prosecuted, sentenced and incarcerated as adults,
despite research and legal holdings finding youth to be especially capable of rehabilitation.
Together with key partners, NCYL is leading a campaign that ensures California’s justice system
treats youth in a manner appropriate for their age, cognitive development and ability to change.
This campaign addresses closing pathways to the adult system as well as creating meaningful
opportunities for release of prisoners serving lengthy sentences for crimes committed as youth.