AB 1756 - Free Juvenile Offenders, seal their records!
This bill improves economic outcomes for California?s youth and, in so doing, protects public safety by eliminating an unnecessary barrier to reentry for youth who are eligible for and seeking the juvenile record sealing remedy.
Juvenile records can create barriers to employment and housing for young people. An unsealed juvenile record can appear on a background checks, and lead to an unfairly adverse employment or housing decision. Without stable employment and housing, there is a higher chance that young people will recidivate and become involved in the adult criminal justice system.
Current law allows counties to charge young people up to $150 for sealing their juvenile record; a prohibitively expensive cost for California?s poor youth. An inability to access the juvenile record remedy can result in an inability to access stable employment and housing.
AB 1756 makes record-sealing more affordable for one of California?s most vulnerable populations?its youth. This fee, as currently imposed, does not generate substantial revenue, and, even if it did, we should use this opportunity to invest in and support our youth instead of saddling them with additional financial burden. By eliminating the fee for record sealing for youth under age twenty-six, AB 1756 will increase public safety and reduce recidivism. The bill will also increase court efficiency by streamlining the sealing process into one court hearing at the time that juvenile court jurisdiction is terminated as opposed to two separate events
AB 1756 is a small change that will positively impact public safety and economic opportunity for California youth in big ways.
Current law allows counties to charge young people up to $150 for sealing their juvenile record; a prohibitively expensive cost for California?s poor youth. An inability to access the juvenile record remedy can result in an inability to access stable employment and housing.
AB 1756 makes record-sealing more affordable for one of California?s most vulnerable populations?its youth. This fee, as currently imposed, does not generate substantial revenue, and, even if it did, we should use this opportunity to invest in and support our youth instead of saddling them with additional financial burden. By eliminating the fee for record sealing for youth under age twenty-six, AB 1756 will increase public safety and reduce recidivism. The bill will also increase court efficiency by streamlining the sealing process into one court hearing at the time that juvenile court jurisdiction is terminated as opposed to two separate events
AB 1756 is a small change that will positively impact public safety and economic opportunity for California youth in big ways.
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