Former-Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1391 into law in 2018, raising the age limit to 16 years old for juveniles to be tried as adults for certain crimes.
The new law took effect on January 1, 2019.
Difference Between Old Law & New Law
According to the pervious law, a judge could decide whether a juvenile offender under 16 years of age should face legal proceedings in adult court. Now, no minor younger than 16 years old could be tried as an adult, even if he/she was charged with murder, rape, or another serious felony offense.
Has the New Law Been Recently Applied?
Two Coachella Valley man who were facing life sentences after being convicted of armed robbery last year will have their sentences reduced to six years. Both men were under 16 years old when they were arrested. At the Indio Juvenile Courthouse, the judge ruled both adult men would be resentenced to spend the remainder of their time in a juvenile detention center.
What Does That Mean for Previous Cases?
If your child has been tried and sentenced in adult court for a crime they committed when they were under 16 years of age, it is now possible to get his/her sentenced reduced with the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Blumenthal & Moore, we have decades of legal trial experiencing helping our clients obtain the best results possible.
For more information about SB1391 and juvenile crimes in Riverside, contact us today!