Bill > AB22

This bill makes several significant changes to California's criminal justice system, particularly regarding juvenile offenders and sex offender registration. The bill would repeal key provisions of previous voter-approved propositions, including exemptions that allowed some younger sex offenders to avoid registration and provisions that limited automatic prosecution of juveniles as adults. It would require broader sex offender registration for individuals convicted of certain offenses involving minors, even if the age difference is small. For sexually violent predators, the bill introduces new restrictions on placement, mandating that the State Department of State Hospitals ensure public safety is the primary consideration when placing such individuals and prohibiting placement in residential zones or within three miles of tribal lands. The bill also modifies juvenile court procedures, making it easier to transfer younger offenders to adult criminal courts for serious offenses, particularly those involving violence or sexual crimes. Additionally, the bill would require proof of housing before conditionally releasing a sexually violent predator and gives more discretion to courts in determining whether a juvenile should be tried as an adult based on factors like criminal sophistication, potential for rehabilitation, and the circumstances of the offense. The provisions affecting voter-approved propositions would themselves be subject to voter approval at a future election.

Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB22