Bill > A1394

Introduced Session

This bill concerns parole for juvenile defendants. Under the provisions of this bill, a juvenile is required to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender at all parole proceedings, unless the juvenile chooses to be represented by pro bono counsel or retains private counsel at the juvenile's expense. If the juvenile is represented by pro bono counsel, the counsel representing the juvenile is required to have experience in juvenile justice. Under current law, the panel, who is comprised of at least two members of the Juvenile Justice Commission and a member of the State Parole Board, is responsible for considering the juvenile's eligibility for release from incarceration. Current law also requires the member of the State Parole Board to have experience in juvenile justice or successfully complete a juvenile justice training program. This bill removes the option for the member of the State Parole Board to have experience in juvenile justice and requires all members of the panel to complete a juvenile justice training. The bill requires the juvenile justice training to include current research regarding the age-crime curve, which demonstrates that criminal offending occurs in a bell curve and aging out of crime, which demonstrates the low rate of reoffending as a person grows older. Further, current law provides that a juvenile is to be granted early release on parole when it appears that the juvenile has made substantial progress toward positive behavioral adjustment and rehabilitative goals articulated by the panel. Under the bill, in making the determination of whether the juvenile is to be granted early release on parole, the panel also is required to consider any additional evidence of maturity or rehabilitation presented by the juvenile or the juvenile's counsel and take into consideration the information provided during the training required under the bill regarding the age-crime curve and aging out of crime. In addition, under the bill, in every case where the court waives jurisdiction of a juvenile delinquency case and the juvenile defendant is tried as an adult and receives a sentence of incarceration, the defendant is required to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender at all parole proceedings, unless the defendant chooses to be represented by pro bono counsel or retains private counsel at the defendant's expense. If the defendant is represented by pro bono counsel, the counsel representing the defendant is required to have experience in juvenile justice. The bill also requires every member of the Parole Board who serves on a board panel that is considering the eligibility for release of a defendant whose juvenile delinquency case was waived to adult court, who was tried as an adult, and who received a sentence of incarceration to successfully complete the juvenile justice training program, which includes research regarding the age-crime curve and aging out of crime. Finally, the bill provides that in addition to any other considerations sets forth under current law, rule, or regulation, at the parole hearing of the defendant, the State Parole Board is required to consider any evidence of maturity or rehabilitation presented by the defendant or the defendant's counsel and take into consideration the information provided during the training required under the bill regarding the age-crime curve and aging out of crime.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Ellen Park (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document