Senate Public Safety Committee Hearing
SACRAMENTO — April 20, 2021 — Today, Senate Bill (SB) 493, The PROMYSE (Promoting Youth Success and Empowerment) Act, successfully passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee with support from the bill author Senator Steven Bradford, as well as Senators Skinner, Weiner, and Kamlager.
The PROMYSE Act will dramatically improve spending and accountability of a long-standing annual state grant called the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA). With today’s result, the bill will move on to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review and approval.
During the Senate Public Safety Committee hearing, co-sponsor coalition member Renee Menart, Communications and Policy Analyst with the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ), explained that “JJCPA spending hasn’t kept up with massive declines in youth arrests, dropping 83% since 2000, and the accompanying drops in youth referrals to probation.”
Coalition member Kent Mendoza, Advocacy Manager for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), added that Los Angeles County increased community representation on its Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, which has “improved investment in community-based organizations that provide quality youth development programs and services.”
“Reforming JJCPA responds to rising calls for racial justice and addresses economic challenges heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill will provide for greater accountability, effectiveness, and equity in supporting our youth,” says Senator Bradford. “The PROMYSE Act will ensure state funds are invested in youth development and crime prevention.”
Black and brown youth have experienced the brunt of California’s punitive system. Better JJCPA investments can ensure that state funds no longer prop up a system that has consistently failed youth and communities of color. It is time to invest in a new vision for California’s young people – one that recognizes that health, education, and community-based services are essential in preventing youths’ exposure to the justice system. SB 493 is a critical step to establish a strong foundation for the future.
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The PROMYSE Act Co-Sponsor Coalition is made up of advocates, service providers, and youth justice experts–including individuals directly impacted by the juvenile justice system–representing a statewide network of constituents that promote the safety and wellness of California’s diverse communities. Our collective expertise is informed by direct experiences with local JJCPA decision-making, participation in JJCPA-funded programs, and research that led to alarming findings of poor JJCPA administration including amassing unspent funds, misuse of funds, and failure to comply with mandated processes.
SB 493 Co-sponsors:
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) California Action
- Alliance for Boys and Men of Color (ABMoC)
- Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
- Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, California
- Children’s Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA)
- Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ)
- Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)
- MILPA Collective
- National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
- W. Haywood Burns Institute
- Urban Peace Institute
- Youth Justice Coalition — Los Angeles (YJC)
Find out more about Senate Bill 493 (Bradford) The PROMYSE Act »
Contact: For more information on SB 493, please contact CJCJ Communications and Policy Analyst Renee Menart at renee@cjcj.org or (415) 621‑5661 x. 103.