2000 California Proposition 21


California Proposition 21, known also as Prop 21, was a proposition proposed and passed in 2000 that increased a variety of criminal penalties for crimes committed by youth and incorporated many youth offenders into the adult criminal justice system. Major provisions of the proposition, as summarized by Attorney General of California are:
The proposition received considerable controversy and was subject to vigorous protests by youth and human rights groups. Judges also expressed concern that the law eliminated checks and balances inherent to juvenile fitness hearings, as it effectively placed the power to try juvenile offenders squarely in the hands of a district attorney. Nevertheless, Proposition 21 was eventually passed. Opponents included the Californians for Justice, the Critical Resistance Youth Force Coalition, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. Prop 21 received the support of 62.1% of the voters while 37.9% voted against the proposition. Only the comparatively liberal counties of the San Francisco Bay Area voted by majority against the measure.

Results of vote

In February 2001, state Court of Appeal in San Diego invalidated provisions of the law requiring 14- to 17-year-olds to be tried in the adult courts. In February 2002, the Supreme Court of California reversed the Court of Appeal's holding and allowed the provisions to stand as written.