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Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer’s Bill That Removes the Mandatory Imposition of 180-Day Jail Time for Certain Drugs Heads to the Senate

(Sacramento – April 23, 2019,)  - This week the California State Assembly voted 45-28 to approve Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer’s (D- South Los Angeles) legislation that would remove the mandatory imposition of 180-days jail time as a condition of probation for the sale or transportation of cocaine, heroin and phencyclidine (PCP).

“Mandatory minimum sentences are an overly punitive and ineffective approach to reducing drug-related crimes and recidivism rates,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer. “Assembly Bill (AB) 484 does not eliminate the option for judges to order 180 days in jail. Instead, it allows the courts to better operate in the interest of justice by creating more flexibility to tailor sentences according to the facts of an individual’s case."

Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer Sr.’s “at-promise youth” bill passes the Assembly Committee on Public Safety

(Sacramento – April 23, 2019,)  - Today the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety passed Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer’s (D- South Los Angeles) Assembly Bill (AB) 413, that would address the stigma associated with the label “at-risk youth” by changing it to “at-promise youth” in California’s penal and education laws.

“Our education system has adopted the harmful term “at-risk youth” to label our most vulnerable students. That term connotes negativity and it must be changed,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer Sr. “The label ‘at-risk youth” comes from a mindset of deficit, and focuses on what children lack. As a state, we need to move away from this mentality that tells our children they are likely to fail. We must start referring to our youth as “at-promise” which focuses on a child’s immense potential to succeed in all aspects of life.”