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Finishing Strong, SAMO High Hosts Voices for Juvenile Justice, June 6, 2011

Santa Monica High School STF concluded the year with a speakers’ panel on juvenile justice. Over 80 students attended the event featuring viewpoints on reconciliation and forgiveness for juvenile crime.

Facilitated by Chaplin Javier Stauring, speakers included: Jermaine Subia, formerly incarcerated youth, now Los Angeles City employee, writer and filmmaker; Brandy Novak, relative of juvenile life-without-parolee; and, Rita Chairez, family member of victims of juvenile crime.

All speakers expressed that victims, offenders and their families experience a similar sense of loss in a court system that does not provide reconciliation. “The courts tell you, ‘You can’t apologize - you can't see them [victims' families],’” said Ms. Novak, “But I know in my heart it’s the right thing to do.”

Currently, the California State Assembly Members are debating Senate Bill 9, a measure that seeks to give those serving juvenile life-without-parole a chance to have their case reheard and possibly resentenced. Passage of SB 9 would bring California one step closer to an international standard that states it is inhumane to give children life-sentences (Article 40, Convention on the Rights of Child).

Carson STF Pushes for Fair Sentencing at Critical Moment, May 26, 2011

Despite pressures of AP exams and class finals, three seniors and one junior from Carson High School’s STF visited the district office of Senator Ted Lieu just hours after the California Senate Appropriations Committee passed Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) out of committee on a vote of 6 to 2, including an “aye” from Sen. Lieu.

Although Senator Lieu voted "No", SB 9 was passed the following week in the Senate in a 21 to 16 vote on Wednesday, June 1. The CA Assembly is expected to hear SB 9 in the summer 2011.

The STF student delegates thanked the senator’s staff for their support of SB 9 and presented 280 signatures urging for further reforms for youth serving juvenile life-without-parole sentences (JLWOP). Currently, there are over 290 youth with JLWOP sentences in California, and over 2,500 youth in the United States. The US remains the only country in the world to give minors this extreme sentence. For more information, please visit www.FairSentencingForYouth.org.

During the open house, Mayor Jim Dear of Carson made a surprise visit to tour the Camp and speak with students. Over 500 students and guest toured the tents over the course of two days!

STF and LA Network join forces for juvenile justice research day, March 6, 2011

On Sunday, March 6th STF leaders from Palisades Charter High School and Valencia High School attended a strategy session for Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) held by Human Rights Watch's LA Network. Palisades co-President, Julian Duarte, and Valencia co-Presidents Laurent and Audrey Abergel spent the day researching various organizations, important individuals, and groups who might support SB 9.

Special guest and HRW California Advocate Elizabeth Calvin led the meeting with an inspirational speech about SB 9, fueling the drive to continue the intensive research. Though it was an early Sunday morning for these STF members it was an early start to creating change.

STF meets with incarcerated youth at high-security facility, February 7, 2011

Representatives from ten STF chapters visited youth at the Southern Youth Correctional Reception Center and Clinic in Norwalk, CA. This state facility houses youth convicted of felonies, including those serving juvenile life-without-parole sentences. Our meeting was the first of its kind between "inside" and "outside" youth addressing the causes and impact of juvenile crime for the victim, offender and the community. Together, youth inside and out will organize events during the Week of Faith and Healing, March 7 to 11, to raise awareness of extreme sentencing for youth, while advocating for increased support and rehabilitation programs for detained youth.

In a reflection, one STF student stated, "As I left the facility today we were instructed to leave through the exit and the incarcerated were to remain in their seats...I was leaving with the door wide open for me to pursue my dreams, to see my family, and to my whole future right in front of me. In contrast, the young men I left had the door locked and shut in their faces – with the devastating reality that they had made mistakes in their lives and may never have a chance to right their wrong. People change and society can change, but someone must be there to initiate this change. It’s time to spread awareness about this issue."

Read a full Op-Ed on our visit in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, written by two STF students.

STF featured at the Human Rights Watch Voices for Justice Dinner, November 15, 2010

The Student Task Force partnered with the Human Rights Watch California Committee South at the HRW Annual Dinner to highlight our work on the rights of children locally. With the continued support of HRW staff and local donors, over 50 students and teacher advisors represented STF as we featured three tents from our Children's Rights Camp - Juvenile Justice, LGBT Rights, and Child Farmworkers.

In addition, STF leaders met directly with awarded HRW Defenders Dr. Steave Nemande of Cameroon, and Tong Yi, representative of Liu Xiaobo of China. Tong Yi shared her reflections as a student during the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident and the continuing need for freedom of speech and basic rights in a quickly-growing China. Dr. Nemande expressed his hopes for the LGBT community in Cameroon to not be abused but to be understood, accepted and provided for in society.

STF student presidents from Wildwood School and intern Deepti Immaraju presented to over 50 students at the fall workshop of YouThink, an organization that trains students in Los Angeles public schools and universities to become leaders and effective advocates for social change. STF introduced the Convention on the Rights of the Child and led a discussion on the protection of children's rights in Los Angeles and around the world. YouThink students had an opportunity to look at one of the Children's Rights Camp tents to plan their campaign to advocate for access to education in their schools. We are excited to partner with YouThink in our education efforts this year!

View the presentation on the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A delegation of Student Task Force leaders presented to 20 educators and human rights activists at the Facing History & Ourselves Teachers Workshop on October 7. Students demonstrated how human rights education leads to action by highlighting their recent campaign work on the Fair Sentencing for Youth Act (SB 399) and Juvenile Justice reform in California.

View our Human Rights Education page.