LOS ANGELES COUNTY : State Asked to Study Juvenile Justice Reforms

The Board of Supervisors has asked Gov. Pete Wilson to call a special session of the Legislature to study gang violence and juvenile justice system reforms.

“Our juvenile justice system was designed for an era long gone, when most of the offenses committed by juveniles were nonviolent or minor. Times have changes and the system must be changed,” said Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who made the motion asking for the special session.

“More than anything else, the people of California want to feel safe. Unfortunately gang violence ends the possibility of security for so many Californians,” he said Tuesday.

Antonovich said he hopes a special session will result in legislation allowing more juvenile offenders to be sent to the adult prison system. He is also looking for support for tough juvenile boot camps.

He introduced the motion days after the fatal shooting of Justin Richards, a 12-year-old from Altadena, and a shooting near a Little League baseball field in which six young men were wounded. Police believe both incidents were gang-related.