Friend –

Youth face unprecedented stresses and need our support to succeed. But forcing California's educators to call the cops for typical youthful misbehavior – even for something as minor as possession of cannabis – will never give students the safe and supportive environment they need.

Criminalizing California's youth is not the answer.

Even so, there's growing opposition to a proposal to eliminate some overreaching state laws that force California's educators to call police for certain types of incidents. Enacted in the 1990s in response to racially biased "tough on crime" rhetoric, these poorly conceived laws have resulted in Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other students of color being criminalized, pushed out of school, and denied their right to an education.

Show your support for California's youth and educators. Tell your assemblymember to empower educators, protect students, and restore educator discretion by supporting SB 1273.

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Decades of research show that even minimal negative contact with law enforcement causes long-term harm to young people. And for students of color and those with disabilities – who are far more likely than white students to be cited or arrested – the consequences of police encounters can be severe.

Our bill, SB 1273, will restore power to California's educators by giving them the flexibility to choose health-based approaches for their students – rather than forcing educators to call police for minor incidents involving certain kinds of behavior. In some cases, educators may face criminal penalties for failing to call law enforcement on youth entrusted to their care.

Criminalizing California's youth is not the answer. Speak up for our schools and our youth. Tell your assemblymember to vote YES on SB 1273. <[link removed]>

Thanks for taking action,


Carlos Marquez III

Executive Director, ACLU California Action

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