Also, the longer sentences called for by the initiative would raise costs for housing inmates. New prisons may also have to be built to handle the new prisoner load. Proposition 21 has garnered the support of most in the law enforcement community. Nevertheless, San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey and the National Black Police Officers Association have endorsements against Proposition 21. Youth advocates concerned about a provision in Proposition 21 which would require minors 16 and older convicted in adult court to spend their time jails with adult criminals in the California Department of Corrections.
Current law prohibits housing juvenile offenders with their adult counterparts.
If approved by voters, the criminal records of juvenile offenders would no longer be confidential as mandated by current law. The propositions provisions also bar the sealing of crime records for juveniles 14 or older who have committed a serious crime. Ignore all the arguments for or against. You'll see the changes aren't nearly as dramatic as the opponents say. They've blown it out of proportion.