Families from across California gathered near the State Capitol Monday morning, calling for changes to Proposition 57, the state’s criminal justice reform law.
Organizers say the current law makes it harder to hold teens accountable for violent crimes.
The rally got underway around 10 a.m. Monday in downtown Sacramento, drawing families, advocates, and lawmakers focused on how the law impacts juvenile cases, particularly whether it should be easier to try some teens as adults in serious crimes.
The event comes just days after AB 2040, also known as Lorenzo’s Law, failed to move forward in the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a narrow 4 to 3 vote. Supporters of that bill say it would have made it easier for juveniles to be charged as adults in violent cases.
Supporters of Proposition 57, however, argue the law allows judges time to review each case and determine whether a young offender can be rehabilitated before deciding if they should face adult charges.
For many at Monday’s rally, the issue is deeply personal. Families at the event shared stories of loved ones lost in cases involving teen violence.
Susan Grote, who lost multiple family members in a violent crime, spoke about why she joined the protest.
“My family was [killed in] a quadruple homicide… It’s just horrific to see all these families out here fighting for the same thing. It’s good because we know there’s power in numbers, but just looking at the fact that the juveniles are being released after four to five years is heartbreaking,” Grote said.
One of the organizers behind the rally is Stephen Quick, a Central Valley father whose 18-year-old son, Caleb Quick, was shot and killed in Clovis in 2025. Quick says his experience navigating the court system is what pushed him to advocate for changes to Proposition 57.
“When I learned of the laws and the mountain we had to climb up against, (that’s) really what got me out of my seat and said, you know, this is not right for the two individuals to get pretty much a slap… We’re asking for real teen accountability… real public safety… we want common sense to be common again,” Quick said.
Families and speakers at the rally are calling on lawmakers to lower the legal threshold to try some teens as adults in violent crimes, arguing the current system does not go far enough in holding offenders accountable.
The event will continue through early Monday afternoon, with multiple speakers scheduled to address the crowd at the State Capitol.