Survey Methodology 1,042 online interviews with California adults 84% registered to vote Interviews conducted June 19-23, 2017 Interviews conducted online Quotas set to ensure representative, demographically-balanced sample Some percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding

Issue Context

Two in five know someone who was incarcerated and youth make up two-thirds of those cases. Do you have any close friends or family members who are or ever have been incarcerated? Were any of those friends or family members you know incarcerated before the age of 25? Total Yes 44% QD7. QD8. Asked Only if have friends or family members who are or were incarcerated

Only about half of California adults initially view youth prisons as an important issue. Below is a series of issues facing California cities and counties, as well as the state as a whole. Indicate how important this issue is to you. Ext./Very Impt. 87% 83% 81% 80% 79% 73% 49% QB3.

Drugs, employment, and quality of education are seen as the most serious local problems for youth. In a few words of your own, what would you say is the most serious problem facing youth in your community? Youth are smoking and drinking Not having good schools Social pressures and lack of clear guidance QB1. Open-Ended; Responses of 2% and Above Shown; Split Sample; n=521

Improved education, access to after-school programs, and job training are the most commonly mentioned positive changes. In a few words of your own, what is the one positive change you would most like to see happen to benefit youth in your community? More family events for the youth to have and maybe another youth center in our area Access to mental health More after school programs available QB2. Open-Ended; Responses of 2% and Above Shown; Split Sample; n=521

Support for Reducing Arrests/Closing Youth Prisons

More than two-thirds of Californians support reducing youth arrests and reliance on youth prisons. Some people have suggested that we should aim to reduce the number of youth arrests in California and rely less on youth prisons. Does this goal sound like something you would strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose? Total Support 68% Total Oppose 25% QB5.

In addition to reducing youth arrests, 61% support eliminating youth prisons entirely Others say we shouldn’t have youth prisons at all, and instead invest in holding young people accountable for wrong-doing in ways that don’t involve incarceration. Does this goal sound like something you would strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose? Total Support 61% Total Oppose 33% QB6.

The proposal to eliminate youth prisons is supported across genders, age, party and ethnicities. Demographic Group Total Support Total Oppose Don’t Know Gender Men 62% 34% 4% Women 60% 32% 7% Age 18-49 63% 5% 50-64 59% 35% 6% 65+ 57% 39% Ethnicity Latinos 61% 36% 2% African-Americans 30% 8% Asians/Pacific Islander 56% 29% 16% People of Color Whites Party Democrats 67% 29% 5% Independents 60% 34% 7% Republicans 50% 47% 2% QB6. Others say we shouldn’t have youth prisons at all, and instead invest in holding young people accountable for wrong-doing in ways that don’t involve incarceration. Does this goal sound like something you would strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose?

Residents of the Bay Area and Central Valley are especially supportive. Demographic Group Total Support Total Oppose Don’t Know Region Los Angeles County 61% 34% 5% Counties Surrounding Los Angeles 57% 38% Bay Area 68% 26% 6% San Diego 55% 36% 8% Sacramento/Rural North 56% 35% 9% Central Valley/Central Coast 66% 30% 4% Voters Non-Voters 63% 11% QB6. Others say we shouldn’t have youth prisons at all, and instead invest in holding young people accountable for wrong-doing in ways that don’t involve incarceration. Does this goal sound like something you would strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose?

Jail is a learning environment about future crime. Actual Responses Given When Respondents Were Asked Why They Support Closing Youth Prisons Putting kids in prison is only going to make them angrier when they are released. Teaching them self discipline is a better answer. Jail is a learning environment about future crime. Imprisoning them can turn some of them into criminals and they will go on to do bigger and worse crimes. Incarceration often tends to make the youth get hardened, while they could be better assisted outside prison walls. Sending a youth to prison is destroying the young person's future and guaranteeing that the young person will not be a productive member of society. It all depends on the crime/misdemeanor. Just because they're children doesn't mean they shouldn't be taught lessons. Our prison and incarceration system doesn't work with many that get out reoffending. We need a better system, especially for youth for which will have a better opportunity to change their future.

Additional Background Provided California has one of the nation’s largest youth prison systems, with more than 125 state and county lockups that cost taxpayers more than $1 billion a year. About 6,000 young people, nearly all under the age of 18, are locked up on any given day. Three fourths of them are incarcerated for non-violent offenses such as theft, vandalism or running away from home. African-Americans and Latinos make up 80% of incarcerated youth, and are locked up more often than white youth who commit the same offenses.

Once respondents learned more about the issue, support for closing youth prisons increased by seven percentage points. Total Support 68% Total Oppose 26% QB9.

Reactions to Facts About Youth Prisons

Facts about abuse, recidivism, rates of teen pregnancy, and unmet mental health needs are most concerning. Next, is a series of facts describing the juvenile justice system in California. Please indicate whether you find this fact extremely concerning, very concerning, somewhat concerning, or not concerning. If you don’t believe it, you can select that too Ext./Very Conc. 80% 79% 77% QB10. Split Sample

The unfair treatment of black and brown youth and inadequate education in youth prisons are also concerning. Ext./Very Conc. 75% 74% QB10. Next, is a series of facts describing the juvenile justice system in California. Please indicate whether you find this fact extremely concerning, very concerning, somewhat concerning, or not concerning. If you don’t believe it, you can select that too. Split Sample

The treatment of youth with disabilities and similarities to the adult prison model are seen as very concerning. Ext./Very Conc. 72% 71% 70% QB10. Next, is a series of facts describing the juvenile justice system in California. Please indicate whether you find this fact extremely concerning, very concerning, somewhat concerning, or not concerning. If you don’t believe it, you can select that too. Split Sample

Support for Alternatives to Youth Prisons

Restorative justice, community reinvestment, and ensuring providers are equipped to deal with youth trauma are the most strongly supported alternatives to youth prisons. Total Supp. Total Opp. 89% 11% 88% 12% QB16. You will read about specific policies California could adopt to prevent youth arrests and reduce the number of youth who are incarcerated with the goal of ultimately eliminating juvenile incarceration. For each, please indicate if it sounds like something you would strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose.

Respondents also supported an array of other policies, although less intensely. Total Supp. Total Opp. 86% 14% 85% 15% QB16. You will read about specific policies California could adopt to prevent youth arrests and reduce the number of youth who are incarcerated with the goal of ultimately eliminating juvenile incarceration. For each, please indicate if it sounds like something you would strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose.