Committee Hears Testimony for ‘Youth Hope Act’ to Allow Earlier ISRB Review for People Convicted as Youth

House Community Safety Committee Chair Goodman heard public testimony on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, on House Bill 1111, known in testimony as the Youth Hope Act, a proposal that would change when people who committed offenses as juveniles can petition the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board for early release.

The bill, presented by Representative Daria Farvar (46th Legislative District), would alter the ISRB petition eligibility for people convicted of crimes committed before age 18: under the proposal a person would need to reach age 24 (instead of serving at least 20 years), could not have a new conviction in the 12 months prior to filing, and would be screened for disqualifying serious infractions as defined by both the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children, Youth, and Family (DCYF). The bill also caps annual ISRB review of newly eligible petitions at 70 per year until July 1, 2035, specifies a prioritization order, authorizes the Department of Corrections to provide rental vouchers for released petitioners, and…