Concerns raised after increase in minors being petitioned for adult court in Alameda County

The Alameda County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission raised concerns about an alarming increase in adult transfer petitions, with six juvenile cases pending compared to only three from 2014 to 2023. Vice Chair Elana Metz pointed out that this represents 10% of the youth currently in custody, which contradicts the juvenile justice system's goal of rehabilitation. Chair Vamsey Palagummi highlighted that all six cases involve murder charges, marking a significant shift from previous administrations' practices. Assistant Public Defender Alphonso Mance clarified that filing a transfer notice does not necessarily mean the youth will be tried as adults. District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson's office stated that no transfer hearings have taken place yet.

Brenda Grisham from the group SAFE criticized the previous administration for not allowing minors to be considered for adult court, claiming that serious crimes should warrant such considerations. However, the Alameda County Public Defenders Office refuted this claim, stating that the prior D. A. filed at least three transfer petitions. The commission aims to ensure transparency in the transfer process to prevent cases from being overlooked.