Parents Unite to Fight Unfair Sentencing

Parents of teenagers who have been charged in violent crimes are scheduled to hold a press conference in front of the County Courthouse at noon on Thursday, April 22, to call attention to what they fear is a growing trend of unfairly harsh sentencing for young offenders. Called P.A.D.R.E.S — which stands for Parents Against Discrimination Racism and Extreme Sentencing — and comprised of people from both sides of State Street, the group is pushing for more vocational training and job opportunities for kids and asking that authorities not simply send them to jail for decades. They pledge “to pursue just and fair sentencing for youth through solidarity and empowerment of traditionally underrepresented families, ensuring equal rights for all.”