Pendulum Juvenile Justice

We at Pendulum Juvenile Justice, the legislative arm of The Pendulum Foundation, lend our enthusiastic support to former Representative Cheri Jahn in her quest to become Senate District 20’s senator. 

Members and supporters of The Pendulum Foundation and Pendulum Juvenile Justice have worked with Cheri Jahn for nearly 7 years. We know Cheri to be a tireless champion of children’s rights. As a member of the judiciary committee, she spoke up on behalf of “the least among us” – 14-15-16- and 17-year-olds sentenced to die behind bars.  At a time when few even knew that children were receiving life in prison without possibility of parole, Cheri methodically investigated their cases and saw the fundamental injustice. Cheri learned that children are treated differently from adults. In truth they generally receive harsher sentences than adults for the same crime.

Cheri said, “This is wrong. We have to make it right.”

Because Cheri has always been a strong supporter of law enforcement, as well as victims, it took tremendous courage to oppose her friends. Yet, as a student of history, Cheri also understood that locking kids away is a VERY recent phenomenon. Until the late eighties and early nineties, our justice system largely treated children as children.  It was only when politicians and the media began scaring the public with largely fictitious crime waves that legislators rushed to increase sentences and build new prisons. The law of unintended consequences kicked in – and children became its forgotten victims.

Cheri has worked tirelessly to rectify that injustice. She helped pass the nation’s first reduction of life sentences for juveniles. She was the driving force behind America’s first juvenile clemency board.

Cheri's enlightened vision has proven prescient. An exploding corrections budget and an imploding state budget have painfully highlighted the folly of our outmoded 20th century policies.
Just as Cheri was in the forefront of juvenile justice reform, she will bring her experience, expertise and passion to the legislature in other areas and on behalf of all her constituents.
We wholeheartedly support Cheri Jahn in her campaign to become District 20's newest senator.
Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Johnson, Executive Director
www.pendulumfoundation.com