Sacramento, CA – Governor Newsom has signed AB 1902 into law. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) authored the bill in direct response to the gaps in law she learned about over the last year studying the case of Adrian Gonzalez.
The Santa Cruz community was rocked to its core in 2015 when the body of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton was found after being brutally raped and murdered by Gonzalez. Gonzalez was three months shy of turning 16.
Due to several changes in the juvenile justice system, Gonzalez’s case was ultimately adjudicated in juvenile court in 2021. He was 21 years old at the time he was sent to a Secured Youth Treatment Facility in Sonoma County. Three years later, in 2024, Gonzalez was back in court. Fearing he still posed a danger to the community, the Santa Cruz District Attorney petitioned for an extension detention hearing. This was the first time any county in the state underwent a Welfare and Institutions Code §876 extension detention hearing.
“I approached this bill first and foremost as a mother and a member of the Santa Cruz Community,” said Assemblymember Pellerin. “Shortly after the conclusion of the extension detention hearing, I met with jurors who made the difficult decision that he was not safe to be released. I spoke with the District Attorney’s office about the challenges they faced, and I heard from community members whose grief and trauma were brought back to the surface all over again.”
County Probation initiates an extension detention hearing when a ward, nearing the end of their initial detention, is believed to still be a danger to the community. These hearings are meant for the rarest circumstances, when despite every effort, rehabilitation has not been achieved.
AB 1902 makes several important changes to the detention extension hearing process. These include clarifying jurisdictional authority, allowing either party to petition for a continuation, and ensuring applicability of California’s sensible mutual discovery obligations. AB 1902 also increases the maximum detention time from two years to up to three years, requiring courts to consider the evidence presented at trial and a clinical assessment when deciding on extended detention.
AB 1902 was sponsored by Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeff Rosell. Upon learning of the Governor’s action, Rosell shared, “We are grateful that Governor Newsom stands with crime victims and their families by signing AB 1902 into law. It is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when advocates, community members, and policymakers come together. We thank Assemblymember Pellerin for authoring this bill and shepherding it through the legislative process. We are proud to have helped make this progress possible.”
AB 1902 also had the local support of the Santa Cruz Police Department, Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center, Santa Cruz County Supervisor DeSerpa, and the Scotts Valley Police Department. Statewide support included the Peace Officers Association of California, the California District Attorneys Association, and the California Police Chiefs Association.
“AB 1902 makes significant changes to the extension detention process. Changes centered around critical procedural and legal clarification, and centered around honoring victims. I authored this bill because of the impact Maddy’s case had on our community,” said Assemblymember Pellerin. “Working on this bill over the last year highlighted that long after the headlines are gone, the pain surrounding the most unimaginable loss remains. I am thankful to Governor Newsom for acknowledging the balance this bill takes.”
AB 1902 takes effect January 1, 2027.
What others are saying about AB 1902’s signature:
“For over a decade, I have lived through hearing after hearing, forced to relive the worst details of my daughter's death in court every two years. For families like mine, AB 1902 is the difference between constantly bracing for the next hearing and finally having room to breathe. This bill also strengthens the extension detention process in significant ways. I thank Assemblymember Pellerin for pushing this bill, she understood the importance of this issue. Newsom’s signature won’t undo what happened to Madyson, but it will spare other families some of what mine has endured.” - Laura Jordan, mother of Madyson “Maddy” Middleton
"Advocating for AB 1902 in the Assembly and Senate alongside Laura Jordan has been a deeply moving journey. Our grassroots coalition, led by the ‘Friends of Maddy,’ flooded Sacramento with over 800 letters because we knew the status quo could not stand. We are immensely grateful to Assemblymember Gail Pellerin for her dedication, diligence, and leadership in authoring and fighting for this bill. The Governor signing this legislation means everything to our community—it transforms a local tragedy into a shield of safety for families statewide, proving that the voices of citizens can successfully fix the law to protect the vulnerable." – Shawna Spaulding, Santa Cruz Community Organizer
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin represents California’s 28th Assembly District including Santa Cruz County and parts of Santa Clara County. She chairs the Assembly Elections Committee and the Select Committee on California’s Mental Health Crisis. Courtesy photos can be found HERE.
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