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The NAACP and Florida Democrats are joining forces to reform the way Florida deals with minors who committee crimes.

The groups held a joint news conference today at the state capitol. They say too many teens are being locked up and in some cases the kids are being jailed in adult prisons. A teen who goes by JP spoke out at the conference. He was jailed in Polk County and says he was beaten by inmates and pepper sprayed by guards.

“They had came and blindsided me and I got hit in the face. Seven of them came from behind me. I got slammed. Beat up real bad. After that I got pepper sprayed,” said JP.

Democrats are calling for lighter penalties for teens who committee misdemeanors.