Gault Center Publications
As you begin to move forward with your life after being involved in the juvenile court system, this guide provides information about what obstacles lay ahead and how to prepare yourself for them. The court and police paperwork about your case are called your “juvenile record.” This record can affect your life for years to…
As you begin to move forward with your life after being involved in the juvenile court system, this guide provides information about what obstacles lay ahead and how to prepare yourself for them. The court and police paperwork about your case are called your “juvenile record.” This record can affect your life for years to…
As you begin to move forward with your life after being involved in the juvenile court system, this guide provides information about what obstacles lay ahead and how to prepare yourself for them. The court and police paperwork about your case are called your “juvenile record.” This record can affect your life for years to…
A guide to frequently asked questions about juvenile court records.
Infographic on the importance of specialized youth defense practice.
Juvenile courts across the country charge young people and their families bail, fines, fees, costs, and restitution without regard to children’s inability to pay. Such financial assessments are common in criminal courts, but in juvenile courts the consequences of such practices are even more detrimental, as they are exacerbated by children’s financial dependence. Children may…
As you begin to move forward with your life after being involved in the juvenile court system, this guide provides information about what obstacles lay ahead and how to prepare yourself for them. The court and police paperwork about your case are called your “juvenile record.” This record can affect your life for years to…
As you begin to move forward with your life after being involved in the juvenile court system, this guide provides information about what obstacles lay ahead and how to prepare yourself for them. The court and police paperwork about your case are called your “juvenile record.” This record can affect your life for years to…
As you begin to move forward with your life after being involved in the juvenile court system, this guide provides information about what obstacles lay ahead and how to prepare yourself for them. The court and police paperwork about your case are called your “juvenile record.” This record can affect your life for years to…
Disposition determines the scope of the juvenile court system’s continued involvement in a child’s life and any infringements upon their liberty. While client-directed advocacy is important at all stages, it is critical at disposition, especially in cases when the client is facing a serious charge, has a significant court history, or is viewed as “high…
The National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) conducted a national survey on the practice and enforcement of supervision fees assessed for a child’s time on juvenile probation. Juvenile defenders and juvenile probation officers from the 50 states and D.C. were interviewed by NJDC legal staff to uncover the prevalence and impact of supervision fee practices on…
An infographic outlining steps towards a more effective juvenile defense system.
The Snapshot is based on a state-by-state analysis of the statutes that govern children’s access to counsel and interviews with juvenile defenders about how statutes and court rules translate into practice. The interviews were conducted with attorneys in urban and rural areas to explore differences in practices and resources. In total, 70 interviews were completed…
Models for Change is an effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice reform through targeted investments in key states, with core support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Models for Change seeks to accelerate the progress toward a more efficient, fair, and developmentally sound juvenile justice system that holds…
Benchcard on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth involved in the juvenile court system.
An introduction to the role and obligations of the juvenile defender at disposition in juvenile court.
Probation is the most common disposition in juvenile court when youth are adjudicated delinquent. In 2013, formal probation was ordered in 64% of adjudicated delinquency cases. Though intended to lead youth toward success, unwieldy conditions of probation can lead to technical violations and cause lasting harm in the lives of children, including removal from their…
Infographic on the disparate systems of juvenile defense across the United States and territories.
Fifty years ago, the United States Supreme Court said that children have fundamental rights in America’s courtrooms. In the nearly five decades since then, the promise of Gault has not been realized. It is time to fulfill that promise. Justice demands that all children in juvenile court have meaningful access to qualified counsel.
Fifty years ago, the United States Supreme Court afforded children fundamental rights in America’s courtrooms. In the nearly five decades since then, the promise of Gault has not been realized. It’s time to fulfill that promise. Justice demands that all children in juvenile court have meaningful access to qualified counsel. As part of our Gault…
Every jurisdiction is different and has different resources and laws governing whether children have access to counsel and at what stage in the proceedings. The recommendations that follow may be more difficult to implement in some jurisdictions than others. It is hoped that to the extent the recommendations cannot be fully implemented within your jurisdiction,…
An introduction to the role and obligations of the juvenile defender at disposition in juvenile court.
Infographic on building effective partnerships between defenders, clients, and families.