Resource Library
On May 5, 2021, NJDC presented at an Illinois Summit about our report, Due Process in the Time of COVID. The presentation may be useful to other jurisdictions as they consider continuing to use technology to hold court hearings virtually as the pandemic wanes.
On March 24, 2021, NJDC and the Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center hosted a webinar titled FASD & Youth: What Defenders Need to Know. This video includes information about FASD provided by Dr. Larry Burd. Portions of the webinar addressing defense strategies have been edited out of this public version. Description of the webinar: Approximately five…
We all want young people to thrive. But referring them to the juvenile court system often gets in the way. Learn how to help youth mature into thriving adults. Check out www.njdc.info/futuresinthebalance. Video by Next Day Animations (www.nextdayanimations.com).
This is the sixth in a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. In this video, Judge Ernestine S. Gray discusses how understanding of the developmental capacities of young people can impact judicial decision-making at every stage of a juvenile case.
NJDC is proud to partner with the Players Coalition to eliminate barriers to that prevent young people from accessing their constitutional right to counsel.
This is the fifth in a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. In this video, Dr. Antoinette Kavanaugh talks about the things we can do to help young people develop in positive ways.
This is the sixth in a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. In this video, Judge Karen Ashby reviews how adolescent development plays into considerations of positive youth development, racial justice, and procedural justice in juvenile courts.
Principle 3: Adolescents develop at different rates socially, emotionally, physically, & cognitively
This is the third in a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. In this video, Dr. Antoinette Kavanaugh explains the science behind adolescent development and how it impacts youth decision-making.
This is the fourth in a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. In this video, Dr. Antoinette Kavanaugh discusses how prior traumatic experiences may influence how young people interact with others and their environment.
This is the second of a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. In this video, Judge Ernestine S. Gray discusses how developmental concepts argue against harsher treatment of young people.
This is the first in a 7-part training video series for juvenile and family court judges on concepts of adolescent development. This video includes the introduction, followed by Judge Karen Ashby discussing the U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence relevant to adolescent development.
“What we know is that when access to justice depends on a child’s ability to pay for their own defense, the disparities of class, race, and ethnicity are magnified.”
New England Patriot Devin McCourty and Players Coalition team up with the National Juvenile Defender Center to raise awareness that far too many young people in juvenile court don’t ever get lawyers.
On January 30th, 2019, the Players Coalition Charitable Foundation unveiled its 2019 plan to impact racial and social inequality and also announced its 2018-19 support of six national non-profit organizations at a press conference. Players Coalition Co-Founders Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins presented the Coalition’s direction for the next year. At the press conference, NJDC…
NJDC Executive Director, Mary Ann Scali and NJDC Gault Fellow, Aneesa Khan, host a webinar on decreasing the pretrial detention of young people in the juvenile justice system. Presenters review juvenile cash bail laws and discuss a national snapshot of states where cash bail is being used to detain rather than release youth. The webinar…
Kristina Kersey, Assistant Deputy at the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender discusses the importance of juvenile defense training and NJDC
Investing in young people by becoming a lawyer. “I had seen the kind of treatment that children received when they went to juvenile court… and I decided that I wanted to try and help people by becoming a public defender.” – NYU School of Law’s Vice Dean and NJDC Board Member, Randy Hertz Reimagine Juvenil…
“Not once does the judge or probation officer explain how expensive it’s going to be if you plead guilty without an attorney… The probation officer that said, ‘it’s really expensive to have a lawyer,’ neglected to say ‘it’s really expensive to have a probation officer.’” – NJDC’s Legal Director, Tim Curry on children waiving the…
In a nationwide effort to improve Juvenile defense, we conduct state-specific assessments that provide comprehensive examinations of the systemic and institutional barriers that prevent #YoungPeople from receiving high-quality legal representation. Working to make sure that all children are afforded full protection of their constitutional, civil, and human rights.
Executive Director, Mary Ann Scali at John Jay College on Young People, Justice, and Defending Children
This checklist can be used to assess the presence of constitutional violations throughout the course of a client’s case. Please refer to the National Youth Defense Systems Standards and their accompanying User Guide for litigation strategies to challenge potential constitutional violations noted in this checklist.
This User Guide provides advocates with a step-by-step outline of how to actualize the vision of the National Youth Defense System Standards to equip and invest in youth defense teams to fight for the liberation of all youth. The User Guide outlines constitutional rights detailed in the System Standards, provides a checklist to assess the…
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Pemiscot County, Division I Thirty-Fourth Judicial Circuit, Pemiscot County No. 18PE-JU00022 The Honorable W. Keith Currie, Judge