Resource Library
Creates a case for holding states liable for abdicating their duty to ensure that all children have zealous representation.
School-based arrests have long made up a substantial number of cases in the juvenile legal system. As a result, youth defenders often represent clients who have been seized, searched, or interrogated on school grounds. This guide provides a general overview of the law governing school seizures, searches, and interrogations and practice tips for challenging evidence…
Young people and their families are routinely assessed fees, fines, and other costs in delinquency matters. These financial assessments are often ordered without an ability-to-pay analysis by the court. A young person’s inability to pay can lead to long-lasting consequences, increased recidivism, and youth and their families having to choose between paying fees or buying…
The goal of this guide is to give you helpful information about how your juvenile record might impact you as you move forward in your life. If you have ever been arrested under the age of 18, the police and court may create a file about your case, which is part of your “juvenile record.”…
Provides a framework for developing effective youth defense systems.
When the Gault Center launched the Campaign Against Indiscriminate Juvenile Shackling in 2014, only 13 states had legislation, court rules, or caselaw limiting indiscriminate shackling in juvenile court. Today, 39 states, DC, and Puerto Rico limit or prohibit the indiscriminate shackling of children, while just 11 states do not. Feedback from people in jurisdictions that…
In 2014, only 13 states had legislation, court rules, or caselaw limiting indiscriminate shackling in juvenile court. Today, 39 states, DC, and Puerto Rico limit or prohibit the indiscriminate shackling of children, while just 11 states do not. This one-pager highlights the progress made across the country from 2014-2024 and the harms of indiscriminate shackling.