Resource Library
“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.
Access Denied found that “[n]o jurisdiction in the United States wholly fulfills the constitutional promise of justice for children.” So, no matter where you live and practice, your jurisdiction can improve. As juvenile defense advocates, we have a responsibility to identify and work to correct systemic deficiencies and to honor our clients’ dignity and well-being.…
The National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC), in partnership with our regional juvenile defender centers and other key stakeholders, has embarked on a nationwide strategy to assess access to and quality of juvenile defense afforded to youth in conflict with the law. Because juvenile justice systems are a state and local responsibility, rather than a federal…
Heavy workloads and the culture in many courts can make it difficult for juvenile defenders to stay connected to clients post-disposition. Even after disposition in juvenile court, young people face legal issues that affect — and often threaten — their liberty, their safety, their due process and civil rights, and their access to future opportunities.…
An infographic outlining strategies for post-disposition advocacy.
This study examines the role of perceived phenotypic racial stereotypicality and race-based social identity threat on racial minorities’ trust and cooperation with police. We hypothesize that in police interactions, racial minorities’ phenotypic racial stereotypicality may increase race-based social identity threat, which will lead to distrust and decreased participation with police. Racial minorities (Blacks, Latinos, Native…
NJDC’s expert investigators visited Delaware’s three counties, where they conducted interviews with ODS staff and other juvenile court stakeholders, observed delinquency proceedings, and obtained information and reports from the Delaware Family Courts. Investigators also completed a statutory review of the state’s court rules, laws, and proposed legislation. It was readily apparent that those responsible for…
Disposition orders—commonly understood as sentencing—move children deeper into the juvenile court system. For example, some youth might be confined to secure custody or placed on probation. During the “post-disposition” phase, defenders must represent children at all probation and parole review or modification hearings, advise clients of their legal rights, explain their case options and possible…
A one-page infographic on juvenile appeal rates.
The Juvenile Committee of the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) and the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) have developed a Self-Assessment Tool that is intended to create an opportunity to reflect on practices in your office that you may not have considered before. We hope you will complete this assessment and fairly consider the…
After the disposition (sentencing) phase in juvenile court, a case moves into what may be the longest and most critical phase of the delinquency process—post-disposition. Post-disposition advocacy is vital to safeguard the constitutional rights of adjudicated youth and aid in community reintegration, and it encompasses a broad array of issues that affect adjudicated youth; yet,…
A robust and expeditious juvenile appellate practice ensures that youth are fully accorded their due process rights and is essential to developing a strong and cohesive body of juvenile jurisprudence. All children have a right to appeal their juvenile adjudications. Juvenile defenders are constitutionally mandated to confer with their young clients about their right to…
Post-disposition advocacy encompasses a broad array of issues that affect adjudicated youth. Such advocacy may entail engaging in appellate work; monitoring and engaging in direct advocacy related to safety, conditions of confinement, and parole; monitoring the implementation of disposition plans and actively participating in review hearings to ensure that the court is accurately informed about…
As stakeholders in the juvenile justice system try to reconcile the due process rights of children with the rehabilitative goal of the juvenile justice system, an understanding of the vast array of approaches being used may be helpful. To that end, NJDC has compiled this survey of statutes and cases from around the country that…
This tool is designed to assist juvenile defenders in assessing the quality of their detention advocacy. Defenders should check the box next to each step that they regularly take on behalf of a typical client. Upon completion of the checklist, defenders should review their answers to self-identify any gaps in their detention advocacy.
While Missouri stands out for its innovation in providing small, regionalized juvenile corrections programs, an effective juvenile justice system is not built solely upon the corrections options available to youth after they have navigated their way through a complex legal process. An effective juvenile justice system must encompass the foundational elements of fundamental fairness and…