Juvenile Defender Post-Disposition Practice Tool

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. We cannot expect young people to know how to navigate these issues on their own. If defender offices and legal practices are unable to provide post-disposition access to counsel, juvenile defenders should explore partnering with law school clinical programs and other local legal services agencies. No child should be left without legal counsel while in the deep end of the system.

This practice tool provides questions for consideration, strategies, and practice tips for post-disposition advocacy.