Arizona: Bringing Gault Home, An Assessment of Access to and Quality of Juvenile Defense Counsel Released on September 25, 2018, Arizona: Bringing Gault Home, An Assessment of Access to and Quality of Juvenile Defense Counsel, is based on interviews, court observations, and research conducted by a team of expert investigators who analyzed Arizona’s juvenile courts and juvenile defense systems. (Click…
Topic Archive: State Assessments
An assessment of the quality of and access to juvenile defense counsel in a particular state.
Delaware Assessment
Delaware: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings Released on July 12, 2017, the Delaware Assessment is based on interviews, observation, and research conducted by a team of expert investigators who analyzed Delaware Family Courts over a span of months. While promising practices have been implemented statewide, there is still…
DOJ Issues Findings Report on Juvenile Due Process in St. Louis County
On July 31, 2015, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division issued historic Findings in the Investigation of the St. Louis Family Court stating that there is reason to believe that the St. Louis Family Court engages in conduct that violates the constitutional guarantees of Due Process and Equal Protection under the law. Citing the National Juvenile Defender…
New York Resources
Juvenile Delinquency: Legal Updates and Overview Brief Outline of JD Proceedings An overview of Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings JD Overview for Defenders In-depth analysis of stages of JD proceedings and explication of the role of the attorney representing the child Case Checklist A handy checklist to prepare a delinquency case Case Updates (Jan. 2013 – mid-…
Florida Juvenile Rules Amendments
Since 2006 the release of the National Juvenile Defender Center Assessment’s Florida: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings, advocates in Florida have made the following changes to the Florida Rules Juvenile Rules in order to ameliorate impediments to effective juvenile defense. The changes outlined below can be found in…
Virginia Assessment
Virginia: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (October 2002) Summaries and Press Releases: Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center & JustChildren Program Press Release News Coverage: Juvenile system flawed? Richmond Times-Dispatch October 2, 2002 Toss a lifetime to Virginia’s juveniles The Roanoke Times October 3, 2002 National Public…
Missouri Assessment
Missouri: Justice Rationed: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Juvenile Delinquency Court (Spring 2013) Summaries and Press Releases: Missouri Executive Summary Press Release DOJ 2015 Report on Violations of Due Process in St. Louis Family Court News Coverage: Despite positive reputation, Missouri’s juvenile justice system has serious systemic problems…
Colorado Assessment
Colorado: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings (Winter 2012) Summaries and Press Releases: NJDC & Colorado Juvenile Defender Center Press Release Legislative Follow-Up: Following NJDC’s Assessment, the State Legislature established a legislative study committee to investigate issues raised in the assessment. Following the Interim Committee’s…
Kentucky Assessment
Kentucky – Advancing Justice: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (September 2002) News Coverage: Report finds Kentucky improving legal help for poor youths The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) September 24, 2002 Youths Get Day in Court The Kentucky Post September 24, 2002
Pennsylvania Assessment
Pennsylvania: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (October 2003) Summaries and Press Releases: One-Page Report Description American Bar Association Press Release Juvenile Law Center Press Release News Coverage: The Malvo Sniper Case and Juvenile Justice National Public Radio November 10, 2003 American Bar Association reports…
Maryland Assessment
Maryland: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (October 2003) Summaries and Press Releases: One-Page Report Description American Bar Association Press Release Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center Press Release News Coverage: The Malvo Sniper Case and Juvenile Justice National Public Radio November 10, 2003 American Bar Association reports…
Maine Assessment
Maine: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (October 2003) Summaries and Press Releases: One-Page Report Description American Bar Association Press Release New England Juvenile Defender Center Press Release News Coverage: The Malvo Sniper Case and Juvenile Justice National Public Radio November 10, 2003 American Bar Association…
Ohio Assessment
Ohio—Justice Cut Short: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (March 2003) Summaries and Press Releases: Report Summary Central Juvenile Defender Center Press Release News Coverage: Juvenile injustice The Beacon Journal March 17, 2003 Study: System fails accused youth in Ohio; Legal aid lacking; courts are ‘dumping…
West Virginia Assessment
West Virginia: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Juvenile Delinquency Court (Spring 2010) Summaries and Press Releases: West Virginia Assessment Press Release Letter of Support from Chief Justice Robin Davis News Coverage: Juvenile Attorneys Review Report West Virginia Metro News June 24, 2010 Report criticizes handling of juvenile…
Florida Assessment
Florida: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (Fall 2006) In Florida, like in many states where NJDC has conducted statewide assessments, advocates have been able to use the Assessment as a road map for substantive reform aimed at eliminating barriers that inhibit access to and quality of defense counsel.…
Mississippi Assessment
Mississippi: An Assessment of Access to Counsel & Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (Fall 2007) Summaries and Press Releases: Press Release – Mississippi Youth Justice Project News Coverage: Report gives state’s Youth Court system scathing review Clarion Ledger November 28, 2007 Money sought for youth, Court system not working for them Sun…
Louisiana Assessment
The Children Left Behind: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings in Louisiana (June 2001) Report Updates: Updated Report – The Children Left Behind: A Review of the Status of Defense for Louisiana’s Children and Youth in Delinquency Proceedings (August 2002) …
Texas Assessment
Selling Justice Short: Juvenile Indigent Defense in Texas (October 2000) News Coverage: Study faults juvenile justice for poor Houston Chronicle October 24, 2000
Indiana Assessment
Indiana: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (April 2006) Summaries and Press Releases: Press Release News Coverage: Study: Courts failing poor youths The Indianapolis Star April 12, 2006 Study: Juveniles Routinely Waive Rights Under Pressure The Indianapolis Star April 12, 2006
Illinois Assessment
Illinois: An Assessment of Access to Counsel & Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (October 2007) Press Releases: Justice Policy Institute Northwestern University News Coverage: Illinois Riddled With Issues of Juvenile Access to Counsel, Fair Representation Juvenile Justice Information Exchange February 5, 2014 Meet ’em and plead ’em St. Louis Post-Dispatch November 1, 2007…
Nebraska Assessment
Juvenile Legal Defense: A Report on Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation for Children in Nebraska (Fall 2009) News Coverage: Ted Rubin, The Legal Defense of Juveniles: Struggling But Pushing Forward, Juvenile Justice Update, June/July 2010.
Washington State Assessment
Washington: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Juvenile Offender Matters (October 2003) Summaries and Press Releases: One-Page Report Description American Bar Association Press Release Washington Defender Association Press Release News Coverage: American Bar Association reports explore juvenile defense systems The Daily Record of Rochester November 7, 2003 Lawyers…
Montana Assessment
Montana: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (October 2003) Summaries and Press Releases: One-Page Report Description ABA Press Release Albin Law Office Press Release News Coverage: American Bar Association reports explore juvenile defense systems The Daily Record of Rochester November 7, 2003 Lawyers for Juveniles New…
Georgia Assessment
Georgia: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (August 2001) Summaries and Press Releases: Press Release from the Southern Center for Human Rights News Coverage: Editorial: Juveniles receive shortcut justice Atlanta Journal-Constitution August 7, 2001
South Carolina Assessment
South Carolina: Juvenile Indigent Defense – A Report on Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings (Winter 2010) Press Releases and Summaries: Executive Summary News Coverage: Ted Rubin, The Legal Defense of Juveniles: Struggling But Pushing Forward, Juvenile Justice Update, June/July 2010.