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 Photo by Nadine Batya |
Children
are filling our juvenile courts every day without the support of a true
advocate to help them and their families understand the system. Despite
the fact the every child accused of a crime has a right to a defense
attorney, young people across the state are finding themselves facing
serious legal consequences without a dedicated juvenile defender to
fight on their behalf. Not only are children and their families rarely
aware of their legal rights, few public defenders have the time or
resources to explain them, let alone adequately represent them.
A recent report entitled The Children Left Behind
describes the numerous barriers to effective representation for
delinquent youth in Louisiana, including crushing caseloads, lack of
training and supervision, inadequate funding, high use of pleas and
waiver, and an over-reliance on probation officers. In July 2002, the
American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center released The Children Left Behind Annual Update.
The Annual Update was prepared in collaboration with the Juvenile
Justice Project of Louisiana in order to update stakeholders on the
status of juvenile defense since the publication of the original ABA
assessment last June.
By fighting to keep young people out of the system and
advocating for appropriate community-based interventions when
necessary, zealous advocates ensure that children have the best
opportunities for success, thereby strengthening both the communities
where they live and the core values of the juvenile justice system.
Without effective advocacy too many children are placed in prisons
without any effective accountability interventions and with a high
likelihood of repeating criminal behavior when they are released. More
devastatingly, opportunities for personal growth and development are
damaged when youth are locked away from their homes and families. JJPL
recognizes the crucial role the juvenile defender plays in protecting
children and ultimately, their communities. As such, JJPL represents
juvenile clients in individual cases throughout the state through its Post Disposition Project and works to build the capacity of Louisiana’s juvenile public defenders by providing support, consultation and training, as well as pushing for system-wide reform and increased resources for juvenile public defenders.
Schools First Education Advocacy
OUR Mission: The
mission of Schools First is to reduce the number of children in New Orleans entering the
Juvenile Justice System through school removal and exclusion and increase
institutional accountability for meeting the needs and protecting the rights of
all children. We reach our mission through advocacy, policy reform, technical
assistance, and coalition building.
For more information click here
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