Youth Advocacy
	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. 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.
	URL: http://www.jjpl.org/WhatWeDo/YouthAdvocacy/youthadvocacy.html