FFPSA: Advocacy and Enforcement Template Letters

A host of new “Complex Care” supports and forms of assistance have been put into place to help develop innovative, highly individualized service models to ensure young people are always in the least restrictive placement and with family whenever possible. More information about these supports is available in the California Department of Social Services’ Complex […]

A.M. v. Holmes Amicus Brief

Amicus brief filed with US Supreme Court in A.M. v. Holmes, challenging the arrest of a 13 year old New Mexico boy for “fake burping” and laughing in class (criminalizing normal behavior)

Letter to Attorney General

Letter by Coalition of 177 children’s rights, civil rights, faith based and immigrant rights’ groups urging AB to halt government’s practice of pursing immigration proceedings against children who do not have counsel

SJ Mercury News Article on SB 838

Article discusses controversial bill SB 838 “Audrie’s Law” which would create a new crime for “sexting”, reduce confidentiality in juvenile court hearings, and expand the number of juveniles tried in the adult criminal system. The article quotes YLC Staff Attorney Sue Burrell,

SB 166 – Bill re Training Juvenile Delinquency Attorneys

SB 166 requires Judicial Council to establish minimum hours of training and education necessary in order to be appointed as counsel in delinquency proceedings. These training hours may be counted toward the minimum continuing legal education hours required by the State Bar of California. California lawyers are already required to complete (and pay for) 25 […]

SB 166 Fact Sheet: Training for Juvenile Delinquency Attorneys

Factsheet for SB 166 that would require Judicial Council to establish minimum hours of training and education necessary in order to be appointed as counsel in delinquency proceedings. These training hours may be counted toward the minimum continuing legal education hours required by the State Bar of California. California lawyers are already required to complete […]

Juvenile Defense Attorneys Speak Out

Daily Journal article that explores the special skills and training needed to represent young people in California juvenile delinquency cases, and the reasons competent representation is so critical.

Youth Participation in Court Hearings

In recent years, courts and child welfare systems around the country have recognized the importance of permanency for all foster children, including older youth, and of youth participation in decisions that affect their lives. Juvenile court officials and experts have consistently recommended that youth be present in court for permanency planning and other hearings; actively […]

Shifting Values in Juvenile Justice – Daily Journal (December 21, 2010)

This is an op ed piece summing up juvenile justice reform in the first part of the 21st century. It takes the position that we are moving away from the punitive attitudes of the 1980’s and 1990’s and toward a vision for juvenile justice that is more in keepiing with what we now know about […]

Juvenile Defense Attorneys Speak Out – Daily Journal (January 15, 2010)

This is the second part of a two part piece on training and resource needs for California juvenile delinquency counsel. In this part, juvenile defense counsel describe their resource and training needs, which are substantial. The information was obtained through surveys conducted as part of the MacArthur Foundation’s JUvenile Indigent Deense Action Network. YLC led […]

Juvenile Delinquency: The Case for Specialty Training – Daily Journal (January 14, 2010)

This is part one of a two part piece published in the Daily Journal. It describes the importance of having skilled, knowledgeable juvenile delinquency counsel, and presents the results of research undertaken for the MacArthur Juvenile Inidgent Defense Action Network aimed at increasing the capacity of California juvenile defenders. The research revealed enormous gaps and […]

Evaluation of the Guardian Ad Litem System in Nebraska

This report assessing Nebraska’s system of child representation was released on January 9, 2010. The report was conducted by the National Association of Counsel for Children, Suffolk University law professor Erik Pitchal, child welfare expert Madelyn Freundlich, and Youth Law Center Staff Attorney Corene Kendrick. The report documents that Nebraska’s current structure for providing GAL […]

Kleppe v. Superior Court of Marin County and Marin County Petition

The Youth Law Center filed Kleppe v. Superior Court of Marin County and Marin County on March 10, 2010 in the California First District Court of Appeal charging Marin County and Marin Superior Court officials with violating state law and the Constitutional rights of youth detained in Marin County Juvenile Hall by preventing the children […]

Hollingsworth v. Orange County Statement of Decision and Judgment

Hollingsworth v. Orange County was a conditions of confinement case filed in state court. The issues in this case were mail, telephone calls, visitation, access to legal materials, personal property, overcrowding, exercise and recreation, imposition of discipline, and grievance procedures, using soft-tie restraints (stripping children to their underwear and tying them to the four corners […]

Hollingsworth v. Orange County Third Amended Complaint

Hollingsworth v. Orange County was a conditions of confinement case filed in state court. The issues in this case were mail, telephone calls, visitation, access to legal materials, personal property, overcrowding, exercise and recreation, imposition of discipline, and grievance procedures, using soft-tie restraints (stripping children to their underwear and tying them to the four corners […]

Contracts for Appointed Counsel in Juvenile Delinquency Cases: Defining Expectations

In May 2012, the UC Davis Journal of Juvenile Law and Policy published Staff Attorney Sue Burrell’s law review, Contracts for Appointed Counsel in Juvenile Delinquency Cases: Defining Expectations. The article presents the results of work undertaken as part of the MacArthur Foundations’ Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network, and multi-year national initiative. Sue’s team of […]