In re Sean W. Amicus

This is an amicus to a case that presents the question whether Senate Bill 459 (“S . B 459”) changed the law to give juvenile courts increased power to set maximum confinement time in cases involving Youth Authority commitments.

In re Greg F. Amicus

The question here is whether a juvenile court may dismiss a wardship petition in the interests of justice and commit a juvenile way to the Division of Juvenile Justice on the basis of a prior sustained petition, even though Welfare and Institutions Code section 733 prohibits commitment unless “the most recent offense alleged in any […]

Danny O. v. Bowman Judgment

Danny O. v. Bowman was a federal class action suit on behalf of all youth who are currently or in the future will be incarcerated at the State Youth Services Center in St. Anthony, Idaho. The suit challenged the defendants’ use of solitary confinement and restraints; education, medical, psychiatric and rehabilitative treatment and services and […]

Nick O. v. Terhune Stipulation and Order

Nick O. v. Terhune was a federal class action challenging the failure of the defendants to provide appropriate special education and related services to youth confined at the California Youth Authority. Judgment was entered on May 7, 1990, in which the defendants agreed to ensure that all class members would be provided with a free […]

Willie M. v. Hunt Judgment and Order

Willie M. v. Hunt was a federal civil rights lawsuit that challenged the state’s failure to provide adequate community-based treatment facilities for children labeled ‘violent’ or ‘aggressive.’ Prior to the lawsuit, class members were often warehoused in large mental health institutions and juvenile training schools and deprived of any meaningful treatment. As a result of […]

Willie M. v. Hunt Complaint

Willie M. v. Hunt was a federal civil rights lawsuit that challenged the state’s failure to provide adequate community-based treatment facilities for children labeled ‘violent’ or ‘aggressive.’ Prior to the lawsuit, class members were often warehoused in large mental health institutions and juvenile training schools and deprived of any meaningful treatment. As a result of […]

Morris v. Harper (Wilber v. Cate) Peremptory Writ of Mandamus

This lawsuit was filed in May 2000, challenging the failure of the California Youth Authority (now the Division of Juvenile Justice) to license its inpatient medical and mental health services as required by State law. At the time the lawsuit was filed, the Youth Authority was more than four years beyond the date the licensing […]

Morris v. Harper (Wilber v. Cate) Statement of Decision

This lawsuit was filed in May 2000, challenging the failure of the California Youth Authority (now the Division of Juvenile Justice) to license its inpatient medical and mental health services as required by State law. At the time the lawsuit was filed, the Youth Authority was more than four years beyond the date the licensing […]

Morris v. Harper (Wilber v. Cate) Petition for Writ

This lawsuit was filed in May 2000, challenging the failure of the California Youth Authority (now the Division of Juvenile Justice) to license its inpatient medical and mental health services as required by State law. At the time the lawsuit was filed, the Youth Authority was more than four years beyond the date the licensing […]

Robert K. v. Bell Consent Order

Robert K. v. Bell was a federal class action brought by nine children who were transferred from the South Carolina Department of Youth Services to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health following attempted suicides at the state training school. Upon transfer, each child was subjected to prolonged periods of solitary confinement. Several of the […]

S.H. v. Reed Stipulation, Injunction and Order re Use of Force

S.H. v. Reed is a federal civil rights class action on behalf of all juveniles in the custody or under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS). Confined youth experienced a wide range of abuses including unnecessary use of force by staff; arbitrary and excessive use of discipline, isolation and seclusion; deficient […]

S.H. v. Reed Temporary Restraining Order

S.H. v. Reed is a federal civil rights class action on behalf of all juveniles in the custody or under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS). Confined youth experienced a wide range of abuses including unnecessary use of force by staff; arbitrary and excessive use of discipline, isolation and seclusion; deficient […]

S.H. v. Reed Stipulation for Injunctive Relief

S.H. v. Reed is a federal civil rights class action on behalf of all juveniles in the custody or under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS). Confined youth experienced a wide range of abuses including unnecessary use of force by staff; arbitrary and excessive use of discipline, isolation and seclusion; deficient […]

S.H. v. Reed Second Amended Complaint

S.H. v. Reed is a federal civil rights class action on behalf of all juveniles in the custody or under the supervision of the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS). Confined youth experienced a wide range of abuses including unnecessary use of force by staff; arbitrary and excessive use of discipline, isolation and seclusion; deficient […]

L.H. v. Brown Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunctive Relief

L.H. v. Brown is a federal class action lawsuit filed in September 2006 in the Eastern District of California challenging systematic constitutional violations of youth rights in California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) parole revocation proceedings. (Case No. S-06-CV-2042 (E.D. Cal., originally filed as L.H. v. Schwarzenegger). YLC has worked with lead counsel from Rosen, […]

L.H. v. Brown Order

L.H. v. Brown is a federal class action lawsuit filed in September 2006 in the Eastern District of California challenging systematic constitutional violations of youth rights in California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) parole revocation proceedings. (Case No. S-06-CV-2042 (E.D. Cal., originally filed as L.H. v. Schwarzenegger). YLC has worked with lead counsel from Rosen, […]

L.H. v. Brown Complaint

L.H. v. Brown is a federal class action lawsuit filed in September 2006 in the Eastern District of California challenging systematic constitutional violations of youth rights in California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) parole revocation proceedings. (Case No. S-06-CV-2042 (E.D. Cal., originally filed as L.H. v. Schwarzenegger). YLC has worked with lead counsel from Rosen, […]

Nick O. v. Terhune Complaint

Nick O. v. Terhune was a federal class action challenging the failure of the defendants to provide appropriate special education and related services to youth confined at the California Youth Authority. Judgment was entered on May 7, 1990, in which the defendants agreed to ensure that all class members would be provided with a free […]

Johnnie K. v. Crist Stipulation and Order

Johnnie K. v. Crist was a civil rights action brought by juveniles confined in the New Mexico Boys’ School, located in Springer, New Mexico. The lawsuit challenged the mail censorship procedures followed at the school which allowed staff to read and censor mail sent to or from any boy confined at the facility, for any […]

Johnnie K. v. Crist Complaint

Johnnie K. v. Crist was a civil rights action brought by juveniles confined in the New Mexico Boys’ School, located in Springer, New Mexico. The lawsuit challenged the mail censorship procedures followed at the school which allowed staff to read and censor mail sent to or from any boy confined at the facility, for any […]

Gary H. v. Hegstrom Final Decree and Judgement

Gary H. v. Hegstrom challenged the conditions of confinement and adequacy of treatment programs for juveniles at the MacLaren School for Boys, the maximum security institution for delinquents in Oregon. In December, 1984, U.S. District Court Judge James Burns ruled that isolation practices at MacLaren were unconstitutional. He found that an excessive number of juveniles […]

Gary H. v. Hegstrom Second Amended Complaint

Gary H. v. Hegstrom challenged the conditions of confinement and adequacy of treatment programs for juveniles at the MacLaren School for Boys, the maximum security institution for delinquents in Oregon. In December, 1984, U.S. District Court Judge James Burns ruled that isolation practices at MacLaren were unconstitutional. He found that an excessive number of juveniles […]

Danny O. v. Bowman Complaint

Danny O. v. Bowman was a federal class action suit on behalf of all youth who are currently or in the future will be incarcerated at the State Youth Services Center in St. Anthony, Idaho. The suit challenged the defendants’ use of solitary confinement and restraints; education, medical, psychiatric and rehabilitative treatment and services and […]

Christina A. v. Bloomberg Settlement Agreement

Christina A. v. Bloomberg challenged the conditions of confinement at the South Dakota State Training School in Plankinton. The Youth Law Center filed this civil rights class action lawsuit in February 2000, to challenge staff placing youth, including girls stripped to their underwear or completely naked, in four-point restraints spread eagled on cement slabs; locking […]

Christina A. v. Bloomberg Complaint

Christina A. v. Bloomberg challenged the conditions of confinement at the South Dakota State Training School in Plankinton. The Youth Law Center filed this civil rights class action lawsuit in February 2000, to challenge staff placing youth, including girls stripped to their underwear or completely naked, in four-point restraints spread eagled on cement slabs; locking […]

Bobby M. v. Martinez Consent Decreee

Bobby M. v. Martinez, a federal class action, was brought on behalf of the 1,000 children confined at the Florida state training schools at Marianna, Ocala, and Okeechobee. The action challenged policies, practices, and conditions in the institutions—including ‘hogtying’ children with handcuffs and ankle cuffs, serious overcrowding, unsanitary living conditions, inadequate supervision and training of […]

Bobby M. v. Martinez Second Amended Complaint

Bobby M. v. Martinez, a federal class action, was brought on behalf of the 1,000 children confined at the Florida state training schools at Marianna, Ocala, and Okeechobee. The action challenged policies, practices, and conditions in the institutions—including ‘hogtying’ children with handcuffs and ankle cuffs, serious overcrowding, unsanitary living conditions, inadequate supervision and training of […]

ACLU-NM v. New Mexico CYFD 2010 Complaint

Since 2002, YLC staff has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) on ACLU of New Mexico v. New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department to improve living conditions and rehabilitation services for young people in state juvenile justice facilities. YLC serves as co-counsel in litigation that resulted in settlement agreements […]

ACLU-NM v. New Mexico CYFD Final Agreement

Since 2002, YLC staff has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) on ACLU of New Mexico v. New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department to improve living conditions and rehabilitation services for young people in state juvenile justice facilities. YLC serves as co-counsel in litigation that resulted in settlement agreements […]

ACLU-NM v. New Mexico CYFD Settlement Press Release 2009

Since 2002, YLC staff has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) on ACLU of New Mexico v. New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department to improve living conditions and rehabilitation services for young people in state juvenile justice facilities. YLC serves as co-counsel in litigation that resulted in settlement agreements […]

ACLU-NM v. New Mexico CYFD Appendix to 2006 Agreement

Since 2002, YLC staff has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) on ACLU of New Mexico v. New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department to improve living conditions and rehabilitation services for young people in state juvenile justice facilities. YLC serves as co-counsel in litigation that resulted in settlement agreements […]

ACLU-NM v. New Mexico CYFD 2006 Agreement

Since 2002, YLC staff has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) on ACLU of New Mexico v. New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department to improve living conditions and rehabilitation services for young people in state juvenile justice facilities. YLC serves as co-counsel in litigation that resulted in settlement agreements […]

ACLU NM v. NMCYFD 2007 Complaint

Since 2002, YLC staff has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) on ACLU of New Mexico v. New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department to improve living conditions and rehabilitation services for young people in state juvenile justice facilities. YLC serves as co-counsel in litigation that resulted in settlement agreements […]