Week in Review: Feb 15-19

Happy Friday Readers! We finally made it to the weekend, how good does it feel? Not to keep you waiting, let’s get right to it.

Tip of the Week – Before You Plea

Talk to your client about the impacts of an adjudication.  While not as public as adult criminal convictions, juvenile adjudications may impact the following: immigration status, educational placement, housing conditions, eligibility to play sports, placement on a sex offender registry (in N.C. or other states) and others.  Always consider the long-term consequences of what may first appear to be a short-term decision.

FROM IDS – IMPORTANT

The Commission on Indigent Defense Services recently approved a modest, but much-needed, partial restoration of rates paid to private counsel providing representation in some case types. Specifically, the Commission voted to raise by $5 an hour the rate for high-level felonies, with a corresponding increase in non-hourly representation for adult criminal and juvenile delinquency proceedings. The Commission also voted to raise by $5 an hour the rate for DWI and Class A1 misdemeanors disposed of in the district court, with a corresponding increase in non-hourly representation. The increases approved by the Commission will take effect on March 1, 2021. Please click here to read the notice from Darrin Jordan, the Commission Chair, and IDS Executive Director, Mary Pollard. Also, if you have any questions, please reach out to Whitney Fairbanks via email.

Have you seen our #BlackHistoryMonth Spotlights?

Dorothy Hairston-Mitchell & Sharif Deveaux

This week we showcased two great attorneys and their work within the juvenile defense community. First up was Dorothy Hairston-Mitchell on Tuesday and then Sharif Deveaux on Thursday on our Twitter and FaceBook pages. To catch up on their spotlights: Click here for Dorothy & Click here for Sharif.

OJD CLE NEXT WEEK!

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 2:30 PM, OJD is hosting “Representing LGBT Youth”. This CLE will be presented by Ames Simmons, the Policy Director for Equality NC. This program will be a 90 minute CLE, with application pending and FREE TO THE FIRST 35 REGISTRANTS. This webinar includes a general review of introductory concepts and terminology related to LGBTQ identities, including the importance of pronouns to professionalism. We will discuss gender-expansive youth and the processes of gender transition for young people. We will talk about LGBTQ youth in out-of-home custody and present best practices for advocating for LGBTQ young people in the juvenile legal system. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Got Some Extra Time This Weekend?

Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole is a 2020 show that premiered on A&E and covers the individuals stories of youth sentenced to Life without Parole who are now seeking resentencing due to changes in law throughout their imprisoned life and new evidence. This show is not indicative of strategy or pertinent information of NC law and statute, this is shared simply for additional information on how changes in LWOP have affected juvenile justice. To watch and learn more, click here.