Thanks for stopping by for another Week in Review! Plenty of meetings and calls this week as NC gears up to reopen our courts and we’re so ready to share new ways to pursue juvenile justice in this new time. Remember, if you have any questions or suggestions, we are more than willing to help.
Also! OJD is looking to develop and provide webinar training to our Juvenile Defenders throughout this pandemic. We are currently requesting topics and information you would like to have discussed. Please email Austine Long with your thoughts. Thank you.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Youth Development Center commitment
We are focusing our Tips of the Week on stages of juvenile proceedings that disproportionately impact youth of color. This week we are considering commitment to a youth development center (YDC):
Whenever disposition is being entered for your client, always argue for the lowest level of disposition. A small number of points, or a violation of probation, can quickly send your client to YDC.
Consult with the court counselor and the ADA on their recommendations to the court. If possible, negotiate a lesser disposition than YDC commitment before court.
Meet with your client before the dispositional hearing and provide the court with an alternative disposition plan that considers the safety of the community and your client’s needs.
Provide in court testimony from supportive community members.
Consider offering the court recent recidivism studies which indicate that commitment to YDC is factor for increased recidivism in juveniles.
Resources
May 14, 2020 at 11 AM: NC CRED presents an interactive round-table webinar with leading experts in the North Carolina public health and criminal justice systems. The webinar will explore current conditions in North Carolina and discuss actionable steps to help mitigate the adverse effects on people in North Carolina who is a webinar about preparing and conducting video conference secure custody hearings. The speaker will discuss best practices, confidentiality and other important issues concerning video conferencing hearings.are involved with the criminal justice system. To register for this webinar, click HERE.
From the Coalition for Juvenile Justice and the National Juvenile Justice Network member call, “COVID-19: The Heightened Dangers of Confinement” here are some resources they discussed.
Distinction between medical isolation and solitary (AMEND at UCSF)
Thanks for stopping by!