Juvenile Law Center advocates for a robust right to counsel for all youth in the child welfare and justice systems.
We believe all young people have a right to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare, and that being healthy is a critical part of becoming a successful adult.
Court costs, fines, fees, and restitution hurt youth and families. Justice-related debt pushes youth deeper into the system and keeps families in poverty.
Every young person has a right to quality education, and this includes youth in the child welfare and justice systems.
Investing in youth when they are working towards their futures can make a lasting difference on individuals and communities.
The U. S. is the only country that sentences youth to die in prison. We work nationally to abolish life without parole sentences for youth.
Registries continue to punish youth years and even decades after they have served time. Data and research show that registries don’t improve public safety.
Every child deserves a family and a fair chance at success. This is especially true for older youth in the child welfare system.
Youth in the child welfare and justice systems are at a much higher risk of experiencing homelessness, but this situation is preventable.
Juvenile records are NOT automatically destroyed at a certain age. Records do very little for public safety and stifle success and opportunity.
Kids nationwide are facing solitary confinement, strip searches, and physical and sexual abuse. In the home, it’s called child abuse. No child deserves it.
Any young person facing a police interrogation has the legal right to ask for a lawyer before answering questions.
Around 250,000 youth enter the adult criminal justice system each year, despite research showing treating youth as adults does not reduce crime.