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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and its purpose is to recognize the importance of self-care and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. OJD wants to encourage all defenders to seek help if needed by recognizing unhealthy behaviors or feelings affecting their daily life. If you feel you might be experiencing symptoms of a common mental health condition such as depression or anxiety, but are not sure, you can take an online screening that will help you understand your symptoms and

As we head into Good Friday, we’re taking a moment to slow down and reflect, not just on the meaning of the day, but on the work we all do as advocates for youth.Good Friday is about sacrifice, reflection, and the hope of renewal. For those of you who stand beside young people in the justice system, it’s a reminder that no one is ever beyond redemption and that every child deserves a chance to grow, heal, and move forward.So today, we just want to say thank you. Thank you for showing up. For fig

Last Friday, on March 28, 2025, the North Carolina Office of the Juvenile Defender (OJD) hosted a hybrid Continuing Legal Education (CLE) training focused on handling first-degree murder cases involving juvenile defendants. It was held at the NC Administrative Office of the Court and ran from 8:50 AM to around 5:00 PM. The training provided juvenile defense attorneys with in-depth insights into the difficulties of representing minors charged with first-degree murder in North Carolina. Attendees

In addition to new legislation impacting Raise the Age and capacity, a new crime of sexual extortion has been codified in N.C.G.S. 14-202.7 linked here. The statute specifically designates minors as anyone under 18 and adults as anyone over 18. The distinction is important because a first offense for an adult is a Class F felony while a first offense for a minor is a Class 1 misdemeanor. As such, a youth under 18 would be charged in juvenile court and remain there. A second offense for a minor

Big news, friends! After an amazing journey with the Office of the Juvenile Defender, it’s time for me to turn the page and start a new chapter in my career. I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be joining the Wake County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender! While saying goodbye to the OJD family is bittersweet, I’m beyond excited about the fresh challenges and adventures ahead. The past few years at OJD have been nothing short of transformative. I’ve learned so much, not jus

We hope you all had an amazing Christmas! As 2024 comes to an end, the Office of the Juvenile Defender would like to reflect on a year marked by important changes, collaboration, and continued dedication to supporting youth defenders advocate for the rights and future of North Carolina’s youth involved in the justice system. This year, we worked to continue to provide support promoting the most important advocacy tips that will help local youth defenders make the voices of young people heard an

As you may know by now, House Bill 834 changed the rules of original jurisdiction, specifically for 16- and 17-year-olds charged with a…

The Office of the Juvenile Defender wishes the youth defender community a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we also wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you for the wonderful work that you do for youth throughout the state. Thank you! From our court observations, we have seen firsthand that youth are thankful for your zealous advocacy and passion for their futures. We know this work can be tough and demanding, but we appreciate your commitment to these

7B-1903 and 7B-1905 authorize secure custody under specific criteria. Assuming a juvenile meets the criteria for secure custody, where is the appropriate location for secure custody and who decides the location of secure custody? Can a defender argue for a specific detention facility?Under 7B-1905(b), if a juvenile meets the criteria for secure custody, a juvenile may be detained in “an approved detention facility.” Detention facilities must meet rules and standards approved by the Juvenile Jus

Every year the Division of Juvenile Justice publishes an annual report, documenting the challenges and achievements of the past year, and containing a wealth of interesting and useful data. In this blog I’ll highlight ten pieces of information from the 2023 publication. All youth referred to are youth alleged to be delinquent; undisciplined youth are not included in these numbers. Unless otherwise noted, the graphics are from the actual report:1. Approved – Diverted – Closed Cases (OJD graphic)T