Uncategorized

As a public youth defender in North Carolina, there is the responsibility of ensuring every young person being represented receives full protection of the law, regardless of their immigration status. But there is no doubt representing undocumented youth has unique challenges itself. These children face not only the challenges of juvenile court but also the consequences that might affect their immigration status.I assume the primary challenge when representing undocumented youth is navigating amo

The Office of the Juvenile Defender is excited to welcome Jayni Buckley, a third-year law student at North Carolina Central University School of Law, as our Fall 2024 intern. Jayni brings a passion for public interest law and a genuine interest in learning more about policy work in North Carolina.Jayni’s background is in child welfare (child abuse and neglect) and early intervention which demonstrates a growing passion for juvenile justice and a commitment to advocating for the rights of young p

In a previous blog post, I provided information for defenders on placement of youth in nonsecure custody with local department of social service agencies as either alternatives to secure custody or as a dispositional alternative. Due to changes in the statutes and with the assistance of Sara DePasquale, the post has been updated with relevant changes highlighted below. Thanks to Sara DePasquale and Jacquelyn Greene with the School of Government for their assistance!As defenders, it is difficult

It’s crucial to stay informed about these changes and how they may impact North Carolina youth. Therefore, to help you navigate House Bill 834, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPC or Council) are community members and youth stakeholders within each county tasked with addressing services and support for at risk and delinquent youth. Appointed members attend monthly meetings with various JCPC-funded programs to discuss programming, its effectiveness, and how juvenile delinquency impacts the county. In addition to monthly meetings, the Council is responsible for creating a written plan for the expenditure of funds that will be used in

Happy Friday, defenders! We have a handful of opinions that have come out in the last two months, and they are summarized here for your reading and reference pleasure! It’s an interesting mix of cases this time around – many with good outcomes or at least good rules of law.State v. KelliherNo. COA23-691Cumberland County7 May 2024Unpublished Opinionhttps://appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=2&pdf=43253 Summary of the Case: This case is the continuing saga of the Kelliher/Connor line of cases deal

Last Friday, OJD had the absolute pleasure of hosting the 2024 Western Youth Defender Forum in Concord, NC at the Cabarrus County Courthouse. This year, our Youth Defender Forums focus on youth representation and its impact both in and out of the courtroom for defenders and our young clients. Attorneys heard presentations on Self Care as a Youth Defender and Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Adjudications in many settings including education. There was also a trial advocacy component of the tr

As defenders, it is difficult to find your client in a situation where consideration is given to placement in the custody of the county department of social services. However, there may be certain situations that lead to DSS involvement from a matter that began as a delinquency petition. Perhaps your client is in secure custody and nonsecure custody is a reasonable alternative to secure custody; perhaps ongoing neglect or abuse is disclosed and your client requests assistance; or the presiding j

We are very excited to welcome 2 amazing externs this year! We’d love to introduce Aleisha Santos and Kaylee Market to our defender community this summer. They are both law students at Campbell and are very enthusiastic to learn more about juvenile law and youth defense in North Carolina.Aleisha is currently a rising 2L (second-year law student) at Campbell University. She spent over eighteen years in New Jersey before relocating to North Carolina in 2018. Aleisha graduated cum laude from Libert

This May we are celebrating the National Mental Health Month with the purpose of raising awareness of behavioral health issues reducing the stigma that has always been around emotional wellbeing. As youth defenders, you are probably the last hope to youth who find themselves lost in the legal system. Your role demands not only legal expertise but also exposure to traumatic experiences that might require a high level of empathy and resilience. However, the intense emotional and psychological tol