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The importance to explore the correlation between mental health and juvenile deliquency in order to find solutions.

How can we as defenders contribute to creating a community that provides services, programs, and has direct impact of the direction of local youth justice policy?

“On March 28, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, which established the legal foundation for the "One Strike and You’re Out" Policy in public housing communities. This policy ensures that public housing residents who engage in illegal drug use or other criminal activities on or off public housing property face swift and certain eviction. The policy allows public housing authorities (PHAs) to conduct criminal background checks to screen h

OJD stepped away from the office this week to attend the 2023 Gault Center National Youth Defender Leadership Summit hosted by The Gault Center. The summit was two full days packed with general sessions, workshops, community building, and networking opportunities. As I process all that I experienced, here are some of the moments that stand out to me. 1. Conferences such as this aren’t always going to teach you new laws or content, and that’s not their only purpose. Sometimes the most important t

Originally posted on Mar 31, 2023When a child is charged with a criminal offense through a juvenile petition and placed in secure custody, the statute is silent regarding credit for time served awaiting adjudication and disposition. However, caselaw provides that youth adjudicated and disposed in juvenile court are not entitled to credit for time served in secure custody. See In re D.L.H., 364 N.C. 214 (2010). In re D.L.H. dealt specifically with a youth who was detained following adjudication

So let them eat cake….Defenders have (hopefully) noticed that OJD is providing monthly webinar trainings in addition to our Youth Defender Forums and other local trainings. If not, please use this link to view upcoming trainings and registration links. Trainings included basic 101 type trainings in addition to more advanced topics. Why, you might ask, should I attend a basic 101 level training if I have been practicing for 10 or more years in the juvenile delinquency field? I thought about th

Legal deserts and how OJD is making strides to combat this crisis by supporting juvenile defenders in their rocky road journey of practicing juvenile law.

The amount of influence social media platforms emit in our everyday life is pervasive and nearly public no matter the privacy features being utilized.

OJD is happy to welcome our newest team member, Nani Suarez! Nani serves as our Communication Specialist/Project Coordinator and will develop social media content, help promote our trainings, manage our website, and develop a strategic communications plan. She will also be the first contact for our office, engaging and interacting with public defenders, privately assigned counsel, and juvenile justice system stakeholders. Nani graduated from North Carolina State University. She earned her Bachel

OJD had such a phenomenal time at this year’s regional summit – we learned together, we laughed together, we ate together, we explored together, and we sang together… Building the defender community in the South in a way we will never forget!Enjoy our photos 🙂