Week in Review: Feb 8-12
Happy Friday Readers! We hope your week was productive with plenty of moments to catch your breath too. Couple of announcements for you this week, along with a new (and free) OJD CLE! Tip of the Week! Where Can I Find the Law on RTA? If you want to see the Session Laws which include the Raise the Age changes, see: Senate Bill 413: 2019 Session Amendments to the RTA Bill (Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act) Senate Bill 257: The final bill budget for Session Law 2017; info pertaining to the Juv
Week in Review: Feb 1-5
Happy Friday Readers! February is the shortest month in our calendar but what some like to call, “the real start to the new year, January is a test run.” February also brings Black History Month and we have some great shares coming your way this month, so keep an eye out on our socials! ANNOUCEMENT In a a week or two, OJD will be undergoing a bit of a makeover. Our website is getting a whole new look and feel to better fit the needs of a growing and changing audience. Please bear with us du
Week in Review: Jan 25-29
Happy Friday Readers!! It feels like January is taking forever to move on into February but hey! We’ll take it. This week was pretty quiet so let’s recap some of what happened. Tip of The Week Suppression motions aren’t often used in the District Court setting (outside DWI cases), however juvenile court offers many opportunities for suppression. The juvenile code outlines the procedure for filing a motion to suppress (§7B-2408.5) and it may be made either in writing before the adjudicatory heari
Week in Review: Jan 11-15
Happy Friday Readers! We have another blog for you, filled with resources and upcoming events AND an OJD sponsored CLE. So get settled in and let’s get started. TIP OF THE WEEK – RTA EDITION How Will Secure Custody Hearings Be Different for 16 and 17 Year Olds? Currently, review of secure custody hearings are held every 10 days after the initial secure custody hearing. For 16 and 17 year old’s charged with a Class A through G offense, review of secure custody hearings are held every 30 days afte
Youth Assessment & Screening Instrument (YASI)
Youth Assessment & Screening Instrument (YASI) by Kim Howes, Assistant Juvenile Defender The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is implementing a new screening tool (YASI) to replace the current risk and needs assessment. The stated purpose of this new assessment is to better measure the risk of recidivism and to help develop an appropriate case plan to best suit the needs of the youth who is placed on probation. You can access the presentation from DJJ here. The assessment addresses nine doma
Week in Review: Jan 4-8
Happy New Year Readers! We hope your holiday was relaxing, lazy, and full of what makes you happy. It’s time to get back to work & as always, OJD is here to round up the week. Tip of the Week Complaints Received We are focusing our Tips of the Week on stages of juvenile proceedings that disproportionately impact youth of color. This week we are considering complaints received: Attorneys are appointed to cases once a complaint is received by juvenile justice, then filed as a complaint. So gen
On this special day,
Week in Review: Dec 7-11
Hello from another Friday Readers! We’re inching closer and closer to a new year and even closer to cold weather. Hope you’re staying warm and cozy while you keep up the amazing work of juvenile defense or advocating for juvenile rights. And next week, we’ll be recapping what a year 2020 has been within OJD and the NC Court System. See you then! Raise the Age Tip of The Week How Do I Know the State Will be Seeking the Gang Enhancement Against My Juvenile? Under current law, there is no process f
Week in Review: Nov 30 – Dec 4
Happy December Readers! Can you honestly believe we are in DECEMBER already? With everything we have collectively experienced in 2020, raise your hand if you’re ready for a new year! So let’s start our countdown together, shall we? LET’S CELEBRATE ONE YEAR OF RAISE THE AGE! It’s officially been 1 year (and 3 days to be exact) since Raise the Age went into effect. One year of some legal shaking in the courtroom, 1 year of 16 and 17 year old’s who commit crimes (with exceptions) being treated
From OJD to You
Tonight, while we’re gathered with our families, during a time when everything feels so uncertain, it’s humbling to know that so many of you work so hard to defend our youth. There’s only so many things that can be said, but to you, OJD says, “Our amazing, champion Defenders, OJD cannot be more thankful for the work you do every day. Thank you for the long hours, the fights for change, and the time you spend ensuring our youth have a chance. Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!” We’ll see you Monday mo