Legal Advocacy in the Juvenile Justice System

• NCJ Number: 87316
• Author(s): P S Alexander
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 76 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-NI-99-0009; 79-JN-AX-0013; 77-JN-99-0008; 77-JN-99-0008(S-1); 77-JN-99-0008(S-2)
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Reports of the National Juvenile Justice Assessment Centers

Annotation

This report profiles legal advocacy programs for juveniles at the local, State, and national levels. The state of the art of advocacy in the juvenile justice system and policy recommendations are presented.

Abstract

The programs represent four typical models of advocacy for children and youth: representation for the individual client in juvenile court, litigation on behalf of a group of juveniles, administrative advocacy with institutions and agencies, and legislative advocacy. The programs' structure, methods, and achievements are described in relation to counsel's role in juvenile court, availability of effective counsel, and challenges to confinement conditions for juveniles. The report calls for more financial support for attorneys in the field and for the programs themselves in order to reduce large caseloads and to increase public understanding of juveniles' rights. Sociolegal defense teams should be developed and further evaluation and research funded. The report comments on the legal history of youth advocacy. Appendixes include about 60 references, the study methodology, and a list of advocacy organizations in 34 States and the District of Columbia.