Dec. 20, 2007 - The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that a Yakima Juvenile Court Commissioner improperly used the court’s “inherent” contempt powers to sentence children to up to 60 days in jail for running away from foster care. The Supreme Court, in its December 20, 2007 ruling, substantially limited the use of the controversial “inherent contempt” procedure.
NCYL Challenges Court Decision on Prisoners with Unmet Mental Health Needs
Feb. 20, 2007 - NCYL has joined nine other national and state organizations as amici curiae in Shook v. El Paso, challenging a district court's refusal to certify a class of prisoners who have serious unmet mental health needs.
July, 2006 - On appeal before the Colorado State Supreme Court: Whether a juvenile offender may be sentenced as an adult following conviction for a crime that would not, in and of itself, make him eligible for adult prosecution.
March 2, 2005 - The U.S. Supreme Court's March 1, 2005 ruling to ban the juvenile death penalty was a major victory for NCYL and other child advocacy groups that have worked for years to abolish the practice.
Roper v. Simmons: An Overview
543 U.S. 551 (2005)
>> more
In January 2008, the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and Arkansas’ Division of Youth Services (DYS) became partners in an effort to reduce the state’s reliance on incarceration, and increase its capacity to serve youth in their communities.
The Senate will vote in January 2008 on proposed legislation that would ban life without parole for juveniles. The legislation, SB 999, is sponsored by the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), Human Rights Watch, and other advocates. The bill was approved by the Senate Public Safety Committee in 2007.
This legislation (SB 1616) would require California's Department of Human Services and Division of Juvenile Justice to help youth in state custody get SSI and Medi-Cal benefits available to them immediately upon their release from custody. The bill was passed by the California Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenneger.
The US is one of the only countries in the world that allows child offenders to be sent to prison for the rest of their lives without any hope of release or redemption.
NCYL has forged an innovative partnership with the nation's first Juvenile Mental Health Court - Santa Clara (CA) County's Court for the Individualized Treatment of Adolescents (CITA).
April 3, 2007 - NCYL has joined forces with Arkansas’s Disability Rights Center (DRC) to reform the state’s juvenile justice system. The vast majority of juveniles committed to the Arkansas Division of Youth Services (DYS) are non-violent offenders.
NCYL provides trainings on: - The rights of juveniles in government custody, including conditions of confinement
- Development of models to provide civil advocacy as a component of representing youth in the juvenile justice system
- Systemic litigation to improve juvenile public defense systems
- Complex class litigation skills
For more information please contact Pat Arthur.
Training Materials:
|
