A training opportunity that was sponsored by the Judicial Council of California and presented by the University of San Diego School of Law’s Children’s Advocacy Institute
Youth justice is a complex and ever-evolving area of law, policy, and practice. Youth in delinquency court face potentially severe and enduring consequences as a result of involvement with the youth justice system. Professionals working with and on behalf of youth in these important cases require specialized skills, education, and training. To promote competent legal representation of children in delinquency court, “In Defense of Youth” provides 1.5 days of instruction from a faculty of esteemed and experienced professionals on a broad scope of important topics. This training satisfies the training requirements for youth defenders under California Rule of Court 5.664.
Attendees will gain foundational knowledge about the purpose of the juvenile court as well as California delinquency statutes, case law, and general court procedure. This training program will explore the duties and responsibilities of counsel for children and how these apply in various circumstances and stages of representation including pre-adjudication and post-disposition and when there is risk of transfer to adult court. The program will examine the most up to date research on adolescent brain development and offer strategies for effectively interviewing and counseling adolescents. To ensure research-based and culturally competent representation of youth, presenters will share information related to adolescent brain development, trauma, mental health, multi-system involvement, racial bias, and special circumstances presenting challenges for youth.
A key aspect of the juvenile justice system is the multi-disciplinary nature of the process. Therefore, sessions within this program offer training on topics relevant to the work of child welfare agencies, probation departments, and Court Appointed Special Advocates as well as attorneys and judges. We hope you will join us in sunny San Diego for this comprehensive and vital training.
The recordings for these pieces of training can be found on the California Courts Juvenile Portal, JCART.