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For Children and Families, It’s a Poorly Mixed World
The academic year has started at the law school where I teach third-year students advocacy skills and legal doctrine in the area of juvenile courts and delinquency. At the beginning of each semester, I...
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Taking the Time to Make Juvenile Court Work
A couple of weeks ago, I was in juvenile delinquency court and as often happens, a particular case got me thinking – and rethinking – about the system as a whole. A 14 year-old, whom I will call Sarah,...
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When Children Kill Other Children
Last week there was yet another heartbreaking report of a child killing another child. This time the news came from Jacksonville, Florida. Cristian Fernandez is accused of beating to death his...
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Building Bridges Instead of Walls
Growing up, I lived a short bike ride away from my grandmother. An elementary school reading teacher, she was always a source of stability for me. When I would go to her with my problems – an argument...
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Changing our Response to Infanticide
The facts are still coming in. All we know is what the media is reporting: a newborn is dead, a 14 year-old girl has been charged with first-degree murder, and a grand jury indictment means she will be...
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When the Law Doesn’t Fit the Crime: Lessons from the Blogosphere
Practicing criminal law is not rocket science. It’s also not open-heart surgery. But it’s more than just slapping a slice of cheese between two pieces of bread and calling it a sandwich. Although there...
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Reconsidering Life Sentences for Juveniles who Kill
In the 1993 book “Dead Man Walking,” Sister Helen Prejean tells the story of people directly impacted by capital punishment – convicted murderers counting down to their own executions, wardens and...
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Juvenile Hall is Often No Place for Kids
DURHAM, N.C. — The local detention center where my juvenile clients are held while their cases are pending is called the “Youth Home.” The irony of the label is never lost on me, as the contrast...
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In the Eye of the Storm: Remembering the Most Vulnerable
As with most natural disasters, the attention of the media was initially centered on the havoc wrecked by Hurricane Sandy. We were drawn to its most dramatic images – the dangling crane at the...
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A Holiday Gift from Me to You. Really!
As we celebrate Thanksgiving and enter the holiday season, I am reminded of our annual family tradition, one that I imagine is shared by many across the United States. After gathering around the table...
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