Category Archives: Delinquency

Telling the Whole Truth about Juvenile Incarceration Rates

Posted on March 26, 2013 by tbirckhe

While a new report finds that juvenile incarceration rates are declining in the United States, there is more to the story than just the numbers.  In this guest post, Jason Langberg, staff attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, examines … Continue reading →

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Posted in Conditions of Confinement, Delinquency, Juveniles, North Carolina, Race, Class, Ethnicity, Reports, School to Prison Pipeline, State Laws | Leave a comment

Steubenville: The Names Change, but the Story Stays the Same

Posted on March 23, 2013 by tbirckhe

“My life is over. No one is going to want me now.” These were the words of 16-year-old Ma’lik Richmond after a judge adjudicated him delinquent of rape earlier this week in juvenile court in Steubenville, Ohio. Hyperbole? Perhaps. But … Continue reading →

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Posted in Delinquency, Education, Gender, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Media, Sentencing | 1 Comment

New Article on the Role of Counsel in the Sentencing Phase of a Juvenile Delinquency Case

Posted on March 8, 2013 by tbirckhe

It’s always struck me as ironic that the criminal defense of adults is considered to be more “advanced” and “complicated” than the defense of young people in juvenile court.  Having practiced in both realms, I have personally found representing children … Continue reading →

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Posted in Criminal /Juvenile Defense, Delinquency, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Legal Scholarship, Sentencing | 2 Comments

Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Senate Subcommittee Hearing

Posted on December 13, 2012 by tbirckhe

      As many of you know, yesterday the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights held a hearing on ending the school-to-prison pipeline. A full webcast of the hearing, which was chaired by Senator Dick Durbin, in addition … Continue reading →

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Posted in Delinquency, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Legislative Hearings, Organizations, Race, Class, Ethnicity, School to Prison Pipeline, State Laws | Leave a comment

MacArthur Foundation Program Honors Juvenile Justice Reform Achievements of Rutgers-Newark Law Professor

Posted on December 10, 2012 by tbirckhe

I was thrilled to see this press release from Rutgers Law School announcing that the wonderful clinical law professor, Laura Cohen, was being honored for her work on behalf of juveniles: Laura Cohen, Clinical Professor of Law at Rutgers School … Continue reading →

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Posted in Advocacy, Awards, Clinical Legal Education, Delinquency, Juveniles, Law Schools, Organizations | Leave a comment

A Holiday Gift from Me to You. Really!

Posted on November 19, 2012 by tbirckhe

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 with our plates piled high with … Continue reading →

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Posted in Children, Conditions of Confinement, Delinquency, Homelessness, Juveniles, Organizations, Poverty, Race, Class, Ethnicity, Rehabilitation | 2 Comments

Overhaul the Juvenile Justice System: Accountability without Criminalization

Posted on November 16, 2012 by tbirckhe

A new federally commissioned report led by University of Virginia law professor Richard Bonnie lays out a blueprint to reform the nation’s juvenile justice system to better hold youth offenders accountable, prevent recidivism and ensure adolescent offenders are treated fairly. The report, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Delinquency, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Organizations, Psychology, Reports, Sentencing, Social science, Training | 1 Comment

The High Cost of a Youth Arrest

Posted on November 16, 2012 by tbirckhe

Recently D.C. Lawyers for Youth calculated that it cost $1000 to arrest and detain a youth in Washington, D.C., even though most young people are arrested for nonviolent offenses and fewer than half are actually charged with a crime. Here … Continue reading →

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Posted in Analysis, Conditions of Confinement, Delinquency, Juveniles, Organizations, Sentencing | 1 Comment

Juvenile Hall is Often No Place for Kids

Posted on October 28, 2012 by tbirckhe

My latest op-ed — also published via the Huffington Post and Youth Today: 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 … Continue reading →

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Posted in Conditions of Confinement, Delinquency, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Rehabilitation, Sentencing | 6 Comments

Shutting Down the School to Prison Pipeline

Posted on October 26, 2012 by tbirckhe

My latest piece for the Huffington Post: “School is just a waiting room to prison.” ~ African-American teenager, Washington, D.C. If you sit in juvenile delinquency court long enough, you notice a few things. Most of the kids are black … Continue reading →

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Posted in Delinquency, Education, Juvenile Court, Juveniles, Poverty, Race, Class, Ethnicity, School to Prison Pipeline | Leave a comment