Katie Tysinger is a rising 3L student at Campbell Law, and recently joined the Office of the Juvenile Defender as a summer intern. Originally from Cary NC, Katie attended the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Experimental Psychology. Upon graduating, she made the decision to return to the Raleigh area and attend Campbell Law to pursue a career in juvenile justice. Katie’s specific interests within the juvenile justice field include raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 18 for youthful misdemeanants, diminishing the school-to-prison pipeline, implementing restorative justice practices into the juvenile court system, and the avoidance of long-term confinement of youthful offenders in correctional facilities/solitary confinement.
At Campbell Law, Katie is actively involved with the Juvenile Justice Project. JJP serves as a diversion program for first-time youthful offenders, and receives referrals from intake counselors and the local school system concerning juveniles accused of criminal activity or disruptive behavior. Based on the theory of restorative justice, JJP focuses on helping youthful offenders understand how their actions have impacted others as well as themselves. The program strives to bring victims and offenders together in an effort to foster collaborative healing, rather than specifically seeking punishment for the offender. In addition to JJP, Katie is also involved with the Child Permanency Appeals Project, Wake County Teen Court, Campbell Law Innocence Project, and Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Prior to interning with the Office of the Juvenile Defender, Katie interned in the areas of family law, juvenile abuse/neglect/dependency, and adult criminal defense. Experience in these other areas of law broadened Katie’s knowledge pertaining to her specific interests within the juvenile system, as the fields are often intertwined.
Katie is a passionate advocate for juvenile justice, and is excited to continue pursuing a career in the juvenile justice field!
Erica Long-Ellis is currently a rising 3L at the North Carolina Central University School of Law. She is originally from Charlotte and before transferring to North Carolina Central University School of Law she attended the Charlotte School of Law. Erica received her Undergraduate Degree from Western Carolina University in Business Administration and Law. She has a passion for working with children, and currently serves as a Guardian ad Litem advocate for children in Wake County. Erica will soon be working with North Carolina Central University School of Law Professor Nelwyn Mpare to begin implementing a Program that will be included in the school’s Juvenile Clinic which will allow youth in the community to learn their rights when interacting with Law Enforcement. Once she graduates from law school she hopes to become a Juvenile Public Defender in either the Raleigh or Charlotte areas.