Hello from another Friday Readers! We’re inching closer and closer to a new year and even closer to cold weather. Hope you’re staying warm and cozy while you keep up the amazing work of juvenile defense or advocating for juvenile rights. And next week, we’ll be recapping what a year 2020 has been within OJD and the NC Court System. See you then!
Raise the Age Tip of The Week
How Do I Know the State Will be Seeking the Gang Enhancement Against My Juvenile?
Under current law, there is no process for notice to the juvenile and the juvenile’s attorney that the state is seeking the gang enhancement. As the juvenile’s attorney, you should consider the following:
Get a copy of the gang assessment from DJJ prior to adjudication
Argue that the notice of gang enhancement be presented pre-adjudication
Develop a theory of defense against client’s involvement in gang activity
Prepare for a hearing on the issue
Request a hearing, similar to an adjudicatory hearing
Request the court make findings on the record and appeal where appropriate
ncIMPACT – FaceBook Live Event
LaToya Blackmon Powell will be participating in a live panel discussion about School Justice Partnerships, hosted by Anita Brown-Graham, Professor of Public Law and Government and Director of the ncIMPACT initiative at the School of Government. The discussion will be filmed by UNC-TV as a Facebook Live event from 12-1 PM this coming Monday, December 14.
We hope you are able to attend and participate in the virtual discussion and/or share the information with others who may be interested. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and engage in an interactive conversation.
Juvenile Defense Policy and Practice Resource Guide
The National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) is pleased to announce the release of their updated Juvenile Defense Policy and Practice Career Resource Guide. Every year, NJDC updates this guide to provide students and others with valuable resources to jumpstart a career in juvenile defense. NDJC has created this electronic guide to raise the profile of juvenile defense as a career. It is intended for law students interested in pursuing juvenile defense as a career and includes information on coursework and externships that will help strengthen a candidate’s application in the juvenile defense field; resources to guide in the search for juvenile defense jobs, fellowships, and funding opportunities; and a list of offices around the country that provide employment and internship opportunities specific to juvenile defense. Please feel free to use it as a resource and share with others who may be interested!
Now Seeking 2021 “From a Lawyer’s View” Guest Bloggers
LaTobia is looking for guest bloggers to contribute to our new series, “From a Lawyer’s View”. Defenders and those in juvenile justice are welcome to write in on topics of their expertise: secure custody, mental health in juveniles, etc! We want to hear from you! We’ll take your tips and blog posts! Reach out to LaTobia here for more information.