NJDC standards report

The National Juvenile Defender Center has published the National Juvenile Defense Standards, which provide a comprehensive summary of the role and complex duties of the juvenile defender in the 21st century juvenile court system, and seek to strengthen and guide the ethical and professional practice of the juvenile defense attorney. The standards present a national approach to systematizing defense practice in juvenile court and suggest a framework for juvenile representation that is anchored in the law, science, and professional codes of responsibility.  The standards were produced with support from MacArthur’s Models for Change initiative, which seeks to accelerate progress toward a more efficient, fair, and developmentally sound juvenile justice system.