Kids in Crisis-Courts, Corrections, Confinement

Co-Sponsored with Flaschner Judicial Insitute and Committee for Public Counsel Service

Date: Friday, April 30, 2010

Location: Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
Time: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

This year’s Children on Trial conference begins with a keynote address from the Department of Justice on “New Directions in Juvenile Justice”. Focus then turns to the shackling of children in juvenile courts and the new policy instituted in Massachusetts on March 1, 2010. Kids in Crisis takes an in-depth look at the specific implementation issues and psychological effects of shackling. Justice Michael F. Edgerton, Chief Justice of Juvenile Courts in Massachusetts, explains the new policy and issues facing judges and counsel. The Honorable Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson, Administrative Judge Family Court, New York City will speak about her experience and perspective on security issues in New York City, where most juveniles are not shackled. National and local experts then address issues regarding the dangers of detention and strategies and alternatives for reducing the number of youth detained pre-trial. The panel will also discuss the on-going work the Department of Youth Services is doing with the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) to lessen the reliance on secure detention. In the early 1970's, Commissioner Jerome Miller of the Department of Youth Services began what came to be known as "the Massachusetts Experiment" in juvenile justice reform. In this special presentation, Dr. Miller will discuss reform efforts both locally and nationally with former Commissioner, Joe Leavey, and the current Commissioner, Jane Tewksbury.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
“Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities: What We Know from Administrative Data and Youth Self-reports”
Allen J. Beck, Senior Statistical Advisor, Bureau of Statistics, Department of Justice

THE NEW MASSACHUSETTS SHACKLING POLICY: IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT

• What Is the New Shackling Policy and Why Is It Important
• What Are the Security Issues in the Juvenile Courtroom and How Can They Be Addressed?
• The Psychological Effects Shackling Has on Children and Their Families
• How to Make the Argument Against Shackling
• How Is the New Policy Working?

Moderator, Kim McLaurin, Associate Clinical Professor, Suffolk University Law School

Justice Michael F. Edgerton, Chief Justice Juvenile Courts

Honorable Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson, Administrative Judge, Family Court, New York City

Joshua M. Dohan, Esq., Director, Youth Advocacy Department/CPCS

Dr. Penny Haney, Youth Advocacy Department/CPCS

Marie Osborne, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Juvenile Division, Miami-Dade Public Defender

DETENTION: RISKS AND ALTERNATIVES

• Strategies for Mitigating Confinement
• Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI)
• Dangers of Detention
• The Work DYS Is Doing with the Initiative to Decrease the Number of Youth Detained Pre-trial

Moderator, Duci Goncalves, Staff Attorney, Juvenile Justice Center, Suffolk University Law School

Lael E. H. Chester, Executive Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice

Gail Garinger, the Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate

Tamara Steckler, Juvenile Rights Division of the Legal Aid Society of New York City

Jane Tewksbury, Commissioner, DYS, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM IN MASSACHUSETTS AND NATIONALLY

Moderator, Erik Pitchal, Assistant Clinical Professor, Suffolk University Law School

Gladys Carrion, Commissioner, New York State, Office of Children and Family Services

Joseph M. Leavey, President & Executive Director, Communities for People, Inc, Boston

Jane Tewksbury, Commissioner, DYS, Commonwealth of Massachusetts