Youth at Risk: Exploring the Juvenile Justice System

This course explores the intricacies of the juvenile court system. This system involves juvenile delinquency law and juvenile dependency law. Juvenile delinquency law is a dynamic area of practice that addresses how the criminal legal system applies to children accused of committing crimes or status offenses. Juvenile dependency law is a complex area of practice that addresses how the child welfare system applies to children who are adjudicated as being “abused or neglected” by their caretaker(s).

Additionally, this course closely examines the history of the juvenile court system, current and recent legislation, juvenile law-related policy arguments, and the systemic racism prevalent in both practice areas. By learning how advocates raise juvenile justice issues through legislation, statutory construction arguments, and amicus and policy work, students will engage with issues affecting juvenile justice and understand the framework of the juvenile court system.