Recent news

The United States Supreme Court granted review in Montgomery v. Louisiana, addressing the question of whether Miller v. Alabama (2012) applies retroactively to individuals serving mandatory juvenile life without parole sentences.

In a series of important rulings today, the Florida Supreme Court recognized the importance of ensuring that juveniles receive constitutionally appropriate sentences that reflect their capacity for rehabilitation. Juvenile Law Center filed amicus briefs in these cases.

Juvenile Law Center was part of a national team to collaborate on drafting the first-ever trial defense guidelines for children facing life sentences. Released on March 11, the guidelines create a new national standard for ensuring zealous, effective representation for children.

In the final installment of our 3-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Roper, our contributors reflect on their feelings immediately after the Supreme Court's decision in 2005 and Roper's legacy.

The history of Roper v. Simmons continues in Part 2, revealing the rigorous strategizing of the "magnificent orchestra that pulled all the pieces together" to end the juvenil death penalty on March 1, 2005.

Ten years ago, the United States Supreme Court, in Roper v. Simmons, finally abolished the juvenile death penalty. As we reflect on the breadth of Roper's impact 10 years later, we invited the bold, smart and dedicated individuals who were instrumental in Roper to share their recollections and reflections on their work. This 3-part blog series features their memoirs of the fight to end the juvenile death penalty.

By translating common youth behaviors and communication styles, The Willy Show reminds caseworkers and caregivers that these young people are more than ”foster youth” – they are just like any other young adult who is still growing up.

The recent closure of the Atlantic City High School East Campus, the district's alternative high school, presents an overdue opportunity to eliminate racial inequalities and ensure that all students have access to the same educational opportunities.

Juvenile Law Center has just released an updated Information Sharing Tool Kit, a product created in partnership with the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice as part of Models for Change juvenile justice reform initiatives. Originally developed in 2008, the updated Tool Kit has been transformed into an interactive website designed to assist jurisdictions in creating and implementing information and data sharing initiatives in order to achieve better outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

It is with mixed emotions that I write to let you know that after 40 years as Juvenile Law Center’s Executive Director, Bob Schwartz will be retiring later this year. Bob was a founder of Juvenile Law Center in 1975, along with Marsha Levick and Temple Law School classmates Judy Chomsky and Phil Margolis. Juvenile Law Center was the first public interest law firm for children in the Untied States, starting out as a small Philadelphia office that represented individual children in situations where legal advice was needed.