Goals and structure
Mission
Through strategic efforts in selected locations, The Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network (JIDAN) develops and implements new solutions to improve access to and delivery of legal services to youths charged with crimes, to help defense attorneys provide their juvenile clients the highly competent, zealous, client-centered representation to which accused youths are constitutionally entitled, and to strengthen juvenile indigent defense systems nationwide. In service to these goals, JIDAN also functions as a peer network for juvenile defense attorneys, a clearinghouse for juvenile indigent defense materials and information, and a vehicle through which challenges and solutions in juvenile indigent defense can be shared with the public, including legislators, policymakers, and juvenile justice experts nationwide.
Shared Vision
Every youth accused of a crime, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, level of mental development, or severity of allegations, has a guaranteed constitutional right to meaningful access to competent, properly-resourced counsel able to provide zealous representation of the youth’s expressed interests. In a model juvenile justice system, the juvenile indigent defense system would provide immediate and meaningful representation upon the juvenile’s arrest; multi-disciplinary legal representation through a team approach; access to non-legal support and resources, including investigators, experts, social workers and support staff; comprehensive and ongoing defense attorney training; and regular supervision and case review lasting through the close of the court’s jurisdiction. Juvenile defense attorneys would have manageable caseloads, sufficient time to investigate and prepare for cases, adequate compensation, and an environment that understands and supports the defense attorney’s responsibilities and ethical obligations. Finally, juvenile justice stakeholders and community members would observe the procedural and substantive rights of youth who enter the system.
Goals and objectives
The primary goal of the Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network is to promote change that strengthens juvenile indigent defense systems.
The Network is organized around three key objectives:
- Enhance overall progress and reform in a given state by taking leadership on critical issues.
- Engage in a collaborative change process.
- Target resources to implement strategic innovations.
To meet these objectives, the Network will actively engage juvenile defenders, policymakers, judges and other decision makers in designing and implementing strategies that will improve juvenile indigent defense policy and practice. Teams from the four existing Models for Change states and the four partner states will form a Network to implement reforms, create opportunities for leadership, and engage in concrete, measurable strategies to improve juvenile indigent defense systems. The Network will provide a forum to collaborate on the implementation of new strategic innovations; be intentional about change; share lessons learned; and, build on cross-site momentum and reform.
Network structure
Coordination
The Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network will be coordinated through the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC), a non-partisan organization created to respond to the critical need to build the capacity of the juvenile defense bar and to improve access to counsel and quality of representation for children in the justice system.
Participating state requirements
Each of the four core states and the four partner states that comprise the Network will identify and select 4-8 team members who, as stakeholders with senior-level experience, will represent them at Network meetings and will have an interest and experience in matters relating to juvenile indigent defens. State teams will participate in the following Network activities:
- Attendance at the annual meeting of the Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network.
Each year, the Network will convene an annual meeting, which will bring together the teams from the Models for Change States and the new partner states along with national experts and researchers. The purpose of this annual meeting will be to provide a foundation for the identification and development of “strategic innovations” that each state will work on as described in greater detail below. The annual meeting will provide a forum for sharing information and networking; discussion and identification of the strategic innovations; and, concrete suggestions for ways to further advance the pace of reform.
- Attendance (virtual or in-person) at one or two additional Strategic Innovation Group (SIG) meetings and participation in ongoing implementation efforts.
At the annual meeting, participants will be guided to identify and develop strategic innovations, or specific and intentional efforts that will lead to measurable outcomes to improve juvenile indigent defense system policies or practices. Strategic innovations will be identified through a collaborative process designed to generate new and innovative solutions. They are intended to bring about rapid responses to critical issues through the development and implementation of practical recommendations and resources. Participants will work together to develop solutions to common problems.
Examples of strategic innovations are not limited to but might include:
- Innovations in data collection and case reporting methods that provide accurate and timely information about issues such as the number of children that waive their right to counsel or the timing and appointment of such counsel
- Innovations that increase the support and capacity of juvenile defenders
- Innovations that address oversight and monitoring of juvenile indigent defense systems Innovations that promote cutting-edge training and professional development
- Innovations that promote communication among juvenile defenders and other key system stakeholders such as judges, prosecutors, probation officers or law enforcement
- Innovations that support the development of specialized defense units that target unique issues or populations of under-served youth and, Innovations that develop model court rules, guidelines or professional standards.
- Participation in on-site technical support
As requested by Network members, additional on-site technical support will be available to advance progress in the states and encourage greater peer involvement. It is expected that Network members will work with the NJDC to identify issues and experts that assist with laying the groundwork for reform.
- Participation in the dissemination of new information to peers.
One of the main purposes of the Network is to share lessons learned more broadly and intentionally. To that end, Network members will be expected to submit ideas and materials and take full advantage of the opportunity to share strategies, resources and innovations. NJDC will work with Network participants to identify opportunities to draft briefing papers; share successes, innovations and new materials with one another; submit materials for posting on the Network website or articles for an e-newsletter; or other publishing or public speaking events that become available.