PJDC | Pacific Juvenile Defender Center

The Pacific Juvenile Defender Center provides support to juvenile trial lawyers, appellate counsel, law school clinical programs, and nonprofit law centers to ensure quality representation for children throughout California.

PJDC has streaming training videos! We are building our video library over the next several months, but currently we have our eight-hour AB703 training video and handouts available now for purchase. View the training videos »

Lawyers & Youth Justice Advocates

This section provides PJDC members with access to motions, briefs, and other resources to assist them in their advocacy.

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Youth, Families & Community

We believe children in the justice system must be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. If your child is going through the court process, we provide free resources to help you understand the challenges your child faces. If your child was in the juvenile delinquency system, we have information regarding sealing and other collateral consequences of system involvement.

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News & Announcements

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PJDC Calls on California Supreme Court to Provide Guidance to Lower Courts on Releasing Children From Confinement During COVID-19

On April 4, 2020, PJDC sent an open letter to California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, calling on the court and the Judicial Council to issue COVID-19 guidance to juvenile delinquency courts across the State that have not addressed the crisis facing incarcerated children. The letter describes the confusion and failure in Los Angeles… Continue reading →

PJDC Makes Post-Disposition Petitions for Release of Children in Congregate Facilities Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Available for Downloading

Health experts warn that congregate settings place all people at substantial risk of illness and death, and declare that reducing the number of people housed in detention facilities immediately is critically necessary for the health and safety of those facilities and our communities. Children confined in juvenile halls and camps in California are also at… Continue reading →

PJDC’s Transfer Litigation Intensive Forum Has Been Postponed.

The PJDC Governing Board and the Transfer Litigation Intensive Forum Planning Committee have decided to postpone the livestreamed Forum that had been scheduled for Friday, March 20. While last week we were thrilled to find a way to livestream the event, the court closures and issues surfacing about detained youth in response to the COVID-19… Continue reading →

Amicus

The PJDC Amicus Committee, comprised of California trial counsel, appellate counsel, law faculty, and juvenile advocates, collaborates on issues of critical importance to California juvenile defenders.
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Youth Justice Reform

PJDC members develop and comment on proposed changes in juvenile justice policy, participate in informational legislative hearings, serve on multi-agency task forces and more.
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Training & Technical Assistance

PJDC fills a critical need in offering the chronically under-resourced California juvenile defense bar specialized trainings and technical support services.
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