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 Condemns Santa Clara District Attorney Rosen’s Attack on Public Defender’s Free Speech Rights

On June 3, 2020, in the midst of national outrage over racial disparities and mistreatment of Black people in the justice system, Santa Clara County Alternate Public Defender Sajid Khan published a piece on his personal blog entitled, “be mad at the police, but be even madder at the DA’s offices that perpetuate and protect… Continue reading →

PJDC Stands in Solidarity Against Police Brutality and Anti-Blackness

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Martin Luther King, Jr. The Pacific Juvenile Defender Center will not be silent. PJDC members are juvenile defense attorneys and advocates… Continue reading →

Información Para Familias Con Jóvenes Confinados En Juvenile Hall O En Campamentos Del Condado Durante La Pandemia COVID-19

Los expertos en salud advierten que los lugares congregados colocan a todas las personas en un riesgo sustancial de enfermedad y muerte, y declaran que reducir inmediatamente la cantidad de personas alojadas en los centros de detención es críticamente necesario para la salud y la seguridad de estos lugares y de nuestras comunidades. Los jóvenes… 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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