Science shows us that children’s brains continue to develop into their 20s, and delinquent behavior can be a normal part of growing up. When a young person faces criminal or delinquency charges, they should be given opportunities for treatment, rehabilitation, and positive reinforcement. Unfortunately, there are 60,000 children incarcerated in juvenile facilities on any given day. In addition to the systemic criminal justice system issues contributing to this staggering number, not all children in the juvenile and criminal justice system receive the client-centered, individualized, and developmental/age appropriate representation they deserve.
This scholarship will be awarded to a law student spending their summer working at a non-profit organization, doing juvenile justice or restorative justice work. It is meant to help support students doing unpaid or low-paid, but important juvenile or restorative justice work. Law students from diverse backgrounds and/or have juvenile or criminal records are encouraged to apply.