
Initiatives
JUSTGeorgia will conduct several initiatives focused on ensuring success of the coalition's goals and objectives.
A Report on the Impact of Today’s Juvenile Code. The
Georgia Juvenile Code, as written, creates concerns both for the youth
in its jurisdiction and the professionals who administer it. Some problems are easily observable in reading the code. Other
problems are experienced more personally by the individuals who
encounter the Code as offenders, parents, enforcement officers,
lawyers, judges and social service workers.
To substantiate the concerns of all parties, JUSTGeorgia
developed a comprehensive report summarizing the strengths and
weaknesses of the Code and its enforcement and offering practical and
realistic recommendations that will improve outcomes for youth.
The resulting document, Common Wisdom: Making the Case for a New Georgia Juvenile Code, is available here.
The
Report Project was led by Georgia Appleseed, using the pro bono
services of hundreds of lawyers who interviewed key stakeholders in the
ten judicial districts of the state. More than a
dozen of Georgia's top law firms coordinated and lead the interviews as
well as assisted with drafting the final report.
Juvenile Code Revision Project - Another critical element to JUSTGeorgia's success is the Juvenile Code Revision Project. The goal of this project is to create a comprehensive code for the state based on research and evidence. JUSTGeorgia endorses the need for a comprehensive revision of the Georgia Juvenile Code. Enacted
over 35 years ago, the Code has been revised in piecemeal fashion since
then, resulting in contradictions within the document and disorganized
statutes. There is evidence that federal law has not been
incorporated for the protection of children and that some policies
counter current knowledge about effective approaches to youth
development.
JUSTGeorgia respects
the early commitment and leadership of the Younger Lawyers Division of
the State Bar of Georgia in initiating the development of a model
juvenile code in 2004. The Coalition supports the YLD
financially in the development of the Code and will work closely with
the State Bar in promoting a recommendation to the legislature for a
new law in 2009-10.
For a list of participating law firms, visit Georgia Appleseed.