The Magna Carta for Juveniles: In Re Gault Turns 50

8 Pages Posted: 29 Jun 2017

See all articles by Kimberly D. Ambrose

Kimberly D. Ambrose

University of Washington - School of Law

George Yeannakis

Washington State Office of Public Defense

Date Written: June 1, 2017

Abstract

In 1967 In re Gault established a right to counsel for juveniles accused of crime. But the protections of Gault took time to implement. In Washington State, they were codified in the Juvenile Justice Act of 1977. The 1990s saw a trend to "get tough" on juvenile crime, and hence more youth being tried in the adult system, with less acknowledgement of the developmental limitations of adolescents. Access to counsel varied state to state and within states. This article discusses challenges facing juvenile justice, nationally and in Washington State. Despite the challenges, there are good reasons to be optimistic: youth arrests are at an all-time low, fewer children are referred to juvenile court, and fewer children are being held at county- and state-run juvenile institutions.

Keywords: right to counsel, juvenile justice, youthful offenders, due process

Suggested Citation

Ambrose, Kimberly D. and Yeannakis, George, The Magna Carta for Juveniles: In Re Gault Turns 50 (June 1, 2017). NWLawyer, June 2017, pp. 34-39, University of Washington School of Law Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2993593 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2993593

Kimberly D. Ambrose (Contact Author)

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98105-3020
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.washington.edu/directory/profile.aspx?ID=114

George Yeannakis

Washington State Office of Public Defense ( email )

Evergreen Plaza, 711 Capitol Way S.
Olympia, WA 98501
United States

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