Question for Julie McConnell: You and your students represent clients on a pro-bono basis, what is the process of selecting cases to represent consist of?

PREP: Who are the incarcerated youth?

The Conversation Article:

  • I did not realize how many juveniles were tried as adults or given life sentences without parole.
  • Thinking about the perpetrator’s perspective does not necessarily diminish the victim.
  • Negative attitudes towards juvenile offenders caused the increase in JLWOP but that is changing more recently.

Post-D Program:

  • A good alternative to JLWOP or Juvenile incarceration.
  • Try to get to the root of the problem; the program really cares about rehabilitation.
  • Strict criteria to meet.

The Atlantic Video:

  • The facility was designed with adult offenders in mind.
  • The facility is the only one like it in the entire state of Virginia.
  • The facility is at least an hour away from most families, and many are advocating for a closer location.
  • The facility was not built with youth rehabilitation in mind (empty cells are used).