JTIP: LESSON 35 DISPOSITION ADVOCACY · JTIP: LESSON 35 DISPOSITION ADVOCACY WDA Defender...
Transcript of JTIP: LESSON 35 DISPOSITION ADVOCACY · JTIP: LESSON 35 DISPOSITION ADVOCACY WDA Defender...
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JTIP: LESSON 35DISPOSITION ADVOCACY
W D A D e fe n d e r C o n fe re n c e –
J u v e n i l e D e fe n s e Tr a i n i n g A c a d e my
A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 7
N a d i a S e e rata n
N a t i o n a l J u v e n i l e D e fe n d e r C e n t e r
G e o rg e Ye a n n a k i s
Wa s h i n g t o n O f f i c e o f P u b l i c D e fe n s e
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What You Will Learn Today
Role of the Defender at Disposition Hearings
Expressed Wishes standard governs = kid is your boss!
Practice Tips - Be Alert to Your Child Client’s statements
Review of WA State Juvenile Disposition Manual
Steps to Effective Pre-Disposition Preparation
Practice What You Learn –
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Role of the Juvenile Defender at Disposition:
Advocate within the bounds of the law, according to the client’s view of the matter
Client defines objectives of the representation
Defender may counsel and advise, but client makes ultimate decisions
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Expressed Wishes Standard Controls
Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct (“RPC”) or 3 Biggies to Know!
RPC 1.2 Scope of Representation
RPC 1.4 Communication
RPC 1.6 Confidentiality of Information
State v. A.N.J. , 168 Wn.2d 91 (2010) - Washington State Supreme Court weighs in about juveniles and expressed wishes
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The 2013 WA State Juvenile Disposition Manual – Highlights to
Know!Juvenile Disposition Manual 2016
◦will be available soon Through the Washington State Forecast Council
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Steps to Effective Pre-Disposition Preparation:
Pre-Disposition Preparation: Start planning immediately!
Framing and storytelling are key
◦ WHO is the client?
◦ HOW did the client get here?
◦ WHAT can we do to ensure the best outcome/least restrictive options?
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Components of a Disposition Plan
Have a plan that covers where the juvenile lives, what services and education program she is provided, and what her schedule will be like during the week.
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What can we do to ensure the best outcome?
Counsel the client
If appropriate, discuss options with the parent or guardian – but ultimately the client’s goals prevail
Provide useful information to the probation officer to assist with the dispositional report/ recommendations
◦ Youth’s successes, positive info on youth, family challenges, etc.
Align probation officer with your theory of disposition
Obtain other useful information
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Engage in Problem Solving
Address Youth’s Needs & Adverse Circumstances:
E.g.
Family Counseling – if problems in the home
Drug Treatment – if history of drug abuse
Enlist Tutor/Special Ed Counselor – if failing school
Speak to probation counselor, juvenile prosecutor, other critical professionals such as treatment providers or teachers prior to disposition hearing. Build momentum for your juvenile client!
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Why Should You Talk/Meet with the Probation Officer?
This relationship can be critical. Negotiate & Be Strategic!
Preparer of the Pre-Sentence/Pre-disposition/Social Study/Investigative Report
Defender should try to influence what goes into the report.
Align probation officer with your theory of disposition
Defender can try to persuade PO to change their recommendation or at least learn enough to refute a bad or mistaken fact.
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What kind of information can we provide to the probation officer before the dispositional report is
written?
Client and parent interviews (prepare them in advance!)
Diagnostic information
School records
Placement and service possibilities
Other?
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What are Common Conditions of Probation or
Other Dispositions?
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Conditions of ProbationHome/friend/family/third-party monitor
Community-based programming
Community Service
Employment
Vocational Programming
Counseling
Evaluations
Balanced and Restorative Justice Programs◦ Victim-Offender Mediation
Letters of Apology
Parenting Classes
Electronic Monitoring
Drug Court Probation
Drug Treatment, Education, testing (Awareness)
School Attendance
Tutoring
Sex Offender Treatment
Mentoring
Residential
Restitution.
Scared Straight/Save our Streets
Other?
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What are proper considerations when determining proper conditions of
disposition?
Nature of the offense
Client’s individualized needs
Proximity to home (of service provider)
Whether the youth can be successful
TIP: DON’T SET YOUR CLIENT UP FOR FAILURE
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Negotiate with the Prosecutor
Do it! Try to get an agreement.
Try to get your client enrolled in a program that you identify and the prosecutor does not object to even before the scheduled hearing.
Consider presenting the agreement to the Court even without a disposition report.
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Supreme Court Affirmation of Developmental Concepts
U.S. Supreme Court decisions have affirmed a differential jurisprudence for youth
Roper v. Simmons (2005)
Youth are:
- immature and reckless
- more susceptible to peer pressure
- developing and therefore transient by nature
Graham v. Florida (2010)
“…because juveniles have lessoned culpability they are less deserving of the most severe punishments.”
JDB v. North Carolina (2011)
Court says that youth “often lack the experience, perspective, and judgment to recognize and avoid choices that could be detrimental to them…”
Miller v. Alabama (2012)
“The penalty when imposed on a teenager, as compared to an older person, is therefore “the same … in name only.””
United States Supreme Court
Cases
YouthMatters
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General Mitigating Arguments: Nature and Circumstances of the Offense
Minimal Participant
Pressure from Older Youth
Non-violent Nature of Offense
Rare/changed Behaviour
Remorse
U.S. Supreme Court Adopts Developmental Science – “Kids are Different”
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RESTITUTIONCompensation to the victim in the form of monetary payments that the youth may pay over time.
There must be a nexus between the youth’s delinquent act and the restitution!
Argue against any restitution that exceeds the cost of repairs or the fair market value of replacement.
Independently investigate claims of restitution
Argue for documentation of cost of repairs/losses as a matter of due process.
Argue for alternatives to Restitution
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The Disposition Hearing
WHEN does it occur?
WHAT does the hearing look like? (Evidentiary or Non-Evidentiary?)
WHAT evidence may be presented?
HOW should the client participate?
WHAT is the defense attorney’s role?
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Non-Evidentiary Hearings
Counsel Client about Speaking to Court
Counsel Parents/Guardians about Speaking to Court
Victim Impact Statements
Assess Whether Evidentiary Hearing is Necessary to Preserve Due Process (allows for cross-examination).
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Defense Theory of Disposition
Youth is Not in Need of Care or Rehabilitation
Youth Needs Particular Services and Rehabilitation not recommended by Court Personnel
Youth Needs Only Least Restrictive Placement to Satisfy Concerns of Court and Community
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ENSURE A NEXUS
Object to any condition of disposition that is inappropriate for the youth or for which there is no nexus between the youth’s criminal act and the proposed condition.
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What should the final disposition order look like?
Judge should state on record Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for the disposition ordered.
Specify rehabilitative services that the state, probation department or facility must provide.
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PRESERVE RIGHT TO APPEAL
Preserve the right to appeal and advise your client of the right.
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Post-Disposition Advocacy
Remain on if you can to monitor conditions and advocate for release.
Stay in Contact with Your Client
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Disposition Advocacy
Questions?
George Yeannakis, [email protected]
Washington Defender Association –phone no. 206.623.4321