06/04/20
Technical Assistance Bulletin
In October 2018 and March 2019, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) conducted focus groups with juvenile defense attorneys from around the country who represent youth in juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTCs). The purpose of the focus groups was to develop an understanding of the unique challenges and competing roles of defense attorneys who serve in JDTCs. This brief is a summary of how they view their roles and the recommendations they would give to navigate ethical, legal, and practical challenges in JDTCs.