Mississippi Alex Domenici & Katie Comeau

Opening Statement “Forty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that children have the right to counsel, yet this right is being violated again and again in Mississippi's juvenile courts, where cases carry lifelong consequences. These cases are not trivial, but they are being treated that way."

Origin Traced back to the Mississippi Industrial and Training School Act of Rooted in the Standard Juvenile Court Act, which was enacted in The Act proposed the idea that children are deserving of services conducive to their welfare and to the best interest of the state. If guardians are absent from the child's life then the court will step in and provide the necessary care.

Mississippi Today There is a youth court in every county of the State where all cases involving juvenile offenders under 18 are heard. Relies almost exclusively on incarcerating children in training schools. Overworked public defenders. Miss. Code Ann : Representation by counsel; youth court-appointed attorneys required to receive juvenile justice training; exemption; duties of youth court counsel.

Continued Survey of southeastern states showed that Mississippi now imprisons a higher percentage of nonviolent status offenders than any other in the region. Ten facilities currently exist in the state, administered by county and city government, county boards and commissions, youth courts, and local law enforcement departments.

Continued Currently, courts are operating under the 1946 Youth Court Act. Youth can be sentenced to secure detention or placed in detention as a result of violation of probation not to exceed 90 days.

"In the Interest of C.K.B., a Minor v. Harrison County Youth Court" Juvenile was charged with burglary Youth court judge erred in failing to make a favorable decision Insufficient evidence