About SWJDC
Southwest Juvenile Defender Center is an affiliate of the National Juvenile Defender Center that works to bring together juvenile defenders, mental health professionals, educators, legislators and other juvenile justice professionals. Through this collaboration the Center strives to improve advocacy for children. The Center is always eager to hear new ideas for programs that benefit children.
SWJDC Mission
Ensuring excellence in juvenile defense and promoting justice for all children through advocacy, education and prevention.
SWJDC Goals
| Advocacy |
Education |
Prevention |
| To zealously advocate on behalf of individual children. |
To provide training to defenders to effectively represent children’s rights. |
To research, support and develop models and programs that will help prevent juvenile crime and foster supportive environments for children. |
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To educate the general public and other professionals, i.e., probation officers, judges, health professionals. |
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To teach and encourage law students to effectively represent children’s rights. |
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Advisory Board
- Frank Birchak
- Ronald "Skip" Kelly
- Michael Lindsey
- Gail Lutz
- Ellen Marrus
- Sam Pappas
- Chris Phillis
- Joni Spiers
- Chelita Riley
SWJDC Staff
Malikah Marrus, LMSW, Social Worker
