About the Southwest Juvenile Defender Center

Mission

Ensuring excellence in juvenile defense and promoting justice for all children through advocacy, education and prevention. SWJDC, an affiliate of the National Juvenile Defender Center, 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.

Contact Information

100 Law Center, Room 102, TUII Building
Houston, TX 77204-6060
Main Phone: 713-743-1967
Email: Center4CLP@uh.edu
Directions: Google Maps

SWJDC Goals

• Advocacy

  • To zealously advocate on behalf of individual children.

• Education

  • To provide training to defenders to effectively represent children’s rights.
  • To educate the general public and other professionals, i.e., probation officers, judges, health professionals.
  • To teach and encourage law students to effectively represent children’s rights.

• Prevention

  • To research, support and develop models and programs that will help prevent juvenile crime and foster supportive environments for children.

Advisory Board

• RONALD "SKIP" KELLY
• MICHAEL LINDSAY
• ELLEN MARRUS
• SAM PAPPAS
• CHRIS PHILLIS
• JONI SPIERS