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

·  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

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