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Fighting for the Rights and Well-being of Youth

Who is Juvenile Law Center? 2026 Annual Campaign

Juvenile Law Center fights for rights, dignity, equity, and opportunity for youth. We work to reduce the harm of the child welfare and justice systems, limit their reach, and ultimately abolish them so all young people can thrive.

Youth Justice

Each year, juvenile courts nationwide hear approximately 510,000 cases. Young people need experienced, dedicated advocates to fight for them in courts, legislatures, and city halls.

Children in Prison

Solitary confinement is nothing short of state-sanctioned child abuse. Strip searches and shackling are inhumane. No child deserves this treatment.

Foster Care

Over 345,000 youth are in foster care, and around 15,000 young adults “age out” of care without permanent family connections. They deserve better from the institutions meant to support them.

Youth Partnerships

Young people are experts on their own lives, and their lived experiences should inform policies that affect them. Juvenile Law Center’s advocacy powerfully combines youth expertise and legal strategy.

Special Event

Punks for Youth Justice - Benefit for Juvenile Law Center
Resource Spotlight

Racial Justice Amicus and Appellate Strategies
Resource Spotlight

Access our Youth Advocacy Toolkit

FIGHTING FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE

We need your support to fight alongside our partners and young people across the country. Your donation today means we can be where children need us most - when it matters most. 

2026 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN Donate Today
Press Releases

Historic Win: Michigan Supreme Court Stops People Convicted as Kids from Dying in Prison

The ACLU of Michigan, the ACLU, Juvenile Law Center, and civil rights attorney Deborah LaBelle applaud the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision that subjecting young people to excessively long prison sentences violates the Michigan Constitution’s prohibition on cruel or unusual punishment.
In The News

Philly ballot measure could bolster education oversight for kids in foster care, juvenile detention

A measure on Tuesday’s ballot could make permanent a small Philadelphia program that monitors quality of life for youth in foster homes, behavioral health treatment, and correctional facilities.
In The News

After repeated failures in caring for system-involved youth, Pa. needs an Office of the Child Advocate with ‘teeth’

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently stated that his office supports codifying a statewide Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) and, importantly, wants the office to have “teeth.” This comes in the wake of yet another tragic death of a child in the system. One thing is clear — Pennsylvania’s children cannot afford to wait for this office to be reinstated with authority.