The Issue

Young people in the South Bronx grow up in one of the most under-resourced and over-policed communities in the nation. The confluence of these complex conditions can trap youth in cycles of poverty as well as criminal and juvenile justice involvement. Ensuring meaningful justice for adolescent clients requires a deep understanding of adolescent criminal defense, youth mental health issues, and the serious educational factors that contribute to, and result from, a young person’s criminal case.

Our Approach

The Adolescent Defense Project was created to provides specialized representation to 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds who are being prosecuted as adults. We are a dedicated team of defense attorneys, social workers, and an education attorney who specialize in these unique cases. We help young people navigate the various intersecting systems before them, whether it is Criminal and Supreme Court, the Administration for Children’s Services, the Office of Children and Family Services, the Department of Education, or Family Court. We strive to identify the best strategies to fight our client’s criminal case, connect them with the services they need, and help set them on a path towards the future they desire.