Visited by the Department of Child Safety? Receiving an unexpected house call from the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), or what you may think of as CPS, can be a harrowing experience for any parent. It’s essential to be informed about your rights when it comes to handling such a situation. Can …
DCS At Your Door? What To Do If the Department of Child Safety Comes Knocking. Read More »
Juvenile Dependency in Arizona What is a Dependency Petition? A dependency petition is a legal document filed with the Juvenile Court, asserting that a child is in need of effective care and control for which their parents or guardians are not providing. In Arizona, these petitions are governed by statute A.R.S. 8-841 (read in …
Juvenile Dependency Petitions and Child Welfare Proceedings in Arizona Read More »
Guardian ad Litem Appointments in Arizona In Arizona, a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child or vulnerable adult in certain legal proceedings. GALs play a crucial role in advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves due to age, incapacity, or other factors and …
Guardian ad Litem Appointments in Arizona: Advocating for the Vulnerable Read More »
Oregon Legislature Passes a Deception Bill that Prevents Police from Lying to Youth During Interrogations In June, Oregon became the second state to pass a deception bill that prevents law enforcement from lying to people under the age of 18 during interrogations. The bill bans false promises of leniency and false claims about the existence …
Arizona Governor signs bill changing current civil forfeiture laws. On May 5, Governor Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2810, which rewrote large portions of Arizona’s civil forfeiture laws. This new bill will make it more difficult for the government to keep seized property without a criminal conviction. Ducey signed the bill five days after it …
New Arizona Civil Forfeiture Laws Make it Harder for Assets to be Taken. Read More »
Supreme Court changes course with ruling on juvenile sentenced to life without parole. On April 22, 2021, The Supreme Court slowed its path of leniency for minors convicted of serious crimes. In a 6-to-3 ruling, the court said, “judges need not specifically find a juvenile murderer beyond rehabilitation before sentencing him to a lifetime in …
Supreme Court heads in a new direction with juvenile convictions Read More »
A Maricopa County federal judge dismissed a legal challenge to Arizona’s Department of Child Safety’s new child abuse blacklist policy. Recently, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge dismissed the New Civil Liberties Alliance’s challenge to the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s child abuse registry. This database provides a digital collection of child abuse offenders and …
AZ Federal Judge Upholds Child Abuse ‘Black List’ Read More »
With the annual number of minors being charged as adults at 76,000, it is clear that change is needed. Over the past 12 years, the number of youths being charged as adults has dropped 70%. While this change has been incredible, there is still room for improvement. Most of these children and teens are being …
Maricopa County reverses a 5 year old policy that outsourced legal support for gay couples going through the adoption process. Since the United States officially recognized gay marriage in 2015, there has been policies put in place in states and counties across the country to hinder gay rights. Maricopa County was among the institutions that …
Maricopa County Attorney Pulls Back Anti-Adoption Policy Read More »
Reflecting on the anniversary of a landmark Supreme Court case brings appreciation but also the revelation more change needs to happen. Most people would not know that up until 1967, minors were not guaranteed the right to legal counsel. They were not afforded the same legal rights as an adult. The 1964 case that changed …
Remembering Landmark AZ Case to Give Minors the Right to Legal Counsel Read More »
