New York City’s Assigned Counsel Plan (ACP), housed within MOCJ, recently added a new Youth Representation Panel in Brooklyn (Kings County) that’s strengthening legal representation for young New Yorkers under the Raise the Age Law, to better protect their rights and promote fair legal outcomes in every case. The panel joins similar panels already succeeding in Queens and on Staten Island (Richmond County).
Through a robust recruitment and training process, ACP identified attorneys with demonstrated experience in representing young people in the criminal legal system. Following a series of ACP-produced and led continuing education classes, including “Building a Defense Team,” “Navigating School Suspension Hearings,” and “Conducting Retention Hearings,” ACP launched the new Youth Representation Panel through its Adolescent Representation Unit.
Youth panel attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of young New Yorkers facing the most serious charges in Supreme Court, and to helping bridge the gap between criminal and family courts.
We thank ACP, Supervising Attorney for Adolescent Representation, Rochelle Berliner, and Senior Supervising Attorney for Kings County, Kendea Johnson, for making this happen!