The Gault Center

Youth defense contracts - the gault center engages in various youth defense contracts with states and localities to improve their youth defense practice, provide technical assistance support, improve youth defense data collection, as well as provide specialized training support and develop curriculum targeted to the needs of each locality/state.

Youth defense de-incarceration - the gault center works to highlight the importance of reducing the juvenile legal system's reliance on incarceration by calling for systemic reform that centers on alternative-to-incarceration programs, adolescent development research, and evidence-based approaches. This work includes providing technical assistance to state and local youth defender systems; hosting specialized, high-quality, cutting-edge training to youth defense attorneys; and collaborating with organizations as well as young people with lived experience to highlight and advocate for successful laws, policies, and practices from across the country.

Youth defense lead system reforms - the gault center participates in several projects aimed at improving youth court systems. The projects focus on: decreasing fees and costs assessed against youth and families, improving youth defense contract systems in state, improving the access to and quality of youth defense counsel for youth involved in juvenile delinquency court, eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in youth court, and improving probation practices.