Maria Rodriguez
Host: Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
Sponsor: Fish & Richardson P.C., Microsoft Corporation
Virginia provided direct civil representation to probation-involved juveniles in the extended foster care system in Contra Costa County to protect their rights and advocated for policy changes to ensure respect for the civil rights of youth in the juvenile justice system.
Every year, more than 18,000 youth are locked away in detention facilities in California. Despite legal guarantees that youth in detention receive instruction parallel to that of youth in traditional schools, detention centers provide intermittent and insufficient instruction. Health care is often inadequate; mental health care is a particular problem. Attorneys working on juvenile justice cases frequently do not provide the post-disposition civil representation that is necessary to secure their clients civil and constitutional rights. The system is failing these youth and not providing adequate support to help them become independent, productive members of society. Seizing the opportunity presented by California’s realignment of juvenile detention from a state to a county-based system, this project will both create a new system for representing the interests of detained youth in Contra Costa County and leverage the experience garnered in that system to advocate for youth throughout California.
During her Fellowship, Virginia has:
Now that the Fellowship is complete, Virginia will continue to work at Youth Law Center as a Staff Attorney.
Host: Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
Sponsor: Fish & Richardson P.C., Microsoft Corporation
Host: East Bay Children’s Law Offices
Sponsor: The Morrison & Foerster Foundation
Host: Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
Sponsor: Microsoft Corporation, The Sidley Austin Foundation
Host: Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Sponsor: Greenberg Traurig, LLP