The Juvenile Code in Georgia impacts virtually every facet of a child's life from birth until age 18. Yet, in 2005, lawmakers considered it so out of date that the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution calling for its complete overhaul.
Today, Georgia Appleseed is working to make a revised Juvenile Code a reality through its leadership role in JUSTGeorgia, a statewide coalition:
- Advocating for the passage of a new Juvenile Code that reflects the scientific findings and best practices in the child development field; and
- Working to identify and change policies in underlying social service systems to better serve Georgia's children, prevent detention and promote safer communities.
JUSTGeorgia was organized with leadership funding from The Sapelo Foundation and will seek additional grants and contributions from Georgia and national foundations. We have also received funding for the project from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Knight Foundation, Georgia Bar Foundation and Lawyers Foundation of Georgia.
New YLD Proposed Model Code Released
JUSTGeorgia is pleased to announce completion of the much-anticipated Proposed Model Code by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia. Access it online at www.justga.org and offer comments.
Transforming the YLD Proposed Model Code into Legislation
- Four years in the drafting, the YLD Proposed Model Code is based on a national review of best practices and scientific findings in the child development field. This new document is the important first step in a process that will culminate in introduction of a comprehensive juvenile code legislative package in the Georgia General Assembly in 2009.
- The second step is to methodically vet input from stakeholders and others about the juvenile justice system, gathered from hundreds of individual interviews conducted around the state, town hall meetings held in each of the ten judicial districts, online surveys, face-to-face meetings and other sources.
- The third step is to transform the YLD Proposed Model Code, based on the vetted input, into draft legislation for the 2009 Legislative session.
- The fourth step is to engage JUSTGeorgia coalition members and others in advocating for adoption of the new Juvenile Code for Georgia in 2009.
Getting Involved
- Review the YLD Proposed Model Code and offer comments
- Attend the CLE "From the YLD Proposed Model Code to Legislative Action: Changing Children's Law in Georgia" sponsored by Young Lawyers Division/Juvenile Law Committee, to be held in May, 2008 at the State Bar Building.
- Join the JUSTGeorgia Coalition, dedicated to advocacy on behalf of more equitable justice and social service systems to serve Georgia's children. Sign up at www.JUSTGa.org.
JUSTGeorgia: Georgia Appleseed's Role
- Report: Georgia Appleseed is responsible for a comprehensive report to accompany the proposed legislation, summarizing strengths and weaknesses of the current Code and making practical and realistic recommendations to improve outcomes for youth.
- Interviews: The report will be based on hundreds of face-to-face interviews with stakeholders across Georgia, such as juvenile and superior court judges, child advocates, public defenders, prosecutors, educators, child welfare experts, parents, children, and community members.
- Pro Bono: Over 260 legal professionals signed on as volunteers under Georgia Appleseed to conduct these stakeholder interviews in all ten of Georgia's judicial districts.
- Town Hall Meetings: Face-to-face input was gathered from community members who attended the ten public Town Hall meetings, one in each judicial district, hosted by Georgia Appleseed and facilitated by UGA's Fanning Institute.
- Ongoing Survey: Additional comments on the juvenile justice system have been gathered from the public via an online, confidential UGA Fanning Institute survey.
Launch...
JUSTGeorgia, the new statewide coalition seeking to build safety and security for children and communities through passage of a new Georgia Juvenile Code and improvements in social service systems that serve 
Georgia's children held a formal launch event on October 3, 2007 at the Carter Center. Elected officials, judges, attorneys, advocates, community leaders and media were on hand as the 13 lead law firms recruited through Georgia Appleseed to conduct stakeholder interviews across the state were recognized for their ongoing efforts. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough was honored as the firm that has completed the most interviews to date. Johanna Wise, of Jones Day, was honored as the volunteer lawyer with the most interviews completed to date.
At the event, Georgia Appleseed was announced as the recipient of the Sapelo Foundation's first Smith W. Bagley Advocacy Grant Award. It shares this unique honor with its JUSTGeorgia founding partners, Voices for Georgia's Children and the Barton Law & Policy Clinic of Emory University. The award honors the distinguished work and inspiring leadership of long-time Sapelo Foundation Board Member Smith W. Bagley. Mr. Bagley's daughter, Nicole Bagley, made the presentation to Georgia Appleseed Executive Director Sharon Hill.
 Phyllis Bowen, Sapelo Foundation, Pat Willis, Voices for Georgia's Children and Sharon Hill, Georgia Appleseed celebrate the JUSTGeorgia launch |
 GA Appleseed Exec Dir Sharon Hill accepts the Smith W. Bagley Award from Nicole Bagley |
 Brad Bryant, Georgia State Board of Education Member, on education & juvenile justice |
 Leslie Gresham, GA Appleseed JUSTGeorgia Project Manager with project partners |
More Information...
For more background information about JUSTGeorgia and Georgia Appleseed's involvement, please click HERE...
Lead Law Firms, Lead Partners, & Assigned Judicial Districts...
For more information about the participating law firms and attorneys working in each of Georgia's Judicial Districts or if you belong to a Participating Law Firm or are an Individual Pro Bono Volunteer, please click HERE...
