This report says it all: MA has the capacity to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to 21 while also improving outcomes for youth, increasing public safety, and decreasing large racial disparities. Louder for those in the back?!? RAISE THE AGE FOR JUVENILE COURT!

Have at it, organizers! Have at it, defense attorneys! New database of 10 years of BPD's IA cases. MuslimJusticeLeague Black and Pink Boston Families for Justice as Healing Black Boston Inc. FTP Boston MACDL Nat'lLawyersGuildMA The Mass Public Defenders (CPCS) YJPU BOSTON Young Abolitionists Asian American Resource Workshop x.com/bmccarthynews/…

This is MY Chief Counsel:"Every person under the CPCS banner is a public defender and deserves to be treated equally when it comes to the benefits set aside for those attorneys who are committed to public service."For too long, private attys have been the invisible Gideon's army

"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth." --African proverb. Diversion shouldn't be used as a privilege for a few, it should be used liberally to embrace all children back into their villages.

A good reminder to those who so quickly forgot that the appointed private counsel of MA are the ones who have shouldered the true risks of COVID (without sick time, vacation time, and other benefits) to ensure indigent clients receive zealous advocacy during a pandemic. The Mass Public Defenders (CPCS)

YES! This includes ending the cradle to prison pipeline for youth who are currently being "rehabilitated" in detention centers away from their families and community.

In solidarity with Children's Rights for their call to action to end the use of harmful and unnecessary institutionalization of children by the family regulation system in their new #FamilesOverFacilities report. bit.ly/FOF2021Report

Give the students a voice, a vote, AND a stipend (just like everyone else) on the school committee--anything else is just performative equity and empowerment. bostonglobe.com/2021/03/06/met… via The Boston Globe

"Decades of research have also documented how racism in particular—whether overt or invisible to those who are not affected directly—can negatively influence the well-being of children and families." developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/movi…

Thanks to Massachusetts Bar Association for sending something sweet to their volunteers and brightening up our day!! We're looking forward to another amazing year with the MBA Juvenile and Child Welfare Section Council! Cristina Freitas Alexandra Roark

A new report centering the voices of youth with lived experience qualitatively measures the injustice of group home life and calls for an end to group care for foster youth. assets.website-files.com/60a6942819ce80…

There is DCF money available to help current and former foster youth! Act fact because some funds will go away on Sept. 30, 2021!! The Mass Public Defenders (CPCS) RJTF-Equity Deb Freitas

Virtual Plenary 1 of the 44th National Child Welfare Law Conference is underway! Kele Stewart, Debbie Freitas, and Cristina discuss practical tools to promote racial justice for clients. #NACC2021

Thanks to Shira Schoenberg for getting the word out on this lifeline for former foster youth. Cristina Freitas @mtwyouth OneCanHelp The Mass Public Defenders (CPCS) State scrambles to get federal money to former foster youth  - CommonWealth Magazine commonwealthmagazine.org/government/sta…

We thought the best part of our new office was its proximity to Court. But with school back, the best part is how close it is to a school playground so we hear kids giggling and joyfully screaming all day. It reminds us why we do what we do Cristina Freitas #backtodefendingyouthinschool

If you've been missing hearing us talk about how much we love our afterschool mock trial class lately, you're in luck because Discovering Justice added a brief video interview (featuring us!) about the program in this month's newsletter. Cristina Freitas spark.adobe.com/page/2mW4pGGuI…

Night Court is BACK! After 10 wks of afterschool mock trial, the student attorneys from the Stoklosa Middle School were back tonight rocking their trial at the Lowell Juvenile Court! The masks may be hiding their smiles but you couldn't miss their brilliance Cristina Freitas Discovering Justice

Walked into the Lowell Law Library and was greeted by this on display at the front desk ❤ Cristina Freitas Raquel Vargas

Such an honor to be recognized by the ABA for doing the work we love!! Deb Freitas The Mass Public Defenders (CPCS)

The latest NUSL alumni magazine has people seeing double! Thanks to NortheasternLaw for the shout out and for spotlighting juvenile court work! Cristina Freitas