In an effort to stop the school-to-prison pipeline, Maryland looks into restorative practices as an alternative to harsh disciplinary practices

By Christelle-grace Lowe, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Education is a necessity that allows a person to develop her personality and identity, as well as her physical and intellectual capabilities. Education allows the transmission of principles common to new generations and the preservation and perpetuation of a society’s values. Overall, the contribution of education to an individual’s…

My involvement in the passage of a bill

By Christelle-grace Lowe, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) As law students, we often are reminded of how challenging and extensive a process it can be for a bill to become law. For this very reason, I was excited to be “offered a seat on the train” for revolutionary law-making in Maryland. This semester, I had…

CFCC Spearheads the Launch of the Nation’s First Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law

By Michele Hong, CFCC Program Manager The University of Baltimore School of Law and its Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) are excited to announce the launch of the nation’s first Post-J.D. Certificate in Family Law. Classes begin in Fall 2017 at the University of Baltimore School of Law…

Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center: A Breath of Fresh Air

By Roy John Williams, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) The CFCC Student Fellows recently toured the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (BCJJC). I was impressed by the aesthetic qualities of this massive but modern building. BCJJC is a beautiful facility with towering windows at the entrance that create a welcoming feeling. BCJJC is a one-stop shop…

Drug Court Success Depends on Housing

By Mary Stover, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) On a recent Wednesday I, along with other CFCC Student Fellows, observed an uplifting morning in the Adult Drug Treatment Court at the Baltimore City District Court. At the conclusion of each of seven brief status hearings, the presiding judge, the Honorable Martin Dorsey, congratulated the compliant participant,…

Family Law as a Second Tier Legal Career?

By Samantha Hugo, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Why does society look down on the practice of family law? When did family law practitioners fall into disfavor? Is it because of a misconception that family law cases cover an area that society believes is insignificant? Family law attorneys are often dismissed as social workers in comparison…

Review of Problem-Solving Courts in Maryland

By Kathleen Seifert, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) This semester, the CFCC Student Fellows learned about the importance of employing therapeutic jurisprudence[1] and preventive law[2] to maximize positive, therapeutic outcomes for people involved in various courts. Problem-solving courts “address matters that are under the court’s jurisdiction through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach that incorporates collaboration among court, government,…

The Youth’s Survival Guide in a Concrete Jungle: Early Intervention & Education

By Chelsey Seger, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) The Jungle Book is a story of a young boy who must adapt to his environment to survive. For many children in Baltimore City, their home and social environments resemble a jungle of poverty and violence, and they, too, must adapt their behavior to survive. Imagine that you…

FOR RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, SO NO CHILD CAN BE LEFT BEHIND

By Christelle-grace Lowe, CFCC Student Fellow (2016-2017) Zero tolerance policy is a disciplinary approach that allows school authorities to expel students from school without a thorough analysis of the reasons for the behavior that led to the expulsion. For example, under some zero tolerance policies, students found with weapons, alcohol, or drugs are automatically suspended…