By Laurie Culkin, CFCC Student Fellow 2015-2016 Over the summer, I had the privilege of working for attorneys who represent children in child abuse and neglect (Children in Need of Assistance -CINA) proceedings. The juvenile court in Baltimore City aims to keep each child in front of the same judge for all of their court…
By Ashley Bond, CFCC Student Fellow 2015-2016 “Once you get out of law school, you’ll realize that you never learned a thing about how to be a lawyer. You just learned the law.” My supervising attorney stated this during my first legal internship. At the time, I knew that he was referring to such topics…
Seventeen and a half years ago, Rule 16-204 created five Family Divisions in Maryland – and put the state on a path of family justice system reform that continues to the present day. On June 1, 2015 the University of Baltimore School of Law’s Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts…
By Eliseba Osore, Truancy Court Program Social Worker and Katie Davis, Truancy Court Program Attorney The events of the past few weeks in Baltimore have shined a spotlight on the struggles of many Baltimore residents. While some were surprised by the revelations following Freddie Gray’s death, those of us who work with youth in the Baltimore…
By: Katie Davis, Truancy Court Program Attorney What does it take to turn around urban youth who are on a path marked by violence and crime? According to Greland Lowrey, a gang specialist who works with youth in Baltimore city, for young people to turn away from criminal behavior, it requires “confidence, support and diligence.”…
By: Katie Davis, Truancy Court Program Attorney Each week CFCC’s Truancy Court Program (TCP) team members stress to TCP students the importance not just of staying in high school, but of going on to graduate from college, as well. We speak to them of the increased opportunities that come with a college degree and help…
By: Katie Davis, TCP Attorney CFCC’s Truancy Court Program (TCP) has encountered unprecedented numbers of families in Baltimore City who are struggling with unstable housing and homelessness. While there are many challenges for those dealing with homelessness, most families do not realize that they are eligible for certain public benefits, including federally-mandated services for their…
By Brittany Strickland, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 During a recent Truancy Court Program (“TCP”) team meeting, some law students expressed frustration about the lack of parental involvement in the Truancy Court Programs. Ideally parents should be at the table to discuss truancy with the TCP team and their child each week. After working with students…
By Bryan Upshur, CFCC Student Fellow 2014-2015 On one fateful day in Florida a man named Clarence Earl Gideon broke into a pool room with the intent to commit a misdemeanor.[1] This action constituted a felony in the state of Florida, and the man was charged with the crime. After being arrested, Gideon requested the…