This project is supported by Grant # 2020-ZE-BX-0001 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.

Course Description: 

The Delinquency Certification Training is a specialized professional development program designed for juvenile defense attorneys. Grounded in the Wisconsin Juvenile Justice Code (Wis. Stat. Ch. 938) and relevant case law, this curriculum equips defense counsel with the legal frameworks, strategic tools, and client-centered skills necessary to zealously represent youth in delinquency proceedings.

The course spans every stage of juvenile court involvement—from initial custody and detention advocacy to disposition, post-dispositional hearings, and competency litigation—while emphasizing age-appropriate communication methods, trauma-informed defense strategies, and actionable interventions to interrupt implicit bias within the justice system.

Course Highlights:

• Client-Centered Advocacy & Communication: Focuses on representing the juvenile's expressed interests through age-appropriate communication, trauma-informed techniques, and effective trust-building strategies.
• Detention Advocacy & Release: Covers statutory criteria for custody, detention hearings (Wis. Stat. §§ 938.205, 938.208), and constructing community-based release plans.
• Juvenile Competency: Explores evaluating competency under the Dusky standard, managing court evaluations, JIPS dispositional paths, and post-A.L. re-examination risks.
• Dispositions & Diversion: Details pre-adjudication diversion (deferred prosecution, consent decrees), formal dispositional alternatives (Wis. Stat. § 938.34), and expungement.
• Post-Dispositional Hearings: Prepares counsel for handling court revisions, sanctions (Wis. Stat. § 938.355(6)), placement changes (Wis. Stat. § 938.357), and extensions.
• Interrupting Implicit Bias: Teaches defense attorneys to recognize unconscious bias in decision-making and implement practical bias-mitigation techniques.

Case Law Referenced: 

• Dusky v. U.S., 362 U.S. 402 (1960)
• In the Interest of A.A., 391 Wis. 2d 416, 941 N.W.2d 260, 2020 WI App 11
• In the Interest of A.L., 385 Wis. 2d 612, 2019 WI 20
• In the Interest of B.S., 162 Wis. 2d 378, 469 N.W.2d 860 (1991)
• In the Interest of Christena M.D., 2008 WL 426241 (Wis. Ct. App. 2008)
• In the Interest of Ellis H., 274 Wis. 2d 703, 684 N.W.2d 157, 2004 WI App 123
• In the Interest of Eugene G., 2003 WL 22888086 (Wis. Ct. App. 2003)
• In the Interest of Eugene W., 251 Wis. 2d 259, 641 N.W.2d 467, 2002 WI App 54
• In the Interest of Michael S., 282 Wis. 2d 1, 698 N.W.2d 673, 2005 WI 82
• In the Interest of Richard J.D., 297 Wis. 2d 207, 24 N.W.2d 665, 2006 WI App 242
• In the Interest of Terry T., 251 Wis. 2d 462, 643 N.W.2d 175, 2002 WI App 81
• State ex rel. Cullen v. Ceci, 45 Wis. 2d 432, 173 N.W.2d 175 (1970)
• State ex rel. Harris v. Larson, 64 Wis. 2d 521, 219 N.W.2d 335 (1974)
• State v. B.S., 133 Wis. 2d 136, 394 N.W.2d 750 (Ct. App. 1986)
• State v. Cesar G., 2004 WI 61
• State v. Haskins, 139 Wis. 2d 257 (1987)
• State v. Haugen, 52 Wis. 2d 791 (1971)
• State v. Johnson, 133 Wis. 2d 207 (Ct. App. 1985)
• State v. Kleser, 328 Wis. 2d 42, 2010 WI 88
• State v. Lindsey A.F., 2002 WI App 223, affirmed 2003 WI 63
• State v. McKnight, 65 Wis. 2d 582, 223 N.W.2d 550 (1974)
• State v. Meeks, 263 Wis. 2d 794, 2003 WI 23