School: Emory University School of Law

I've really enjoyed my last two weeks working in the Child Advocacy Center. My internship began with an orientation session where skilled caseworkers and child advocacy attorneys shared their experiences working in the DeKalb juvenile justice system. The most memorable and disturbing story was by a case worker who described her first experience with a child dying as a result of abuse while she was the DFCS case manager. That of course is something I hope never to see first hand.

Within my first week I was able to conduct interviews with children, go on home visits, conduct court observations, write evaluations and draft motions for review. I am thrilled to be given so much responsibility and there is always something to do in the office. There are four cases in particular that I am working on this week. One concerns a 14-year-old boy who currently is being held at METRO RYDC on charges of possession of marijuana and violation of parole. He is a very sweet young man, but he has severe teeth problems that make him very hard to understand. It is disturbing that he has been in DFCS custody most of his life and has never received dental repair. He has a deep desire to be with family and even expressed his thoughts sometimes about killing himself because he is so unhappy in foster care and in the RYDC. Hopefully he will be paroled into a drug treatment center and then be able to be reunited with a family member.

The most disturbing case that I have been working on involves a 17-year-old girl who has been charged with child molestation. Her aunt adopted her a few years ago along with her two 4-year-old sisters. However, her aunt no longer wants the older girl to be living with her and brought allegations that she molested her little sister supposedly to have her removed. The charges do not seem credible, however the 17 year old was arrested from her group home and is now being charged as an adult and being held in the County jail. Of course no one has come forward to post her bond because she is in DFCS custody. This girl expressed desire to get her GED and go forward with some sort of training, however this has all been disrupted by her arrest. I cannot help but think that the system has failed her and I wish there was more we could do for her. I plan to attend her preliminary hearing in a couple of weeks and at least express to her that our office is still working on her behalf and that we care.

I have been surprised by how open all the children I've interviewed have been. I've not encountered a child who does not want to tell me their story and let me know what they want to happen. Most are very frustrated with the system, but they are empowered by the opportunity to give their perspective and express their wishes for their lives. I am saddened by how fast these children are forced to grow up and disappointed by how helpless I feel much of the time in improving their lives. However, I've never felt more passionate about a job and I hope to continue to develop my knowledge of the system and all the available avenues of assistance for these deserving children.

In the past few days, the question that has bothered me the most is the reason why the 17-year-old girl I mentioned previously is being held in the adult county jail. She has the maturity of an 11 year old and I think it is rather ridiculous that she is being tried as an adult. I'm wondering whether this is a decision made by the judge or whether this is mandated by law. I'm also wondering whether the DFCS case manager has it within her power to post the bond to release her or if she will remain in jail until her preliminary hearing. Trying children as adults seems to be a truly ridiculous practice that is completely contrary to the notion of rehabilitation for our youth.