Youth, Justice & Law

Explore how law, policy, culture, and economy affect the status and potential of minors through the lens of youth agency and community empowerment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A society must be judged by how it treats its vulnerable members. With this principle in mind, the course examines the current landscape of U.S. society, law, policy, culture, and economy through the lens of children– their status and their potential. Minors (persons under age 18) are referred to as metaphorical “canaries in the coal mine” for good reason. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, one in six children in America lives in poverty in 2020, as the income gap is the widest we have seen in 50 years. Children of color are now the majority of children in America, and their conditions are worst of all. This course surveys legal issues involving minors with a critical focus on the constructive and destructive roles of law and state intervention. We will prioritize youth agency and community empowerment.

Topics include: state overreach into family caregiving and decision-making, the School to Prison Pipeline, hyper-incarceration, disparities in public education and disability services, challenges posed by cyberbullying and technology, disconnected youth in our communities, mistreatment of undocumented children, the influence of behavioral and public health, and gender-based violence. We will likewise center the role of innovative approaches including community-based reforms, non-adversarial problem-solving, restorative justice, and survivor-led movements. The class will occur in an online seminar format including multimedia materials and interdisciplinary readings. The evaluation will be based on class participation, an in-class (virtual) presentation of selected readings, an approved final paper (or project with accompanying memo), and an in-class (virtual) presentation of the final paper or project. Creativity is encouraged in the format and interactiveness of presentations.

What You’ll Learn:

Constructive and destructive roles of law and state intervention
Legal doctrines and policies impacting youth and families
Understanding of the disparities in juvenile justice, child welfare, and public education systems
Awareness of innovative approaches including survivor-led, community-based reform movements; restorative/transformative justice; and defund/divest/justice reinvestment efforts
Implications of gender-based violence among youth, and promising interventions towards culture change and youth empowerment

Instructor

Charisa Kiyô Smith

Charisa Kiyô Smith is an Associate Professor whose scholarship has been cited by federal and state courts, government agencies, and advocates. Her research focuses on youth justice and the overreliance on state intervention into families. Smith co-directs the intersectional Family Law Practice Clinic and teaches Torts, Juvenile Law, and Contemplative Practice. Smith’s wide-ranging experience in legal practice and public service includes roles representing children and adults in criminal, civil, and administrative fora, with expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Her work in Latin America addressed issues of gender justice and child sexual exploitation. Smith is the recipient of numerous distinctions and awards, including the Harvard History Prize.

In her book Blending Colors From Life: Trenton’s Own Watercolorist, Tom Malloy won an Honorable Mention at the NY Book Festival, documenting the life of an African-American artist and civic leader. Smith is a graduate of Yale Law School, Harvard & Radcliffe Colleges, and Wisconsin Law (LL.M). She remains inspired to foster personal transformation and community empowerment in diverse contexts.