In June 2017, LACBA rolled out a new program to provide specialized legal services to juvenile defendants. The Independent Juvenile Defender Program (IJDP) will be a joint effort between the bar and the Los Angeles County public defender’s office, with lawyers on hand every day at each of the eight districts in the LA Superior Court that handle juvenile cases.
In situations where a public defender is unable to represent a juvenile, IJDP lawyers will step in and take over the case. According to LACBA President Margaret P. Stevens, the chief goal of this program is to reduce the rate of recidivism among juveniles who find themselves in the criminal justice system.