Juveniles (From Sexual Orientation and the Law, P 10.1- 10.32, 1987, Roberta Achtenberg, ed. -- See NCJ-117686)

• NCJ Number: 117688
• Author(s): C B Schauffer; L F Warboys
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 32 pages
• Sale Source: Clark Boardman Company, Ltd
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper is designed to serve as a guide for lawyers representing lesbian or gay youth in juvenile court, the mental health field, the school context, and emancipation proceedings.

Abstract

The discussion emphasizes that the dearth of precedent in this area and the sensitive nature of the issue of sexual orientation and minors requires practitioners to do creative advocacy in their efforts to help the juvenile client. Thus they must draw analogies not only from general case law dealing with juvenile rights but also from civil rights law as it applies to adult lesbians and gay males. They must also take the initiative to debunk myths about homosexuals and homosexuality and to explore the support networks, counseling services, shelter services, and other social services for youth. Individual sections focus on arrest and adjudication of delinquency and status offenses, methods of finding and selecting a placement, mental health issues, school issues, and issues related to emancipation. Footnotes with case citations.