I met Sam after her public defender referred her to TeamChild. I learned that Sam was in juvenile court because she pushed a police officer after he had slammed her brother to the ground during an arrest. Sam plead guilty to assaulting the officer and avoided juvenile prison through an alternative disposition.* A few months later, her probation officer set a court hearing to revoke this alternative disposition. Sam was struggling in middle school and her suspensions and expulsions violated the conditions of the alternative disposition.

When I met with Sam, who had a special education plan because of disabilities, she said she needed more help and different strategies. Here’s how systems can work against youth: insufficient supports lead to expulsions which result in jail time. We stepped in. I reviewed Sam’s special education program and brought the school’s attention to the ways in which it had not met its duties under federal special education law. As a result of this advocacy and a formal complaint, the school made major changes to Sam’s program and offered her hundreds of hours in tutoring to help her catch up after missing so much school.

I stood with Sam at the juvenile court hearing and explained to the judge that Sam’s problems in school stemmed from how the school had fallen short of its obligation to support her. I shared information about Sam’s new special education program, and the additional tutoring she would get. The judge did not revoke the alternative disposition, recognizing how the school had fallen short. Our advocacy gave Sam a second chance. She was able to meet all of the court’s expectations, avoid incarceration, successfully put her juvenile court matter behind her, and move on with her life.

*”Disposition” is what juvenile courts in Washington call the “sentence” in a juvenile criminal case