SJP has championed several legislative efforts in direct response to our clients’ stated needs. SJP worked with DC Council and DC Superior Court to enact legislation titled, Special Education Attorneys for Emerging Adult Defendants Amendment Act. The panel provides for a special education attorney panel where judges can appoint education lawyers to young people in criminal court who otherwise would not have access to enforcing their special education rights. This landmark legislation is the first of its kind in the country and serves as a model to other jurisdictions. 

Through our work with the Thrive Under 25 (TU25) Coalition, SJP worked tirelessly to pass the Second Look Amendment Act of 2019. Under this bill, young people who were incarcerated for committing a crime while under age 25 have the opportunity to petition the court for re-sentencing after serving 15 years or more in a prison. We continue to work with TU25 to defend this law against recent attacks. We know the critical importance of Second Look, IRAA, and the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) to our community, and we are fighting to ensure that they do not get rolled back

SJP advocated for the passage and funding of the Students in the Care of DC (SCDC) Coordinating Committee Act, which created a standing coordinating committee focused on education for students in the court system. Our work with SCDC continues as we pursue legislative and policy changes that impact our clients.