Mitigation is a complex, multi-pronged approach aimed at lessening the severity of the disposition or outcome of a delinquency or adult crime. An essential part of mitigation is to tell the story of the juvenile or adult so that the court (particularly the prosecution) understands who the young person is standing in judgement. In particular, mitigation presents a narrative of the young person before the crime, after the crime, and in the future. Mitigation should always be part of a defense strategy.

Our Mitigation Specialist will gather the relevant school records, medical records, social services records, mental health assessments and psychological testing. They will seek to present historical evidence of trauma, abuse, neglect, and deprivation suffered by the young person charged with a delinquency or crime with the intention of demonstrating the impact of those negative factors on their development. Our mitigation Specialist will seek to identify any turning points in the young person’s life and to provide evidence of positive performance and amenability to intervention and change. They will present evidence of any remorse and share any positive measures taken by the young person in an effort to perform restitution of the offense.

Our Mitigation Specialist will assess the young person and determine what level of intervention would be necessary help the young person address the dynamic risk factors that leave them vulnerable to continued involvement with juvenile and criminal justice. Areas of intervention would include academic, employment, family life, peer relationships and connections with positive adults. Once our Mitigation makes an assessment of need and risk they can further assist the young person support referrals to agencies and individuals with experience working with proven risk youth.