Children and the Law

In this seminar students will examine the law’s treatment of children’s rights, and state obligations to children, in the context of three sets of relationships: (1) Children, their families, and the State; (2) Children and the Courts; and (3) Children and Custodial Agencies (Departments of Social Services and Juvenile Justice, and Schools). Through reading and discussing a wide array of materials – cases, law review articles, social science research, and media accounts – students will explore the current state of the law regarding these relationships, the complexities involved with assigning rights and responsibilities to children and those who care for them, the inconsistent views we have of when childhood begins and ends, and the barriers and limitations on courts and legislatures when making decisions regarding children.