Civil RTC News
This page lists all of the most recent developments on civil right to counsel across the country. These could be newly created rights to counsel, significant publications, public events, advocacy efforts, or other things that don’t fit into a neat category.
Right to counsel
Children in Pennsylvania have a right to counsel in truancy cases (which are handled as dependency matters).
Right to counsel
Indigent children in Rhode Island are entitled to counsel in truancy proceedings (which are treated as "wayward child" matters).
Discretionary appointment of counsel
A court may appoint counsel for a child in a truancy proceeding (which is treated as a status offense).
Right to counsel
Indigent children in South Dakota have a right to counsel upon request in truancy cases (which are treated as "child in need of supervision").
No such proceeding
As of 2018, truancy cases no longer go to juvenile court; they only can go to youth court, which lacks the power to incarcerate or impose fines.
Right to counsel
Indigent children in Michigan have a right to counsel in truancy proceedings (which are handled as status offenses).
Right to counsel
In Tennessee, truancy (which is treated as an "unruly child" matter) only triggers a right to counsel for the child in certain situations.
Right to counsel
Vermont children have a right to counsel in truancy proceedings (which are treated as "child in need of care or supervision" matters).
Right to counsel
Virginia children have a right to counsel in truancy cases (which are treated as "child in need of supervision" matters).
Right to counsel
West Virginia children are entitled to counsel in truancy proceedings (which are treated as a status offense).
Right to counsel
Children in truancy proceedings only have a right to counsel in limited situations; the rest of the time it is discretionary.
