Tiftickjian Law Firm is proud to announce the winner of our 2019 Juvenile Justice Scholarship. Brianna Heller is a passionate and accomplished young woman who will use the scholarship funds to further her law education.
Brianna graduated from the University of Rhode Island, where she played softball and was named Scholar Student Athlete of the Year in 2018.
Brianna believes that in order for youth offenders and those caught in the web of the juvenile justice system to succeed, a culture shift must occur where the “system” believes in rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
“Our justice system will not change if the public cannot acknowledge the root of its problems, and one way in doing so is to look at the plain fact that African American youths are disproportionately represented in the detainment and incarceration of youths. By increasing funding for community-based programs, eliminating disproportionate racial representation in convictions and institutionalization, and allowing for more open communication between communities and the courts, juvenile justice would greatly improve to rehabilitate juveniles. Our current justice system is at a stand still, resting on outdated methods that have little to no effect on youth recidivism rates,” Brianna told us in her essay, which was included as part of her application for the Juvenile Justice Scholarship.
We look forward to helping Brianna further her legal career where she can help show that rehabilitation is the key to success within the juvenile justice system, not incarceration.
About Tiftickjian Law Firm
Tiftickjian Law Firm created the annual Juvenile Justice Scholarship to help law students, like Brianna, further their education. The scholarship also helps raise awareness around the state of our criminal justice system as it relates to prison sentences and reduced rights for minors. With this financial support, we intend to make a positive impact in the careers of aspiring legal professionals who pursue justice for our country’s youth.