Children, Youth, and the Law

If other pages on this guide don't address your needs, this page covers some additional resources. A few basic tips: 

1. Secondary sources: Start with a secondary source like a practice guide, treatise, or helpful (recent) article. The pages on various sub-topics recommend a few, but the major one for Massachusetts on this topic is MCLE's Practitioner's Guide to State Intervention in the Family, which is easiest to use on Lexis but also available on Westlaw and MCLEOnline Pass. You can browse platforms like Westlaw or Lexis, search our catalog, or research via Google to find additional options. 
2. Annotated codes: The MA statutory code (known as the General Laws of Massachusetts) and the U.S. Code are freely available online. The free resources are great, but if you have access to Westlaw or Lexis, use those platforms to leverage their annotations. These includes features like Notes of Decisions, Citing References, and leads to secondary sources like treatises and practice guides). For more information, visit our BC Law Statutory Research guide. 
3. Leverage agency websites: State and federal agencies will provide free versions of their administrative regulations, agency guidance and policies, and often will provide helpful guides, tips, and contact information.  
4. Ask for help: Your Teaching & Research Librarians are here to help! Stop by or email us at lawresearchhelp@bc.edu. 

BC Libraries subscribe to many articles databases and journals from law to the social sciences and far beyond.

Here are a few of the most efficient methods to use for a thorough article search: 

The use of statistics is often a powerful way to make a point as an advocate. Many statistics on children, youth, families, and child welfare are available on free government and organizational websites, so web searches can lead to good resources. BC Libraries also subscribe to multiple statistics databases that could provide useful data. 

Here are a few starting places: