bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum–The Hidden Epidemic in Our Courts
Authors: PAGE KATHRYN 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the basics of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/E): the history, nature, prevalence, causes, and effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol. Some of the unique features of FAS/E are explored, particularly those that make it so hard to spot and those that predispose people to nonproductive or criminal activity. The presentation of FAS/E in Juvenile Court is discussed and put in the context of the multiplicity of factors pertaining to delinquency; finally, innovative interventions, approaches and resources are laid out. Issues surrounding FAS/E as they appear in Family Court are then explored, with emphasis on the intergenerational transmission of this array of conditions and how we might interrupt such transmission.
The Importance of Mental Illness Education
Authors: VICKERS BY ANGELA D. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTUntil our legal community–both lawyers and judges–understands basic truths about the medically based and highly treatable mental illnesses, (depression, manic‐depression [bipolar disorder], schizophrenia, and the anxiety disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder) our nation does not offer “justice for all” for the more than 27 million Americans who have one or more of these common brain problems. With accurate information, our legal community can restore justice to millions of Americans, children to seniors, and do much to improve health, prosperity, stability, and safety to our nation, through actions and decisions which promote public education and understanding, early recognition and treatment, and which replace stigma, discrimination, wrongful punishment, and failure with understanding, recovery, productivity, and justice.
Influences on Detention Decisions in the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: O'NEILL BRIAN F. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the pretrial detention of juveniles in County X located in a northeastern state. The sample (N=642) included Black, White, and Hispanic males and females adjudicated delinquent in the summer of 2000. The following independent variables were analyzed with respect to the dependent variable of pretrial detention: age, sex, address, race, current offense (misdemeanors, violent misdemeanors, felonies, violent felonies, and probation violations), prior offense (misdemeanors, violent misdemeanors, felonies, and violent felonies), and previous dispositions (community or placement). Several variables were found to be significant in increasing the odds of pretrial detention: probation violations, prior misdemeanors, prior residential placements, prior community interventions, age, sex, urban address, felonies, prior violent misdemeanors, and prior violent felonies. It was expected that minority youths would be more likely to be detained, but race was only significant in the absence of the variable of address. Urban youths were more likely to be detained resulting in an over‐representation of minorities in detention, since most of the minority population resides in the urban area. Also included is supplemental material based on interviews with defense lawyers, judges, masters, and juvenile probation officers.
Evaluating the Probative Value of Child Custody Evaluations
Authors: GOULD JONATHAN W. , LEHRMANN JUDGE DEBRA H. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTIt has previously been argued that a competent forensic work product is defined, in part, by the evaluator's use of conventional forensic methods and procedures applied to child custody evaluations (Gould, 1998) and that the more judges and other legal professionals understand about forensic methods and procedures, the better they are able to critically weigh the substance and merit of a child custody evaluation (Gould & Bell, 2000). These forensic methods and procedures have their foundation in the behavioral sciences and are characteristic of competent and comprehensive forensic evaluations conducted for other legal purposes. In this paper, we provide a more detailed model for critiquing the forensic competence of a child custody report. Such a model better assists courts and lawyers in understanding how to assess the substance and admissibility of custody reports.
Understanding Recreation and Sport as a Rehabilitative Tool Within Juvenile Justice Programs
Authors: WILLIAMS D J , STREAN WILLIAM B. , BENGOECHEA ENRIQUE GARCIA 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThis article discusses relevant literature on the potential benefits of sport, recreation, and leisure, and how these benefits relate to rehabilitation of juveniles. Many professionals involved in juvenile rehabilitation believe sport and recreation are beneficial adjuncts to treatment programming; however, it can be difficult to structure sport and recreation in ways that directly correspond to treatment goals. The purpose of this article is to provide insights for professionals working with juveniles on how sport and recreation programming can be an effective means of helping to achieve rehabilitation goals. Attention is given to approaches, particularly the Teaching Games for Understanding model (Bunker & Thorpe, 1982), which can be used to effectively link recreation and sport to the rehabilitation process.
Screening the Mental Health Needs of Youths in Juvenile Detention
Authors: NORDNESS PHILIP D. , GRUMMERT MICHELLE , BANKS DENNIS , SCHINDLER MICHELLE L. , MOSS MALLIE M. , GALLAGHER KEN , EPSTEIN MICHAEL H. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThere is an increasing number of juveniles coming into the justice system with a variety of mental health and substance abuse concerns. While the actual number of youths with mental health disorders in the juvenile justice system has been difficult to determine, it is estimated to be substantially higher than it is for youths in the general population. In addition, researchers have estimated that a high number of these juveniles experience co‐morbid mental health disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the number of youths who present symptoms of a mental health disorder at intake into a juvenile detention center in the Midwest. Two hundred‐four youths were assessed with the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument‐Second Version (MAYSI‐2; Grisso & Barnum, 2000), a mental health screening instrument. At least 68% of the youths identified symptoms of a mental health disorder at intake. Given the significant number of youths who identified symptoms of a mental health disorder at intake into detention, the need to provide mental health services for juvenile detainees should not be ignored.
Perceived Needs and Interests of Juveniles Held in Preventive Detention
Authors: GIOVANNI ERIC 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe current study assesses the perceived needs and interests of juveniles held in preventive detention. The study involved 70 juveniles assigned to residential units at a juvenile detention facility. Juveniles were administered a written questionnaire that requested both quantitative and qualitative responses to items related to juveniles' perceived needs and interests. Frequency tests were performed to determine which perceived needs and interests are most and least pronounced among detained juveniles. The areas of need most commonly cited by detained juveniles were learning how to make better choices, learning more about computers, and learning to control anger better. Juveniles expressed an interest in most activities, with children versus staff contests, cultural diversity education, learning new board games and card games, doing arts and crafts, and taking care of a pet being the most popular items. In order to ensure that programs are helpful and enjoyable for detained youth, detention staff members should tailor programs and activities to the perceived needs and interests identified in the current study.
The Impact of Model Court Reform in Arizona on the Processing of Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
Authors: HALEMBA GREGORY J. , SIEGEL GENE C. , GUNN RACHAEL D. , ZAWACKI SUSANNA 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTArizona juvenile courts have taken a series of steps over the past five years to improve the quality and timeliness of court proceedings in child abuse and neglect matters. These efforts encompass both procedural reforms to front‐load the early hearing process as well as reforms that require a clearly demarcated permanency hearing and permanency determination process. A comparative analysis of the impact of these changes in four selected counties reveals that child abuse and neglect cases are handled in a more timely manner; that children are spending considerably less time in out‐of‐home placements; that courts are becoming more specific in the orders generated at dependency hearings (particularly initial hearings); and that the State and federal governments have realized sizeable savings in placement costs.
System Change through Collaboration…Eight Steps for Getting from There to Here
Authors: TOWNSEND JUDGE SHARON S. , CARROLL KAREN 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTFamily courts and child welfare agencies across the country are charged with protecting the safety of our children. That mission has become more challenging with increasing federal legislation and decreasing funding. In Buffalo, N.Y., the Family Court and the Department of Social Services have teamed up to respond to this challenge. With minimal additional staffing and resources, they have led a collaboration of agencies and service providers to change the way business is done in child welfare. By engaging each other in an interagency system change effort, the amount of time children spend in foster care has been reduced. The collaboration has been able to accomplish in a relatively short time what no agency had previously been able to accomplish on its own. The beneficiaries have been the children and families of Erie County.
Mediation in Juvenile Dependency Court: Multiple Perspectives
Authors: EDWARDS JUDGE LEONARD P. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTFor approximately 10 years, the Santa Clara County (Calif.),1 Juvenile Dependency Court has utilized confidential mediation as an integral part of the court process. After hundreds of mediation sessions, we believe it is time for the various participants in the dependency system to reflect on their perspectives on mediation, its strengths and weaknesses, and its future in our court system. Each author, representing a different party or interest in the child welfare system, has a unique perspective on the process. We hope this information will be useful for other jurisdictions utilizing or considering implementing mediation.Beginning with a description of dependency mediation and the mediation process utilized in Santa Clara County, representatives from each participant in the juvenile dependency process–including the mediators, the social worker, the attorney for the family and children's services agency, the child's attorney, the parents, the parents' attorney, a domestic violence advocate, the child advocate (CASA), and the juvenile court judicial officer–follow with their perspectives on mediation. The article concludes with some general thoughts about mediation, its value, its problems, and its future in Santa Clara County.
Expediting Permanency through Community Decision‐Making
Authors: LANDSMAN MIRIAM J. , BARBER GAIL , THOMPSON KATHY 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTPermanency for children has taken on a renewed urgency since passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. This article describes the process of building a community approach to using alternative dispute resolution for expediting permanency, and reports on the initiative's progress to date. Expediting Permanency through Community Decision‐Making, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services‐funded demonstration project, is simultaneously building community collaboration around the specific issue of permanency and establishing alternative dispute resolution models as a key component of permanency planning services. Lessons learned from implementation are instructive for others embarking on a community response to the demands of ASFA.
Girls and Culture˜ in Delinquency Intervention: A Case Study of RYSE
Authors: LE THAO , ARIFUKU ISAMI , NUÑEZ MICHELL 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTGiven the growing trend of girls in the juvenile justice system, there has been increasing attention toward providing gender‐specific programming. The Reaffirming Young Sisters' Excellence (RYSE) program was one of Alameda County, Calif., Probation Department's intervention programs designed to address both gender and cultural factors in girls programming. ANCOVA analyses of 350 randomized girls did not provide support for the gender‐specific hypothesis that girls who received RYSE intervention will have a lower recidivism score than girls who received traditional probation services. However, the cultural hypothesis was partially supported with African American girls who participated in the RYSE intervention faring better than Hispanic, White, and Asian RYSE girls, and their African American control counterparts.
Ego Identity Status as an Indicator of Peer Court Efficacy
Authors: JONES RANDALL M. , DICK ANDREW J. , GEERTSEN H. REED , COOK JERRY L. , COYL DIANA D. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTPeer courts are an alternative to juvenile court, intended to provide less stigmatizing and more individually responsive dispositions for first‐time and early youthful offenders. This study examined the potential usefulness of assessing ego identity status for peer courts. Mailed surveys were sent to attendees of seven Utah peer courts who had their cases reviewed between August 1998 and January 1999. Thirty‐seven percent (N = 120) responded. Chi Square analysis showed that ego identity statuses were related to drug use and previous delinquent behavior, but not recidivism. Foreclosed status youths were statistically unlikely to recidivate, use drugs, and reported fewer previous offenses.
High Conflict Divorce, Violence, and Abuse: Implications for Custody and Visitation Decisions
Authors: DALTON CLARE , CARBON JUDGE SUSAN , OLESEN NANCY 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTToday, judges are faced with the daunting task of determining the best interests of the child and making appropriate custody awards to that end. The best interests of children becomes a critical question when domestic violence is involved; yet, determining what constitutes domestic violence is often debated. Research is often divided on what constitutes domestic violence. One body of research focuses on conflict, another focuses on domestic violence. What the first group identifies as intense emotional distress and disagreement, the other identifies as abuse. Judges making custody determinations in such cases are faced with the difficult challenge of distinguishing between a divorce with “high conflict” and a domestic violence case with ongoing abuse. This article will summarize the legal, philosophical, and historical understandings of the “high conflict” family and its potential impact on children. It will also provide practical judicial guidelines for making the important distinction between high conflict and domestic violence and subsequently crafting appropriate and safe child custody awards.
Common Misconceptions in Addressing Domestic Violence in Child Custody Disputes
Authors: JAFFE PETER G. , CROOKS CLAIRE V. , POISSON SAMANTHA E. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTDomestic violence has been recognized as an important factor to consider in determining the best interests of children in custody and visitation disputes. However, there remain many misconceptions about the extent and impact of domestic violence in child custody proceedings. Several misconceptions are identified and juxtaposed with the reality of emerging knowledge in this field, and implications are outlined. These issues are illustrated by the perspectives of 62 women victims and 95 children exposed to domestic violence who had to navigate the justice system after separation from an abuser. Recommendations are offered for enhancing professional education, resource development, and collaboration among courts and community service providers.
Gender and the Likelihood of Being Securely Detained for Contempt
Authors: MCGUIRE M. DYAN , KUHN KATHRYN E. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTSeveral theorists have hypothesized that juvenile court judges are circumventing the proscription contained in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (“JJDPA”), which prohibits the secure confinement of status offenders by securely detaining status offenders for contempt. It has also been suggested that girls may be especially likely to be securely detained as a result of violating a valid court order. This study uses descriptive and multivariate techniques to examine the demographic, legal, and jurisdictional variables associated with receiving secure detention for violating a valid court order and to evaluate the degree to which the spirit, if not the letter, of the JJDPA's core requirement of deinstitutionalizing status offenders is being violated because of the exemption permitting juvenile court judges to securely detain children found in contempt. The findings from this study indicate that being female does not contribute to detention for contempt but being accused of a status offense does. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Juvenile Waiver 2003: Where Are We Now?
Authors: STEINER BENJAMIN , HEMMENS CRAIG 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTJuvenile waiver has received much attention from the public, practitioners, and scholars during the last decade. Prior studies have documented the increased use and effects of waiver. In this study we examine the current state of the law regarding juvenile waiver. We replicate a 1995 study of state waiver statutes and detail the changes in prosecutorial, judicial, and legislative waiver since 1995. While the juvenile crime rate has slowed, legislatures' fascination with waiver has increased. In less than 10 years, the number of states utilizing prosecutorial waiver has increased 25%, 27 states have modified their judicial waiver statutes, and 30 states have modified their legislative waiver statutes.
Reeling in Disengaged Students: An Assessment of a Countywide Juvenile Court Attendance Program
Authors: MUELLER DAVID , GIACOMAZZI ANDREW 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTOn any given day, thousands of youths are absent from school; many are absent without a legitimate excuse and thus deemed truant. Truancy has been linked to various problem behaviors including academic failure, delinquency, and school dropout. Thus, the prevention of truancy is assumed to have beneficial effects far into the future. This study provides an overview of an innovative truancy abatement program operating in southwestern Idaho known as the Ada County Attendance Court. Qualitative and quantitative data are presented to show how the program operates, its effects, and how it differs from other truancy prevention programs nationwide.
The Impact of Time on Parent Perspectives on the Barriers to Services and the Service Needs of Youths in the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: BENNER GREGORY J. , MOONEY PAUL , EPSTEIN MICHAEL H. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe purposes of this study were: 1) to assess the overall perspectives of parents (N=115) of youths in the juvenile justice system on the barriers to and services needs of youths in the juvenile justice system; and 2) to assess the strength of the relationship between duration of time the youth has been involved in the juvenile justice system and parent perceptions of barriers and service needs. The top service need was case management. Statistically significant moderate negative correlations were found between duration of time in the juvenile justice system and Total Barrier score, and all composite barrier scores (i.e., Mismatch, Red Tape, and Inaccessibility). Statistically significant small negative correlations were found between duration of time in the juvenile justice system and the Total Service Needs score and two composite scores: Substance Abuse Services and Out‐of‐Home Services.
Public Opinion of Teen, Classroom, and Formal Court Styles
Authors: HARMON MARK G. , LEMM KRISTI M. , LIPPMAN LOUIS G. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe present research examined the views of a community sample regarding teen court, classroom court, and formal/traditional court. Participants read vignettes of teen offenders who had committed crimes of high or low severity and were given relatively severe or mild sentences through one of the three courts. Results revealed stronger support for teen court than the other courts, a general preference for harsh sentences, and a preference for match between crime and punishment. The results of this study indicate that teen courts are seen as providing an appropriate means to sentence juvenile offenders and are likely to receive public support for their continued operation.
Confidentiality and the Juvenile and Family Courts
Authors: EDWARDS JUDGE LEONARD P. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTCourt proceedings and court records are traditionally open to the public. The courts are public institutions, and openness serves a number of important purposes including protection of the free discussion of governmental affairs and the enhancement of the quality and integrity of the fact finding process. But court proceedings also address family matters including adoptions, juvenile delinquency, child protection, and domestic relations cases. These types of cases often involve personal issues, and many family members would prefer that they remain private. In most states, many of these proceedings have been closed to the public.Strong policy reasons support both openness of family court proceedings and privacy considerations for family members, particularly children. This article addresses confidentiality in the context of juvenile and family court proceedings. It takes the position that the tension between these conflicting policies can be reduced if most family court proceedings are presumptively open, but judges are given the authority to place conditions on the information that can be revealed by observers outside the courtroom. Additionally, the article asserts that if the courts and the media take steps to change their practices and their relationship with one another, both the public interest and the confidentiality interest of the parties can be better served.
Teen Court: What Jurors Can Tell Us About the Process
Authors: FORGAYS DEBORAH KIRBY , DEMILIO LISA , SCHUSTER KIM 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTTeen courts are on the increase throughout the United States. These courts provide an opportunity for youth offenders to receive sentences from their adolescent peers rather than from an adult panel or judge. Yet, we know t very little about the teen jurors' perspective or whether their sentences reflect restorative justice principles. In more than 100 youth juror surveys, t teens describe their experiences as they develop sentences consistent with restorative justice tenets. Through their participation, youth jurors gain practical knowledge about and respect for the judicial system. The efficacy of the sentences is validated by high offender sentence completion.
A Practical Approach to Evaluating and Improving Juvenile Justice Programs
Authors: HOWELL JAMES C. , LIPSEY MARK W. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTFor more than a decade, the juvenile justice field in the United States has been dominated by the seventh “moral panic” over juvenile delinquency. This panic led to an overreaction to juvenile delinquency by legislators and juvenile justice officials. The main consequence is a “crisis of overload” in many state and local juvenile justice systems across the country. Tools are available to help juvenile courts effectively manage the overload of court clients. Most important, a new method has been developed for evaluating existing programs against research‐based standards that have been synthesized from juvenile justice program evaluations. This tool enables states and localities to take a practical approach to improving juvenile justice system programs.