The formation of a Delinquency Unit addressed this concern and, as a result, expertise, efficiency, and innovation within the office have risen dramatically. The unit comprises five staff attorneys, a supervising attorney, a social worker, and a paralegal. The unit also shares an investigator with the child protection attorneys. In addition to increased proficiency in juvenile issues as a whole, the unit has developed expertise in specific areas of juvenile law. Attorneys see similar cases with greater frequency and have developed strategies to handle cases more efficiently.
Attorneys also have the opportunity to become involved in areas of personal interest.
Attorneys discuss trial strategies with other staff, and a motions bank is being developed for the unit. In addition to increased expertise and efficiency, morale has improved among the attorneys, as they focus on one area of the law and do not have to constantly shift between child protection cases and delinquency cases. The social worker attempts to meet clients at intake, and dispositional planning begins at arraignment. Early intervention by a social worker has proven to be one of the greatest benefits of the new unit, resulting in avoidance of placement in many cases or securing more appropriate placements in others. With the social worker acting as a witness, the dispositional plan is offered to the court.