NCJ Number
194267
Date Published
1998
Length
115 pages
Annotation
This bulletin provides State leaders with a nationwide picture, based on the National Research Project, of the various issues involved in legal representation in cases of child abuse and neglect.
Abstract
This bulletin is the first in a series of "Technical Assistance Bulletins" that will present findings from the National Research Project's telephone interview component. The telephone interviews were conducted with court-improvement specialists. Although the interviews addressed a wide variety of issues, this bulletin focuses on issues related to the legal representation of parents and children. Fourteen specialists provided comments that pertained specifically to legal representation. The strengths of legal representation most often mentioned were good representation of children, early appointment of counsel, representation of parties leading to improved quality of hearings, the use of court appointed special advocates (CASA), training, and representation of parents. The interview also identified general weaknesses of legal representation. They included the education and training of representatives, the quality of representation for all parties, the quality of representation of parents specifically, the quality of representation of children specifically, available resources and compensation, CASA, and the clarification of representative's role and responsibilities. Recommendations focused on the training of legal representatives, compensation, the perceived status of counsel in dependency cases, and selection procedures. 13 tables and appended research details and information on research participants and sample statutes