Child Victims Act Model Courts Project Status Report 1999

• NCJ Number: 188287
• Author(s): Christine L. Bailey; Shirley A. Dobbin; Sophia J. Gatowski; Mary V. Mentaberry
• Date Published: January 2000
• Length: 305 pages
• Grant Number(s): 96-CT-NX-0001
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Corporate Author: Permanency Planning for Children Dept
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Permanency Planning for Children Dept
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Technical Assistance Bulletin, Volume 4, No. 1, January 2000.

Annotation

This status report chronicles the work of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ (NCJFCJ) Child Victim Project Model Courts from October 1998 to October 1999; the NCJFCJ established the Victims Act Model Court Project in 1992 to improve court practice in cases of child abuse and neglect.

Abstract

The first section of the report covered the activities, accomplishments, and processes used by each of the 20 Victims Act Model Courts (VAMC). Each Model Court profile included court demographics, court process time lines, court improvement goals and the process of goal attainment, challenges encountered, lessons learned, advice offered, and goals for 2000. The report provides an overview of VAMC activities. The analysis noted that the reforms varied and were tailored specifically to the opportunities and constraints afforded by each jurisdictional context. Nevertheless, the reforms contained several common efforts. These efforts included improvements in court practice, recognition of the need for improved data management and case tracking ability, the introduction of diversion programs and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, increased recognition of issues specific to children aging out of foster care, and the continuation and enhancement of collaborative relationships. Figures, tables, and appended tables and information regarding judicial training in permanency planning