NCJ Number
38790
Journal
NLADA Briefcase Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: (DECEMBER/JANUARY 1976-77) Pages: 49-54
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY CAN PLAN AN IMPORTANT PART IN JUVENILE COURT DISPOSITIONAL HEARINGS BY OUTLINING ALTERNATIVE DISPOSITIONS, AND ARGUES THAT SOCIAL WORKERS COULD BE UTILIZED TO ASSIST THE DEFENSE.
Abstract
NOTING THAT MOST CASES BROUGHT TO THE JUVENILE COURT REACH THE DISPOSITIONAL STAGE, THE AUTHOR STATES THAT A NEW APPROACH TO DISPOSITIONAL HEARINGS IS NEEDED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. INSTEAD OF MAKING IMPASSIONED PLEAS FOR MERCY, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY MIGHT BETTER SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE CLIENT BY DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE DISPOSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE MOST IN KEEPING WITH THE WISHES AND NEEDS OF THE CLIENT. A SOCIAL WORKER FAMILIAR WITH THE VARIOUS OPTIONS AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE COULD BE USED TO ASSIST THE ATTORNEY IN DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING THE DISPOSITIONAL PLAN TO THE JUVENILE COURT JUDGE.