NCJ Number
188421
Date Published
September 1999
Length
63 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this guide was to improve the juvenile court environment by changing how courts manage cases, with the guarantee of success coming from a judge's commitment to principles of good practice and a willingness to integrate those principles into the ongoing activities of the court.
Abstract
The introductory section lists key principles for the management of juvenile delinquency cases and child abuse and neglect cases; the principles pertain primarily to procedures and practices. The introduction also emphasizes the importance of the involvement of others for lasting court improvement, the acquisition of knowledge about court operations, beginning improved practice with ideas, vision and goals, and determining where to begin improvement efforts. The second section of the guidebook discusses key roles for judges and how fulfillment of these roles can achieve the desired improvement. Among the topics discussed are the nature of work as precursor to management, characteristics of an effective juvenile court, and the following judicial roles in juvenile court cases: interpersonal roles, informational roles, and decision making roles. The third section of this guidebook presents critical stages of both juvenile delinquency and child abuse and neglect cases. Specific suggestions at these stages are intended to spark judges' own ideas for implementation in their courts. For each type of case, the informational, decision making, and interpersonal roles of the judge are outlined.