NCJ Number
173269
Journal
Juvenile and Family Justice Today Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 1997 Pages: 12-17
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Populations and caseloads of most juvenile courts in the United States have changed dramatically over the past decade; the nature of delinquent acts and dependency matters being handled in these courts has become more complex, entailing more serious and violent criminal activities and escalating degrees of substance abuse.
Abstract
While the juvenile court has traditionally been considered an institution specifically established to address juvenile needs holistically, some juvenile court practitioners have found the conventional approach is not effective when applied to the problems of juvenile drug abusers. In recent years, several jurisdictions have looked to the experiences of adult drug courts to determine how these might be adapted by juvenile courts to deal more effectively with the increasing number of juvenile drug abusers. Interest in juvenile drug courts is developing rapidly, with a number already operational or in the planning stages. States with the greatest activity in this area are California, Florida, and Nevada. The development of juvenile drug courts, however, presents unique challenges not encountered in the adult drug court environment: counteracting negative influences of peers, gangs, and family members; addressing family needs, especially families with drug abuse problems; complying with confidentiality requirements for juvenile proceedings; motivating juvenile offenders to change; and responding to developmental changes that occur in the lives of juveniles while under court jurisdiction. Strategies to guide the development of juvenile drug courts are described, goals and objectives of juvenile drug courts are identified, and juvenile drug courts are compared with traditional juvenile courts. The structure of juvenile drug courts is detailed with respect to the judge, the target population, sanctions and incentives, management and evaluation, and treatment. Critical issues unique to juvenile drug courts are noted, and the need for collaboration between juvenile courts and community organizations, public health agencies, the local bar, and law enforcement is stressed. 2 photographs