NCJ Number
125922
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 41 Issue: 3B Dated: (1990) Pages: 9-49
Editor(s)
M R Mildon
Date Published
1990
Length
41 pages
Annotation
Mediation and other informal methods of providing assistance to children and their families in confronting and resolving personal and family problems provide a promising alternative to adjudication and formal court resolution.
Abstract
The role of the court in such informal dispute resolution is to monitor and review the delivery of these services and to guarantee access to the court for conflicts that cannot be resolved in informal proceedings. There needs to be a refocusing of the attention of the schools, the juvenile court, and the community upon truancy and other minor misbehavior by children as precursors for more serious problems in later adolescence. The community should utilize a combination of public and private resources to ensure provision of a wide variety of social services to children and their families. At least one "gatekeeper" agency should be designated to make intake and assessment decisions and to determine what services are necessary. The court would assume jurisdiction primarily through the "gatekeeper" agency and only when all other resources have been exhausted. Secure custody should be used only for those children at substantial risk who will not voluntarily utilize community services or whose needs exceed the capabilities of those services. A summary of recommendations and a draft procedure manual for a joint public school/court truancy pilot program is provided in the appendixes. 2 figures and 2 appendixes.