NCJ Number
109125
Date Published
1983
Length
224 pages
Annotation
Family court reforms addressed in this annual report by New York's Temporary State Commission to Recodify The Family Court Act address paternity and support-related paternity cases, jurisdictional consolidation, voluntary foster care placement, and Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS).
Abstract
A paper on trends in the administration of family law focuses on Michigan's Friend of the Court system which uses lawyers, lay advocates, paralegals, and social services personnel to enforce court orders of child support. Mediation techniques in California's Conciliation Courts are explored, as are court structure, family divisions, and early settlement and education programs in other States. Another paper discusses a proposed model for consolidating matrimonial matters into a single jurisdiction. The report proposes legislation to revise current laws governing voluntary foster care placement and review proceedings. Areas reviewed include placement and surrender instruments, the initial placement proceeding, foster care review proceedings, judicial sanctions for violating court orders, incarcerated parents, institutionalized parents, American Indians, and lay advocates. The final paper examines whether the Family Court should have jurisdiction over PINS, with attention to mandatory diversion, the definition of incorrigibility, truancy, runaways, and dispositional powers. Footnotes and references.