Resource Guidelines Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

By Grossmann, David E.

Book Id: WPLBN0000696287
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.8 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Resource Guidelines Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
Author:	Grossmann, David E.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Law., Law & economy, Litigation and arbitration
Collections:	Law Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Department of Justice


Citation APA MLA Chicago E. Grossman, B. D. (n.d.). Resource Guidelines Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases. Retrieved from http://self.gutenberg.org/

Description
Legal Reference Publication

Excerpt
Acknowledgment: These guidelines were developed by a committee of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, comprised of active member judges who were joined by representatives from the National Conference of Chief Justices and the American Bar Association Judicial Administration Division. Staff of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and its research arm, the National Center for Juvenile Justice, worked in conjunction with committee members and consultants to develop these recommendations to help guide the acquisition and allocation of judicial resources.

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................... 9 A. Need for Guidelines ......................................................................... 10 B. Purpose of Guidelines ...................................................................... 11 C. Scope of Guidelines ......................................................................... 11 D. Key Principles Underlying Guidelines ........................................... 12 1. Avoiding Unnecessary Separation of Children and Families ... 12 2. Reunification ................................................................................. 13 3. When Reunification is Not Feasible ........................................... 13 4. The Need to Make Timely Decisions in Child Abuse and Neglect Litigation ......................................................................... 14 5. The Oversight Role of the Juvenile and Family Court ............. 14 E. Endnotes............................................................................................ 16 II. GENERAL ISSUES ........................................................................ 17 A. Authority of the Juvenile and Family Court and the Role of the Judge ....................................................................... 18 B. Calendaring for One Family-One Judge ....................................... 19 C. Case Flow Management .................................................................. 19 1. Judicial Commitment and Leadership ...................................... 20 2. Standards and Goals ................................................................... 20 3. Monitoring and Information System ........................................ 20 4. Scheduling for Credible Court Dates........................................ 20 5. Court Control of Continuances ................................................. 21 D. Judge-Supervised Judicial Officers ................................................ 21 E. Access to Competent Representation ............................................ 22 1. Attorneys ...................................................................................... 22 2. Guardians ad Litem/Court Appointed Special Advocates (GAL/CASAs) ........................................................... 23 F. Court Facilities .................................................................................. 24 G. Voluntary Agreements for Care ..................................................... 24 H. Emergency Orders ........................................................................... 25 1. Child Protection ........................................................................... 25 2. Speedy Issuance of Orders ........................................................ 26 3. Procedural Protections in Emergencies ................................... 26 4. Advancing the Litigation in Emergencies ................................ 26 5. Procedure for Emergency Hearings ......................................... 27 I. Endnotes............................................................................................ 27 III. PRELIMINARY PROTECTIVE HEARINGS ................................ 29 A. Introduction ...................................................................................... 30 B. Who Should Be Present ................................................................... 33 C. Filing the Petition ............................................................................. 36 D. Key Decisions the Court Should Make at the Preliminary Protective Hearing ...................................................... 37