Juvenile and Family Court Journal Wiley Online Library : Juvenile and Family Court Journalhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2F%28ISSN%291755-6988John Wiley & Sons, Incen© National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges0161-71091755-69882013-03-01T00:00:00-05:00Spring 2013642147An Overview of the Courts Catalyzing Change Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard Studyhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fjfcj.12003An Overview of the Courts Catalyzing Change Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard StudyJesse Russell, Alicia Summers2013-05-15T02:58:41.084158-05:00doi:10.1111/jfcj.12003John Wiley & Sons, Inc.10.1111/jfcj.12003http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fjfcj.12003ARTICLE116Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the Courts Catalyzing Change: Achieving Equity and Fairness in Foster Care Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard Study. In the fall of 2009, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) began a study to examine the effects associated with judges' use of the Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard. For this study, data were gathered from case file information (both court and agency files) and from courtroom observations of more than 500 children in Los Angeles, California; Omaha, Nebraska; and Portland, Oregon. Data from a baseline sample were collected at each of the three sites, and judicial officers at each site were randomly assigned to either a Benchcard group or a control group. Benchcard implementation appears to be associated with more discussion and higher quality discussion of key dependency topics during preliminary protective hearings. Benchcard implementation also corresponds to increased judicial inquiry and parental engagement. Benchcard use also was associated with more family placements—placement with a charged parent, a non-charged parent, or a relative—at the initial hearing and even more family placement at adjudication when comparing the same judges before and after Benchcard implementation. Similarly, the percentage of children who were reunified with the charged parent at the initial hearing and the adjudication hearing increased after Benchcard implementation.

]]> This paper presents an overview of the Courts Catalyzing Change: Achieving Equity and Fairness in Foster Care Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard Study. In the fall of 2009, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) began a study to examine the effects associated with judges' use of the Preliminary Protective Hearing Benchcard. For this study, data were gathered from case file information (both court and agency files) and from courtroom observations of more than 500 children in Los Angeles, California; Omaha, Nebraska; and Portland, Oregon. Data from a baseline sample were collected at each of the three sites, and judicial officers at each site were randomly assigned to either a Benchcard group or a control group. Benchcard implementation appears to be associated with more discussion and higher quality discussion of key dependency topics during preliminary protective hearings. Benchcard implementation also corresponds to increased judicial inquiry and parental engagement. Benchcard use also was associated with more family placements—placement with a charged parent, a non-charged parent, or a relative—at the initial hearing and even more family placement at adjudication when comparing the same judges before and after Benchcard implementation. Similarly, the percentage of children who were reunified with the charged parent at the initial hearing and the adjudication hearing increased after Benchcard implementation. Law Enforcement Advocate Program: An Interagency Collaboration to Enhance Community-Police Relations and Improve Outcomes for Substance-Using Offendershttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fjfcj.12004Law Enforcement Advocate Program: An Interagency Collaboration to Enhance Community-Police Relations and Improve Outcomes for Substance-Using OffendersLilas Rajaee, Julie Madden Rodriguez, Lt. Steven Addison, Stuart Readio, Wendy Longwood2013-05-15T02:58:41.084158-05:00doi:10.1111/jfcj.12004John Wiley & Sons, Inc.10.1111/jfcj.12004http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fjfcj.12004ARTICLE1733Abstract

Justice system involvement is highly correlated with substance-use issues. Untreated, substance-using offenders are likely to continue to use drugs, commit crimes, and pose a public safety risk. Strategies to address substance use in the criminal justice system often fall short in terms of integrating services and sustaining engagement among high-risk adult and juvenile populations. Law enforcement can help to bridge identified gaps by offering a community-based solution to the interrelated challenges of substance use, crime, and recidivism for offenders. The Law Enforcement Advocate Program has been effective in improving probationer compliance and outcomes, facilitating problem solving and interagency coordination, and improving community-police relations.

]]> Justice system involvement is highly correlated with substance-use issues. Untreated, substance-using offenders are likely to continue to use drugs, commit crimes, and pose a public safety risk. Strategies to address substance use in the criminal justice system often fall short in terms of integrating services and sustaining engagement among high-risk adult and juvenile populations. Law enforcement can help to bridge identified gaps by offering a community-based solution to the interrelated challenges of substance use, crime, and recidivism for offenders. The Law Enforcement Advocate Program has been effective in improving probationer compliance and outcomes, facilitating problem solving and interagency coordination, and improving community-police relations. A New Method of Assessing Judicial Workload in Juvenile Dependency Caseshttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fjfcj.12005A New Method of Assessing Judicial Workload in Juvenile Dependency CasesAlicia Summers, Stephanie O. Macgill, Sophia I. Gatowski, Jesse R. Russell, Steve Wood2013-05-15T02:58:41.084158-05:00doi:10.1111/jfcj.12005John Wiley & Sons, Inc.10.1111/jfcj.12005http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fjfcj.12005ARTICLE3547Abstract

This article describes a new method for calculating judicial workload in dependency or child abuse and neglect cases. In contrast to traditional judicial workload methods, the method described herein produces estimates of judicial workload that take into account the complex role of the juvenile dependency court judge—a role that includes both on- and off-the-bench activities. The method provides workload estimates that give guidance to courts not only about the minimally sufficient judicial resources needed to accommodate current caseload needs, but also what level of judicial resources would be required to hold substantive dependency court hearings that comport with nationally recognized practice recommendations. The article reviews commonly used judicial workload methods, outlines the new method, and uses a pilot of the method as an example of how the method works in practice. Broader implications of this workload method are also discussed.

]]> This article describes a new method for calculating judicial workload in dependency or child abuse and neglect cases. In contrast to traditional judicial workload methods, the method described herein produces estimates of judicial workload that take into account the complex role of the juvenile dependency court judge—a role that includes both on- and off-the-bench activities. The method provides workload estimates that give guidance to courts not only about the minimally sufficient judicial resources needed to accommodate current caseload needs, but also what level of judicial resources would be required to hold substantive dependency court hearings that comport with nationally recognized practice recommendations. The article reviews commonly used judicial workload methods, outlines the new method, and uses a pilot of the method as an example of how the method works in practice. Broader implications of this workload method are also discussed.