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Child Welfare Courts of Future ALL THE PROCESS THAT IS DUE Managing Cases, Managing Change, Managing to Have a Life
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The Clinic Court (1900-1960) Application of social and psychological principles Application of social and psychological principles Gatekeeper magistrate Gatekeeper magistrate Agency response to maltreatment of “placing out”,asylum,child rescue,contract for beds Agency response to maltreatment of “placing out”,asylum,child rescue,contract for beds Medical model based on diagnosis and treatment (why the behavior?) Began quickly to evolve to Behavioral model based on accountability and consequences (what the behavior?)
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Who Are These Two ?
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Emergence Of Parental Rights And Due Process Application Mapp V Ohio 367 U.S.643 application of due process to state proceedings Mapp V Ohio 367 U.S.643 application of due process to state proceedings Kent vs United States 383 U.S.541(1966) minimum due process in waiver proceedings Kent vs United States 383 U.S.541(1966) minimum due process in waiver proceedings Gault 387 U.S.1(1967) essential of due process and fair treatment Gault 387 U.S.1(1967) essential of due process and fair treatment
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Restrictions On State Intervention Fundamental zone of parental family decisions (Pearce, Meyer, Wisconsin v Yoder,Parham v J.R., Santosky v Kramer) Fundamental zone of parental family decisions (Pearce, Meyer, Wisconsin v Yoder,Parham v J.R., Santosky v Kramer) Fundamental zone of privacy / control(Griswold v Conn.,Roe v Wade,) Fundamental zone of privacy / control(Griswold v Conn.,Roe v Wade,) Least restrictive alternatives- commerce clause case principle applied to state intervention Least restrictive alternatives- commerce clause case principle applied to state intervention Foundation principles – planfull and reasonable state action within frame work of due process Foundation principles – planfull and reasonable state action within frame work of due process
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Emergence Of Court/Clinic Application of due process Application of due process State code development separating the courts from agency / conflicts of authority over placement and planning. State code development separating the courts from agency / conflicts of authority over placement and planning. Trend to behavioral model reinforced by application of criminal justice model for delinquency cases in response to Gault. Trend to behavioral model reinforced by application of criminal justice model for delinquency cases in response to Gault.
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Individualized Justice Clinical --------- behavioral Clinical --------- behavioral Youth accountability – to victim, to community, restorative justice Youth accountability – to victim, to community, restorative justice Competency development rehabilitation, assessment and treatment Competency development rehabilitation, assessment and treatment Key value are to protect the community from delinquency, to impose accountability for offense committed and to equip juvenile offenders with the competencies to live responsibly and productively in the community Key value are to protect the community from delinquency, to impose accountability for offense committed and to equip juvenile offenders with the competencies to live responsibly and productively in the community
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The Pendulum Swings From rehabilitation to behavioral accountability From rehabilitation to behavioral accountability Medical and justice models Medical and justice models Gradual reduction of judicial discretion Gradual reduction of judicial discretion Seeking a balance Seeking a balance
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Criminalization of Childhood Zero Tolerance policy in community or schools Zero Tolerance policy in community or schools Stretching the limits of age – mens rea, competency Stretching the limits of age – mens rea, competency Youth panel feedback on not so subtle shift from needs to behavior as they become adolescents in care Youth panel feedback on not so subtle shift from needs to behavior as they become adolescents in care Stripping of discretion from judges Stripping of discretion from judges
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Lucy Gets A Job/ Roles Change For Judges Parens patriae surrogate Parens patriae surrogate Gatekeeper Gatekeeper Jurist of law and fact Jurist of law and fact Administrator of due process Administrator of due process Inquiring magistrate of well-being, safety and plan for children in care Inquiring magistrate of well-being, safety and plan for children in care Reviewer of agency efforts Reviewer of agency efforts Community leader in advocating for services Community leader in advocating for services Applier of therapeutic /restorative justice principles Applier of therapeutic /restorative justice principles
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Keeping Up With Multiple Tasks
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Courts As Trauma Centers Therapeutic jurisprudence Therapeutic jurisprudence Skill development Skill development Enhancement of projected compliance with judicial orders Enhancement of projected compliance with judicial orders Judicial focus on coordination and communication Judicial focus on coordination and communication Facilitation to services for parties in the court Facilitation to services for parties in the court
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Therapeutic Jurisprudence Legal rules, legal procedures and the role of legal actors constitute social forces which produce therapeutic or anti- therapeutic consequences Legal rules, legal procedures and the role of legal actors constitute social forces which produce therapeutic or anti- therapeutic consequences Can we enhance the likelihood of compliance with judicial expectations by applying what we know about human behavior to the way we work? Can we enhance the likelihood of compliance with judicial expectations by applying what we know about human behavior to the way we work?
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Practical examples Forms and orders that are understandable Forms and orders that are understandable Court concierge, docent, Wal-Mart greeter, interpreters of language and systems – due process is understandable process Court concierge, docent, Wal-Mart greeter, interpreters of language and systems – due process is understandable process Engaging family with dignity – family group conferencing, scheduling considerations Engaging family with dignity – family group conferencing, scheduling considerations
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Family Courts Basic functions; Basic functions; A court– legal basis in due process A court– legal basis in due process A portal of entry to social services or social support A portal of entry to social services or social support Data and information management Data and information management A unified case processing and case management system based on values and principles of the participants A unified case processing and case management system based on values and principles of the participants
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Moving from Clobberation to Collaboration Advisory Committees on in proved practice Advisory Committees on in proved practice Real world feedback from constituents and stakeholders – youth panels, family members who have been through process Real world feedback from constituents and stakeholders – youth panels, family members who have been through process Strategic planning tools Strategic planning tools Community understanding of limits of role Community understanding of limits of role Restoring Community Respect Restoring Community Respect
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Community Collaborations Education about the role of the courts increases understanding and confidence in the judicial process. Education about the role of the courts increases understanding and confidence in the judicial process. Unique view of the needs of individuals who are in legal and social crisis. Unique view of the needs of individuals who are in legal and social crisis. Expand available resources to address complex social problems. Expand available resources to address complex social problems. Improve the administration of justice. Improve the administration of justice.
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Model Courts/ Court Improvement Federal Funding through State supreme court. Inventory and plan. Through ABA efforts - Courts as stakeholder in Family and Children Service Reviews. Federal Funding through State supreme court. Inventory and plan. Through ABA efforts - Courts as stakeholder in Family and Children Service Reviews. Model Courts developed through Federal Victims Act funding seeking to implement The Resource Guidelines to Improve Court Practice in Abuse and Neglect Cases Model Courts developed through Federal Victims Act funding seeking to implement The Resource Guidelines to Improve Court Practice in Abuse and Neglect Cases
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Greenbook/ Unified Family Courts Effective Interventions at the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Effective Interventions at the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Unified Family Courts : Unified Family Courts : A forum for due process and law A forum for due process and law A portal of entry to services A portal of entry to services A method of case coordination and case management A method of case coordination and case management
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Development of Alternate Pathways Community Partnership for Child Protection Community Partnership for Child Protection Mediation, Family Group Conferencing Mediation, Family Group Conferencing Restorative Justice Programs Restorative Justice Programs Caveat – child’s voice in decision making – considered judgment – “caught a right” Caveat – child’s voice in decision making – considered judgment – “caught a right”
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Best Interest ? Reality is not BIOC but LWA Reality is not BIOC but LWA Focus on services that are appropriate, accessible, available and culturally competent not cookie cutter plan Focus on services that are appropriate, accessible, available and culturally competent not cookie cutter plan Best practice publications, judicial education, co-training Best practice publications, judicial education, co-training
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Problem Solving Courts Growth of drug, mental health, domestic violence courts. Growth of drug, mental health, domestic violence courts. Generally measured outcomes / more than just opening and closing of cases Generally measured outcomes / more than just opening and closing of cases Generally judges who want to do the work Generally judges who want to do the work Problem who’s dialog, what consequences for failure, defining success Problem who’s dialog, what consequences for failure, defining success Due Process considerations Due Process considerations
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Your Turn Sometimes it is not what we do not know but what we do know that is wrong. Sometimes it is not what we do not know but what we do know that is wrong. Keep to fundamental constitutional framework as anvil to hammer out new ideas for response to families in need Keep to fundamental constitutional framework as anvil to hammer out new ideas for response to families in need The unfinished tasks – the devil The unfinished tasks – the devil
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