Automated Case Tracking of Dependency Matters

• NCJ Number: 208905
• Journal: Children, Families, and the Courts: Ohio Bulletin Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: Summer 2004 Pages: 1-20
• Author(s): Gregory Halemba
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 20 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Ctr for Juvenile Justice
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded March 1, 2005.

Annotation

This report argues that Ohio's juvenile courts need better automated tools to track their dependency caseloads, but also notes why it is often difficult and expensive for juvenile courts to modify existing automated systems or develop new systems that can closely track dependency matters.

Abstract

Increased Federal expectations and scrutiny of State child and family services programs have resulted in closer attention to the timeliness and effectiveness of judicial oversight in dependency matters. All but the smallest jurisdictions cannot effectively manage their dependency caseload in compliance with statutory mandates without the assistance of an automated case management system that closely tracks case filing information, decisions made at key court stages, the dates of these decisions, and each child's placement history. Each of Ohio's 88 juvenile courts is responsible for internally developing or procuring its own automated case tracking systems; however, the Ohio Supreme Court's Technology Resources Division staff is available to provide technical assistance at no cost to local courts. The creation and maintenance of an effective automated information system for a dependency caseload presents many difficulties that involve design, financing, and licensing. Many of the current Ohio juvenile court case tracking systems were designed specifically for delinquency caseloads, with little consideration for dependency cases, which are typically complex and protracted. Required modifications to current systems are extensive and prohibitively expensive. This report describes what a comprehensive and effective automated case tracking system for dependency cases should do. Among the recommended features are the system linking of siblings and family unit, accounting for multiple children named as victims in a single complaint, tracking critical case processing events and legal status expiration dates/decisions, historically tracking changes in case plan (permanency) goals, and historically tracking placement history. 1 table and 23 notes