NCJ Number
58381
Date Published
1979
Length
43 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA., AND COURT PROGRAMS (COUNSELING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, AND SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS) ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE STUDY OF THE JUVENILE COURT STRUCTURE, CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY'S OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS IN 1978, ADDRESSED THREE AREAS: (1) ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE OFFICE OF COURT SERVICES (OCS) WITHIN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT; (2) THE IMPACT OF TRANSFERRING CERTAIN FUNCTIONS FROM THE CLERK OF THE JUVENILE COURT TO OCS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH STATE LEGISLATION; AND (3) PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY OCS. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM THE JUVENILE COURT, THE COUNTY'S OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, THE FAIRFAX-FALLS CHURCH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION SERVICES BOARD, THE COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MANPOWER SERVICES, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AN ANALYSIS OF SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN CASES BROUGHT TO THE JUVENILE COURT REVEALED THAT JUVENILE COURT HAS MET THIS GROWTH BY INCREASING CASE PROCESSING PRODUCTIVITY. BY IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED PROCEDURES AND USING DATA PROCESSING TECHNIQUES, THE JUVENILE COURT HAS INCREASED ITS EFFICIENCY IN HANDLING THE GROWING CASELOAD, THEREBY MODERATING THE NEED FOR STAFF INCREASES. AT THE SAME TIME, GROWTH HAS OCCURRED IN THE NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMS PROVIDED THROUGH JUVENILE COURT. EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE COURT ORGANIZATION ARE OFFERED: (1) A PLAN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES; (2) MORE SUPPORT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; (3) GRANT FUNDS SHOULD BE OBTAINED TO SUPPORT THE JUVENILE COURT'S WORK TRAINING PROGRAM; (4) VIABLE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WHEREBY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES CAN PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL THERAPY SERVICES NEEDED BY JUVENILES IN CONTACT WITH THE COURT; (5) A POSITION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FUNCTIONS WITHIN JUVENILE COURT; (6) A POSITION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO MANAGE JUVENILE COURT'S AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM; (7) A POSITION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, CHIEF OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, TO PLAN AND MANAGE ALL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS OF JUVENILE COURT; AND (8) THE EXISTING POSITION, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COURT SERVICES, SHOULD REPLACE THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER POSITION PROPOSED BY THE JUVENILE COURT. TABLES AND ILLUSTRATION ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)