NCJ Number
43164
Date Published
1977
Length
89 pages
Annotation
ATTORNEY-CLIENT AND ATTORNEY-FAMILY RELATIONS, CASE PREPARATION, REPORT FORMATS, FOSTER HOMES, CONTENDING WITH PROBATION OFFICERS, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO JUVENILES AND JUVENILE COURTS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
AS THE ATTORNEY NEW TO JUVENILE COURT IS OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH ITS PROCEDURE, THIS HANDBOOK IS DESIGNED TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM. TERMINOLOGY COMMONLY USED IN JUVENILE OR CHILDREN'S COURT PROCEEDINGS AND WHICH DIFFERS FROM THAT OF ADULT COURT IS DEFINED. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE ATTORNEY IS PROFESSIONALLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE CLIENT, THE PARENTS, OR THE COMMUNITY IS RAISED: THE BEST JUDGMENT OF THE ATTORNEY MUST GUIDE HIM WHEN NO CANON OF ETHICS EXISTS. THE PREPARING A CASE, DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES MUST BE EMPLOYED WHEN INTERVIEWING MINORS, PARENTS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL, AND OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES. THE CHRONOLOGICAL PROGRESSION OF A JUVENILE COURT CASE IS DETAILED, A SAMPLE JUVENILE COURT REPORT IS GIVEN, AND THE MANUAL OFFERS GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH PROBATION OFFICERS' REPORTS. IT IS STRESSED THAT AN UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EXPLAINING WHY A PARTICULAR MINOR COMMITTED A PARTICULAR ACT. THE LAWYER-CLIENT RAPPORT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INFLUENCING A CLIENT'S ATTITUDES AND CONDUCT ARE EXAMINED. COMMUNITY AND POLICE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS, CARE FOR DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, AND FOSTER HOMES ARE ALSO REVIEWED. COURT JURISDICTION OVER MINORS BY STATE IS LISTED IN AN APPENDIX.