NCJ Number
64416
Date Published
1979
Length
195 pages
Annotation
DESIGNED TO DETERMINE CURRENT REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN IN JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE SOUTHEAST, THIS RESEARCH PROJECT PRODUCED A GUARDIAN AD LITEM MODEL TO AID STATES IN MEETING THE AD LITEM GOALS.
Abstract
THE AD LITEM MANDATE REQUIRES STATES TO ASSURE THAT IN EVERY CASE INVOLVING AN ABUSED CHILD OR NEGLECTED CHILD WHICH RESULTS IN A JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, A GUARDIAN AD LITEM (GAL) IS APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE CHILD IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS. THE JUDICAL AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT (CAN) RESOURCE CENTER HELPED TO STUDY THE EIGHT SOUTHEASTERN STATES--ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TENNESSEE. FROM AUGUST THROUGH OCTOBER 1977, 575 QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO ALL THE IDENTIFIED JUDGES IN THE REGION WHO HAD JURISDICTION OVER JUVENILE MATTERS; 114 JUDGES COMPOSED THE FINAL SAMPLE. THE RESPONSES FROM THE JUDGES WITH REGARD TO WHEN AND HOW OFTEN THE GAL IS APPOINTED, WHO SERVES AS A GAL AND HOW THE GAL IS PAID WERE USED TO DEVELOP A MODEL WHICH MIGHT REFLECT MORE ACCURATELY JUDGES' NEEDS FOR A GAL. THE MODEL INCORPORATES STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS AND PROCESSES TO (1) PROVIDE SOME UNIFORMITY TO SERVICES CHILDREN RECEIVE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE FORMAL COURT PROCESS; (2) PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO ENTRY INTO THE FORMAL COURT SYSTEM; (3) PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO CHILDREN; (4) MAKE USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES; (5) MAKE THE GAL ROLE AND FUNCTIONING QUASI-INDEPENDENT OF BOTH THE COURT AND THE PUBLIC WELFARE AGENCY; AND (6) REDUCE FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER PROBLEMS. THE RATIONALE FOR THE MODEL AND EXTENSIVE TABLES SHOWING THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE PROVIDED. REFERENCES ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (MHP)