NCJ Number
61911
Date Published
1976
Length
336 pages
Annotation
A COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE PARENTS' COMPLAINTS ABOUT DOMESTIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSKEGON COUNTY, MICH., FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE.
Abstract
THE FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED BY MICHIGAN LAW IN 1919 TO PROTECT DEPENDENT MINOR CHILDREN AND TO COMPEL THE ENFORCEMENT OF CHANCERY DECREES WHERE MINOR CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN DIVORCE CASES. THE STATE'S 1970 CHILD CUSTODY ACT DID NOT SPECIFICALLY REFER TO THE FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE, BUT IT DEFINED THE 'BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD' CONCEPT AND ESTABLISHED THIS CONCEPT AS THE GUIDING LEGAL PRINCIPLE IN DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASES. IN AN ATTEMPT TO ENCOURAGE CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS, THE U.S. CONGRESS PASSED P.L. 93-647. THIS LAW PROVIDES FOR A PERCENTAGE REIMBURSEMENT OF SUPPORT MONEY TO COOPERATING COUNTIES BY EXPANDING AND IMPROVING SUPPORT COLLECTION EFFORTS. CUSTODIAL RESIDENT PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED BY THE AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN PROGRAM MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR INCENTIVE BONUSES. THE MUSKEGON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT HAS EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED LOAD OF DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASES, AND THE FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE HAS FELT A PARALLEL CASELOAD INCREASE. OPERATION OF THE OFFICE IS DETAILED WITH RESPECT TO FACILITIES, STAFF, CHILD CUSTODY INVESTIGATIONS, ADMINISTRATION, DIVORCE AND CUSTODY CASES, PATERNITY SUITS, NONSUPPORT CASES, AND ALIMONY CASES. CITIZEN OPINION SURVEYS, ONE DIRECTED AT FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE CLIENTS AND ANOTHER DIRECTED AT ATTORNEYS, INDICATE THAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED IN PROCEDURES, STAFF, FACILITIES, LAWS, COURT RULES, AND POLICIES. MORE SPECIFICALLY, NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS CONCERN CASE REVIEW AND FOLLOWUP, CASE ASSIGNMENT, INFORMATION PROCESSING AND ACCOUNTING, COMPLAINT HANDLING, NOTIFICATION OF OBLIGATION TO PAY SUPPORT, JOB PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, JOB ORIENTATION AND INSERVICE TRAINING FOR STAFF, AND UNDERSTAFFING. TABLES, GRAPHS, AND CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. FURTHER INFORMATION ON COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS IS APPENDED. (DEP)