NCJ Number
55902
Editor(s)
L G ARTHUR
Date Published
1978
Length
128 pages
Annotation
STANDARDIZED RULES, PROCEDURES, CHECKLISTS, AND FORMS ARE PRESENTED FOR JUVENILE COURTS, FAMILY COURTS, AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE BENCH BOOK IS TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORM AND CONSISTENT JUVENILE COURT PROCEDURES THROUGHOUT THE NATION. STANDARDIZED DEFINITIONS AND RULES ARE SET FORTH RELATIVE TO DETENTION, ADJUDICATION, REFERENCE (TRANSFER OF A CASE TO ADULT COURT), DISPOSITION, HEARING PROVISIONS, APPEAL AND REHEARING, DISCLOSURE, AND SPECIAL TYPES OF HEARINGS. THE FORMAT IS SUCH THAT JURISDICTIONS CAN ADAPT THE RULES TO THEIR OWN STATUTES. TWO FLOWCHARTS DEPICT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS. THE FIRST OFFERS A PROCEDURAL OVERVIEW, ILLUSTRATING THE STAGES THAT FOLLOW FROM THE ENTRY OF A DELINQUENT OR NEGLECTED JUVENILE INTO THE COURT PROCESS UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION. THE SECOND SYNTHESIZES THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS, NOTING DECISION POINTS, DECISIONMAKERS, AND CHOICES AVAILABLE TO DECISIONMAKERS. GUIDES FOR CONDUCTING PREDISPOSITION SOCIAL INVESTIGATIONS AND FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A FAMILY IS INDIGENT AND THEREBY ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES ARE PRESENTED. SUMMARIES (PURPOSE, DECISIONMAKING CRITERIA, PROGRAM RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS, MECHANICS, OFFICIAL LANGUAGE) ARE PRESENTED FOR 5 DETENTION ALTERNATIVES (DETENTION IN A JUVENILE CENTER, HOME DETENTION WITH SURVEILLANCE BY VOLUNTEERS, HOUSE ARREST WITH PARENTAL SUPERVISION, INSECURE CUSTODY FOR CRIMINAL DELINQUENTS, INSECURE CUSTODY FOR NONCRIMINAL CHILDREN) AND FOR 26 DISPOSITIONS (WITHIN THE GENERAL CATEGORIES OF DISMISSAL, OBSERVATION, COUNSELING, TREATMENT, COMMITMENT, RESTITUTION, CHANGE OF FAMILY STATUS, AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES). APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE SAMPLE FORMS PERTAINING TO DELINQUENCY AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS, TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND ADOPTION; A MODEL JUVENILE COURT STATUTE DRAFTED IN 1968 BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COMMISSIONERS ON UNIFORM STATE LAWS; A MODEL STATUTE REGARDING TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS DRAFTED IN 1976 BY MICHIGAN'S NEGLECTED CHILDREN COMMITTEE; AND A GLOSSARY. (LKM)