5/29/08 -- NCJFCJ is very grateful for its wealth of supportive friends and colleagues around the country – following is a sampling of their recent messages of support. 


"Dear Editor (of Youth Today and Reno Gazette-Journal):

As President of the National Juvenile Court Services Association, I am concerned by recent press reports regarding the operations of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges based in Reno, Nevada and am compelled to provide an informed viewpoint.

NCJFCJ sets the standard for quality in the delivery of juvenile justice service across the nation. Their exemplary record speaks for itself. From the perspective of the National Juvenile Court Services Association, NCJFCJ's leadership, in particular Executive Director Mary Mentaberry's leadership, exemplifies good stewardship and integrity in place, in principle, and in all actions.

As NCJFCJ strives for excellence, it continues to raise the bar for juvenile justice professionals whether it is offering state-of-the-art training, evidence-based model programming or hands-on technical assistance. The National Juvenile Court Services Association is proud of our partnership with NCJFCJ and applauds its transparency and irrefutable ethical practices."

Ellen Fabian Brokofsky
President, National Juvenile Court Services Association

"Last week the Reno Gazette-Journal published a story: “Judges Council Settles in Fraud Deal,” April 30. After reading it, for the first time in my life I felt like I needed to write a “letter to the editor.”
 
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is a 70-year-old organization based on the campus of the University of Nevada-Reno and is dedicated to elevating the standard of our nation’s juvenile and family court system. Recently the NCJFCJ reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that it improperly recorded staff time spent on federally-funded projects and over its conflict of interest policy. As someone who has observed the work of NCJFCJ for some time, I can tell you that the group operates with the utmost integrity. The organization, made up of nearly 2,000 judges and professionals across America, is committed to improving the way our courts work for children and families – our most vulnerable and valuable assets – as they cope with issues of alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and neglect.

NCJFCJ is on the frontlines of the war against our society’s most pressing issues.  In this effort, the non-profit group is fortunate to have long-serving staff who are professionals and are dedicated to the mission of the organization. In my view, it would be a travesty of justice if we were to allow harsh and unfounded criticism from adversaries with obvious axes to grind to damage the reputation of the honorable men and women who serve our nation’s juvenile justice system.

Last week while attending a judicial conference, I heard Zygmont A. Pines (the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania) say to over 250 judges who work in family and juvenile courts all over the nation, “If there is such a thing as God's work in government, you folks come pretty close.”  NCJFCJ is at the forefront in making sure these judges have the best resources and latest information available to assist them in this important work. NCJFCJ is a national resource Nevada should value and be proud to have in its State."

Mari Kay Bickett, JD, Executive Director
Texas Center for the Judiciary
Austin, Texas

“As a Juvenile Court Judge since 1990, I can honestly say that being an active member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has been one of the highlights of my career. Through NCJFCJ I have had the opportunity to learn from many of the greatest Juvenile Court Judges who have ever served our nation's children and families. As Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court, one of the nation’s largest juvenile courts, my work and the work of my colleagues and other stakeholders has been enhanced in many ways by working with  the members and staff of NCJFCJ. Because of what we have learned we now have greater collaboration in our system, drug courts in our Dependency Court, access to NCJFCJ’s great publications including the Resource Guidelines and Dependency Guidelines, and most importantly, access to technical assistance whenever we need it from NCJFCJ’s members and staff. The ultimate beneficiaries are the children and families we serve. The support that NCJFCJ offers its members and the support that its members offer each other through NCJFCJ must be preserved.”

Judge Michael Nash, Presiding Judge
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Juvenile Division
Los Angeles, California

 “For the past eight years I have served as the Presiding Judge of a child protection or abuse and neglect court in one of the largest unified court systems in our nation. As such I am keenly interested in making available the most valuable and up to date training for the judges assigned to our courts. Upon being appointed administrative judge for this distinguished bench, I made it my business to meet Mary Mentaberry. At that time, Ms. Mentaberry was the Director of the Permanency Planning for Children Department for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Due in great part to Ms. Mentaberry’s insight and considerable work ethic, Cook County judges assigned to the Child Protection Division have received some of the finest and most proficient training for judges in our country. Without the assistance of Ms. Mentaberry and the guidance and training provided by the NCJFCJ, Cook County would not have been able to realize one of our main objectives, bringing about better and improved outcomes for our children and families in need of court intervention.”

Judge Patricia M. Martin
Secretary, NCJFCJ
Presiding Judge, Child Protection Division
Cook County, Illinois

 “In my duties at the local, state and national levels, I am called upon to teach best practices and procedure for promoting resilience in families and children. I am also called upon to talk about public policy and budget issues affecting children and families at all levels. The training and expertise of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has provided me with the training and skills I need to perform my job as a presiding judge and to fulfill my leadership role as an instructor and expert in the field on promoting resiliency. The quality of the work of National Council is outstanding.  Actions have been taken to remedy the complaints raised in the legal action. We stand by the work of the National Council to offset the negative comments and publicity generated by these legal circumstances.”

Judge Peggy Walker
Juvenile Court of Douglas County
Douglasville, Georgia

 “The National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges has blazed the trail nationwide for reform of judicial proceedings involving children. As a result, children are no longer invisible parties in the courtroom. Rather, most child related litigation is now primarily focused on the needs of the child. Judicial reform of such magnitude and extent could have only been possible through the leadership and support of the National Council.”

Judge Frances M. Doherty
Second Judicial District Court
Reno, Nevada 

“During my 35+ years working in the justice field – much of it in the juvenile justice arena – I have come to rely on the expertise and instruction of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. I have particularly appreciated a professional relationship with its current executive director, Mary Mentaberry. Ms. Mentaberry and the staff of NCJFCJ have been tireless advocates and good stewards for those who work day-to-day in the field of juvenile justice. In all my dealings with NCJFCJ I have found Ms. Mentaberry, the leadership of NCJFCJ and its staff to do their vital work with integrity, honesty and a spirit of cooperation. NCJFCJ has developed and provided quality resources and services that have elevated the field of juvenile justice for decades.  I have no qualms that under its current leadership and the current media maelstrom that that record of excellence will be diverted. I think it is sad that the good reputation of a quality organization which has leadership and staff of integrity can be so quickly denigrated through the partial information provided in the press.”

Carl Wicklund, Executive Director
American Probation and Parole Association
Lexington, Kentucky 

“The National Center for State Courts has partnered with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges for several years on projects to improve the well-being of abused and neglected children. Most recently, NCJFCJ and the National Center have worked side-by-side in developing performance measures for child protection cases and together we coordinated two national summits that brought together court leaders from all 50 states to improve court outcomes for children in foster care. Through our years of collaboration, the National Center has found NCJFCJ under the direction of Mary Mentaberry to operate with the highest ethical standards and at all times has put the best interest of children and families first. The National Center for State Courts looks forward to continuing our partnership with NCJFCJ.”

Mary C. McQueen, President
National Center for State Courts
Williamsburg, Virginia

“The National Council has provided our jurisdiction with invaluable assistance and resources for over 50 years. The training opportunities and technical help has sustained our Courts at the highest level of improving the lives of children and families.”

Judge Dan Kellogg
St. Joseph, Missouri

James T. Richardson, J.D., Ph.D.
Director, Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies
Director, Judicial Studies Program
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada 

“I feel compelled to respond to the article printed April 30, 2008 in the Reno Gazette Journal regarding the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. How unfortunate that the comments of a disgruntled employee and her attorney are what gets publicized. 

Having retired from NCJFCJ after 25 years of employment, I can personally attest to the professionalism and integrity of the employees, judges and others affiliated with the organization in complying with funders’ requirements, from both a programmatic and financial perspective.  At no time did I witness questionable behavior as noted in the article. In its 71 years of existence, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has done immeasurable good work on a local, regional, national and international level. Could it be, that having been involved for over 18 months in an investigation with a federal entity having unlimited resources, that NCJFCJ felt compelled to settle for financial reasons? I think so!

I consider it an honor to have been affiliated with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.”

Carol Guarino
Reno, Nevada

“As an active participant in the juvenile justice field, [the RGJ's] article “Judges Council settles in fraud deal” (April 30, 2008) causes great concern.

The situation that has arisen involving NCJFCJ is unfortunate and the article indicates the Council is taking immediate corrective action. The Department of Justice has done its job in addressing this situation. We must not overlook in the frenzy surrounding this story, however, the vital work that NCJFCJ has been doing since its founding. Last year alone NCJFCJ provided educational training to more than 19,000 judges, court administrators, social workers, police, and probation officers. The Council is unique in the essential services and research it provides in the most challenging and important areas of the juvenile justice system including child abuse and neglect and juvenile substance abuse. The organization has a well-deserved reputation for quality, and I know Ms. Mentaberry personally to be a leader of the utmost integrity.

While this incident will give some pause to consider the value and trustworthiness of NCJFCJ, your readers should stop and consider this incident in the larger context of its outstanding reputation and the vital role it plays in improving the lives of America’s most vulnerable children and families.”

Shay Bilchik, Director
Center for Juvenile Justice Reform
Georgetown University
Washington, D.C.

“The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has instituted strong, well-defined travel policies which assure a substantial aspect of grant security. We enforce these policies during travel planning, and NCJFCJ has been steadfast in supporting the policies and our enforcement.”

Leonard Wohletz, CPA, President
Welcome Aboard Travel
Reno, Nevada

"Dear Senator Raggio:  It has come to my attention that an article recently appeared in the Reno Gazette Journal about the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, which seems to have had a devastating result.

While I am not familiar with the allegations, I do know I have worked with the NCJFCJ for several years over the planning and development of a new National Justice Center on the University of Nevada campus. I have found the leadership and staff of NCJFCJ to be exceptional in their commitment to their organization; and they have shown a practical and honest approach to this work.

I have found Mary Mentaberry, Executive Director of the NCJFCJ, to be a remarkable leader with the highest integrity; and the exceptional work of the organization speaks for itself.

It is unfortunate that the allegations of a single, disgruntled former employee have been made headline news. This is an outstanding organization, and to be maligned in such a way does not serve the field or the public well."

Irwin A. Molasky, Chairman
The Molasky Group of Companies
Las Vegas, Nevada