August 11, 2010

Dear Colleagues:

On March 14, 2010, the Board of Trustees of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (“the Council”) voted in support of the re-authorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, including the provision which would repeal the Valid Court Order Exception to the detention of status offenders. The re-authorization bill includes a phase-out period, a hardship clause, and support for resource allocation for status offenders and their families. 

The Council was aware of the concerns this position raised in places where there are scarce or ineffective resources for the status offender population, and received a resolution from the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges calling upon us to address these concerns.  A copy of the Georgia Resolution is available here. The Council's Board of Trustees presented a resolution addressing these issues to the Membership at the July 2010 Annual Conference in San Diego. The Membership approved the Council Resolution Regarding Efforts to Ensure Availability of Evidence-Based Services to Meet the Needs of Status Offenders and Their Families. (A resolution on this issue passed Aug. 10 by the Virginia Council of Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges is available here.)

The resolution commits the Council to identify evidence-based services from around the country that research suggests are effective in dealing with status offenders and their families, and then to systematically share that information with judges and stakeholders nationwide. The resolution further commits the Council to providing the necessary technical support to implement these evidence-based services, when funding is available. 

The Council has also resolved to identify ways to advocate at all levels of government for the provision of services to meet the needs of status offenders and their families. The Council will seek opportunities to collaborate with other organizations such as yours, with the common purpose of serving this population. 

We need your help. Let us know of evidence-based programs that are effective in dealing with status offenders and their families. Advocate at the local, state and national level for the provision of these services. Share our resolution with your partners and constituents, and consider similar resolutions in your own jurisdictions or organizations. Most importantly, join us in a collaborative effort to best serve these youth and their families.

Sincerely,

R. Michael Key. President    
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges          

Karen S. Adam, Chair
NCJFCJ Juvenile and Family Law Department Advisory Committee

NCJFCJ Resolution
Georgia Resolution
Virginia Resolution