Brevity on the Net

• NPR Report – Study: Meth Epidemic Fueling Family Break Ups (audio and print report)
• Full Text of The Meth Epidemic in America – Two Surveys of U.S. Counties: The Criminal Effect of Meth on Communities and The Impact of Meth on Children.
• NYT Article: A Drug Scourge Creates Its Own Form of Orphan

Related Information:

• BJA Bulletin – Drug Courts: An Effective Strategy for Communities Facing Methamphetamine
• Pierce County, Wash. Drug Endangered Children’s Protocol

++++++++++

The Mathematics of Risk Classification: Changing data into Valid Instruments for Juvenile Courts

This report, written by Don Gottfredson and Howard Snyder as part of the National Center for Juvenile Justice National Juvenile Justice Data Analysis Project, is intended to help courts classify youth into risk groups as an aid to program assignments. It compares statistical methods for classifying risk and offers recommendations for selecting classification procedures. 44 pages. Downloadable.

++++++++++

American Academy of Pediatrics Revises Policy on Teen Birth Control

The AAP says teenagers need access to birth control and emergency contraception. The organization updates a 1998 policy by omitting the statement that “abstinence counseling is an important role for all pediatricians.” The new policy says that while doctors should encourage adolescents to postpone sexual activity, they also should help ensure that all teens – not just those who are sexually active – [have access to] birth control, including emergency contraception.

Additional information -  see the July issue of Pediatrics Clinical Report on Adolescent Pregnancy.

++++++++++

A Needed Transition: Lessons from Illinois about Teen Parent TANF Rules

Under the 1996 welfare reform bill, parents under age 18 must live in an approved arrangement, usually with their parents, and work toward a high school diploma or GED to qualify for assistance.

 Illinois has structured its TANF program differently to help teen parents access services and supports and the state allows minor parents to receive TANF for three months while they come into compliance with the living arrangement and education rules. This issue brief from CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy) looks at Illinois’ experience with TANF and minor parents, and the effect of their approach on families and agencies.23 pages. downloadable.

++++++++++

Voices Study – Nationwide Survey of Young People 10 through 17, Their Needs and Their Dreams
While America's young believe in the American Dream, more than 40% of the young people surveyed doubt whether they can realize the American Dream for themselves. They are stressed out, worried about their personal safety and confused about how to make smart choices regarding their health and well-being.

++++++++++

Amber Alert Resources

Here are some new publications from the Amber Alert web site:

• Bringing Abducted Children Home – Goals and purpose of the Amber Alert system.
• Amber Alert Best Practices Guide for Broadcasters and Other Media Outlets – with sections on MOUs, after-action reports, verification of information, sensitivity to the audience and more.
• Amber Alert Fact Sheet – Effective Use of NCIC

++++++++++

Feds Struggle with Problem of Indian Suicides 

The suicide rates for American Indians and Alaskan Natives ages 15 to 24 are three times the nation’s average, according to U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona. It is estimated that there are 13 nonfatal attempts for every fatality. This article from the Casper Star Tribune examines these statistics and talks to members of tribes in the High Plains area of the country about mental health services, access to those services, and the association of suicide with alcohol.

++++++++++

SYNERGY – Newsletter of the Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody (Summer 2005)

The latest issue of SYNERGY has been published and is available for download on the NCJFCJ web site. This issue highlights various strategies that enhance safety where there are allegations of domestic or family violence, including courthouse security, The Fathering After Violence Initiation, and safety issues around and appropriateness of ‘virtual visitation’ in domestic violence cases.

++++++++++

Youth Courts

A Jury of Their Peers

TIME Magazine reports on the youth court movement in the country. In 1994 there were 78 youth courts in the country. Today the number is 1,035 and growing. These junior courts will hold more than 100,000 trials this year. A study by the Urban Institute found that youth courts are often more effective in preventing repeat crimes than are other methods used to discipline first-time minor offenders.

Youth Court: A Community Solution for Embracing At-Risk Youth

 The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) conducted a nationwide review of youth court programs between November 2004 and January 2005. 365 youth court coordinators from across the US participated in the study. Study findings include these:

• On average, 9% of juvenile arrests in a jurisdiction are being diverted from the formal juvenile justice system to youth courts.
• In addition to the estimated 110,000 to 125,000 youth offenders served in youth court programs, another 100,000 youth per year are benefiting from their participation in the program as volunteers.

Youth court benefits include:

• For the juvenile justice system - reducing court backlogs without increasing recidivism.
• For youth offenders -  an outlet to confront the consequences of their actions and protection from contact with “hard core” offenders as well as avoidance of a juvenile court record.
• For youth offenders and volunteers - opportunities to learn about responsible citizenship and law, and to develop skills in public speaking, mediation, and pro-social leadership through hands-on experience.

Downloadable. About 40 pages.

++++++++++

In Wisconsin Juvenile Interrogations must be taped

Wisconsin law enforcement agencies were ordered July 7, 2005 by the state Supreme Court to immediately begin electronically recording juvenile interrogations in both felony and misdemeanor cases. The ruling says audiotaping is sufficient to meet the requirement, “but videotaping may provide an even more complete picture” of the interrogation.

++++++++++

Feds May Fund Program for Teen Dating Violence

Congress is considering legislation that could help reduce what the Family Violence Prevention Fund in San Francisco calls a national epidemic of teen dating violence. The original Violence Against Women Act and its renewed legislation in 2000 did not fund services for teens. A 2005 version of the act would allow $3.9 billion over five years for new initiatives targeting teens.
The legislation follows the release of a study in June that found that 57% of 13- to 18-year-olds surveyed reported having friends in abusive relationships.

++++++++++

Family Group Conferences for Youth in Group Care

Connected and Cared For was a three-year project in the state of Washington in which 81 family group conferences were conducted for 96 children between 11 and 18 years of age who were in group care at the time of the conference. Postconference interviews indicated that the conferences were largely successful in engaging families in planning for the youth and increasing communication among families, social workers, and service planners.

++++++++++

Restorative Practices in a Foster Care Group Home

The Restorative Practices eForum reports on the CSF foster girls’ group home in Quakertown, Penn. CSF (Community Service Foundation) group homes are run according to the tenets of restorative practices. A CSF group home avoids being permissive or punitive. It is rather, a restorative atmosphere – a highly structured, safe environment for people to express and exchange intense emotion. Youth are court-ordered to enter the CSF Residential Program, but are fully informed about how the program works and are given a choice whether to make a commitment to it.

++++++++++

From the Child’s Perspective: A Qualitative Analysis of Kinship Care Placements

Few studies have addressed the needs of children in kinship care, or gathered in-depth information about their experiences. This study From the National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center attempts to fill that gap.

++++++++++

Cyber Bullying

I-Safe America, an organization promoting Web safety, surveyed 1500 students in the 4th through 8th grade, and found that 42% have been bullied online. Online bullying is particularly tempting and here are some of the reasons why:

• The illusion of anonymity. Most kids say or do things on a computer that they wouldn’t have the nerve to do in person.
• The number of kids using the Internet makes it the preferred way to communicate.
• It’s easy to disguise your identify and pose as someone else.

The article includes real examples of online bullying and how it was dealt with. It also includes action steps for parents and schools.

++++++++++

Mental Health Courts Program

The Bureau of Justice Assistance  (BJA) Mental Health Courts Program funds projects that seek to implement collaborative efforts involving courts to improve the response to offenders with mental illnesses. The link above will take you to the site of the program. There you will find links to these wo downloadable publications:

• A Guide to Mental health Court Design and Implementation – 100+ pages. downloadable.
• A Guide to Collecting Mental Health Court Outcome Data -  20 pages. Downloadable.

++++++++++

Overview of the Mental Health Service System for Criminal Justice Professionals

Author Jackie Massaro in this publication provides criminal justice professionals with basic information about the adult mental health service system and it highlights some of the common challenges for the mental health and criminal justice systems in meeting the needs of adults with mental illness. Has relevance to the juvenile system too. 40 pages. Downloadable.

++++++++++

Under the Counter: The Diversion and Abuse of Controlled Prescription Drugs in the U.S.

From 1992 to 2003, while  the U.S. population increased 14%, the number of 12 to 17 year olds who abused controlled prescription drugs jumped 212% (no, this is not a typo) and the number of adults 18 and older abusing such drugs climbed 81%.

From the report:

• From 1992 to 2002, prescriptions written for controlled drugs increased more than 150%, almost 12 times the rate of increased in population and almost three times the rate of increase in prescriptions written for all other drugs.
• From 1992 to 2003, abuse of controlled prescription drugs grew at a rate twice that of marijuana abuse; five times that of cocaine abuse; 60 times that of heroin abuse.

++++++++++

New Report Advises that Obese Children be Screened for ADHD

A report in the International Journal of Easting Disorders has found that nearly 60% of the children being treated for obesity in an Israeli hospital had symptoms of ADHD, significantly higher than the proportion in the general population for the same school age group. The study’s authors recommend that every obese child be screened to ADHD.

++++++++++

Children Are Targeted in Increasing Numbers for Identity Theft

A seven-year-old has a pristine credit history, no credit card debt, no poor credit history. Adults, primarily parents and other relatives, are increasingly stealing their children’s identities to get new credit cards after their credit is ruined. Unfortunately, minors don’t discover that their credit has been misused until the first time they try to open a credit line themselves, usually in their late teens, and it can be very difficult to clear their names.

Conferences

National Association of Counsel for Children's 28th National Children's Law Conference, State of the Art Advocacy for Children, Youth, and Families, will be held August 25-28, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA. Details at the link above.

National Partnership for Juvenile Services with the Virginia Council on Juvenile Detentnion will hold a Joint Conference on Juvenile Services on Octobver 16=19, 2005 in Richmond, VA. Details at the link above.