Judicial Perspectives on Family Drug Treatment Courts
By Judge Leonard P. Edwards and Judge James A. Ray

Abstract: Family Drug Treatment Courts are a specialized calendar or docket that operates within the juvenile dependency court. These courts provide the setting for a collaborative effort by the court and all the participants in the child protection system to come together in a non-adversarial setting to determine the individual treatment needs of substance-abusing parents whose children are under the jurisdiction of the dependency court. This article is intended to give judges and others a judicial perspective on FDTCs, and to offer some assistance for those who are operating or who are considering creating one.

The Knowledge of Detained Juveniles About the Juvenile Justice System
By Theresa Rajack-Talley, Clarence R. Talley, and Richard Tewksbury

Abstract: This article examines the knowledge and perceptions of detained juveniles about the roles of juvenile justice officials and the nature of the juvenile justice system. Data were collected through interviews in a group setting. The small sample size limited the generalizability of the findings but provided specific information important for future research and policymaking on an under-studied group. The study found that the experiences of the juveniles with the justice system provided only limited understanding of the system’s processes and confusion about juvenile justice officials’ roles. The juveniles did not have a clear understanding of how each official’s role operated within a set of roles that constitutes the system. Further, they did not fully understand the cumulative effect of juvenile processing.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES: Improving Court Practice in Juvenile Delinquency Cases

Abstract:  This article is excerpted from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ landmark JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES: Improving Court Practice in Juvenile Delinquency Cases, Chapter I, Foundations for Excellence, published in 2005. Beginning with a basic discussion of why a separate court for juveniles and adults continues to be necessary, the article describes the goals and key principles of a juvenile delinquency court of excellence.