There are many avenues through which minor victims of trafficking enter the juvenile justice system. Due to the power and control exercised by their traffickers, victims are often forced or coerced to commit crimes they otherwise would not commit. Many victims of trafficking enter the criminal justice system for offenses committed as a direct result of their trafficking.
It is vital that any efforts to address child sex trafficking in our communities must include not only survivor input but also provide opportunities for survivors to lead this work. Survivor leaders are people who hold leadership positions within their field and/or provide guidance to other survivors. Organizations and individuals must be thoughtful about why, when, and how they engage survivor leaders in the work.
Although initially embraced as an emergency measure, virtual proceedings continue to be utilized even as jurisdictions increasingly lift restrictions on in-person hearings. Before proceeding with virtual hearings, judges should be mindful of access to technology, constitutional implications, and the limitations of remote proceedings specific to youth.
Whether they realize it or not, all juvenile family court judges hear cases in their courts involving military service members (active duty, reserve, or retired) or their family members regardless of their community’s location or…
With funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges developed the Implementation Sites Project to assist juvenile and family courts to integrate the…
This publication is intended to help judges launching ITCPs identify key components of the implementation process and embrace their leadership role off the bench to help support the effective implementation of ITCP programs.
Any work that strives to serve and advocate for survivors of child sex trafficking should always provide a seat at the table for survivors, particularly youth survivors. One way to achieve this is to start…
Children and youth often have little or no power over important aspects of their lives that are impacted by court involvement. Judges and other court professionals need to engage authentically, meaningfully, and directly with children…
Youth and the Juvenile Justice System: 2022 National Report is the fifth edition of a comprehensive report on youth victimization, offending by youth, and the juvenile justice system. With this release, the report series has…
The focus of this Revised Chapter is on an approach that requires a careful analysis and tailored response, which means that adequate information is obtained (safely and ethically) and provided to the court, allowing for…
The purpose of this Technical Assistance Brief is to provide juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTC) teams with an overview of how to collect, analyze, and respond to program-level data regarding racial equity in three primary…
How to Facilitate a Discussion about Child Sexual Exploitation in Your Community: A Facilitation Guide (Facilitation Guide) is a publication of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). This material is made…