Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines: Improving Court Practice in Juvenile Delinquency Cases

Published in 2005 by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines is a comprehensive guide for use by judges and others. It is available online at http://www.ncjfcj.org/content/view/411/411/.

16 Key Principles of the Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines

1. Juvenile delinquency court judges should engage in judicial leadership and encourage system collaboration.

2. Juvenile delinquency systems must have adequate staff, facilities, and program resources. 3. Juvenile delinquency courts and juvenile abuse and neglect courts should have integrated one

family-one judge case assignments. 4. Juvenile delinquency court judges should have the same status as the highest level of trial

court in the state and should have multiple year or permanent assignments. 5. All members of the juvenile delinquency court shall treat youth, families, crime victims,

witnesses, and others with respect, dignity, courtesy and cultural understanding. 6. Juvenile delinquency court judges should ensure their systems divert cases to alternative

systems whenever possible and appropriate. 7. Youth charged in the formal juvenile delinquency court must have qualified and adequately

compensated legal representation. 8. Juvenile delinquency court judges should ensure crime victims have access to all phases of

the juvenile delinquency court process and receive all services to which they are entitled by law.

9. Juvenile delinquency courts should render timely and just decisions and trials should conclude without continuances.

10. Juvenile delinquency system staff should engage parents and families at all stages of the juvenile delinquency court process to encourage family members to participate fully in the development and implementation of the youth’s intervention plan.

11. The juvenile delinquency court should engage the school and other community support systems as stakeholders in each individual youth’s case.

12. Juvenile delinquency court judges should ensure court dispositions are individualized and include graduated responses, both sanctions and incentives.

13. Juvenile delinquency court judges should ensure effective post-disposition review is provided to each delinquent youth as long as the youth is involved in any component of the juvenile justice system.

14. Juvenile delinquency court judges should hold their systems and the systems of other juvenile delinquency court stakeholders accountable.

15. Juvenile delinquency court judges should ensure the court has an information system that can generate the data necessary to evaluate performance, facilitate information sharing with appropriate agencies, and manage operations information.

16. The juvenile delinquency court judge is responsible to ensure that the judiciary, court staff, and all system participants are both individually trained and trained across systems and roles.

Authored by the Publication Development CommitteeJUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES Project

Honorable David E. Grossmann andHonorable Maurice Portley, Co-Chairs

Spring 2005

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court JudgesMary V. Mentaberry, Executive Director

University of Nevada, Reno

Approved by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court JudgesOfficers and Board of Trustees

March 2005

This project was supported by Grant Nos. 2002-JR-BX-K001 and 2003-MU-MU-K002, awarded by the Officeof Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Pointsof view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the officialposition or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, University of Nevada, Reno, P.O. Box 8970, Reno,Nevada 89507. ©2005 by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of this publication for educational purposes is encouraged, with attribution to “JUVENILEDELINQUENCY GUIDELINES: Improving Court Practice in Juvenile Delinquency Cases, published by theNational Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Reno, Nevada.”

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JUVENILE DELINQUENCYGUIDELINES

ImprovingCourt Practice in Juvenile

Delinquency Cases

JUVENILE DELINQUENCYGUIDELINES

ImprovingCourt Practice in Juvenile

Delinquency Cases

PREFACE……………………………………………………………………………….…7

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………11A. Historical Perspective………………………………………………………….…11B. Need for and Purpose of the JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES………14C. Scope, Structure, and Use of the JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES …15

Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………17

CHAPTER I: FOUNDATIONS FOR A JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURT OFEXCELLENCE……………………………………………………………………………19

A. The Continuing Need for the Juvenile Delinquency Court……………………21B. The Goals of a Juvenile Delinquency Court of Excellence……………………22C. Key Principles of a Juvenile Delinquency Court of Excellence………………23D. Roles and Responsibilities within the Juvenile Delinquency Court of

Excellence…………………………………………………………………………28Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………33

CHAPTER II: GENERAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE JUVENILEDELINQUENCY COURT PROCESS…………………………………………………35

A. Jurisdiction and Authority…………………………………………………………37B. Confidentiality of Hearings, Documents, and Records…………………………40C. The Importance of Timeliness in the Juvenile Delinquency Court……………43D. Case Docketing and Case Management…………………………………………44E. Using Screening and Assessment Tools to Help Make Key Decisions………46F. Disproportionate Minority Contact………………………………………………49G. Dispute Resolution Alternatives…………………………………………………50H. Interstate Compact for Juveniles (ICJ) and Interstate Compact for the

Placement of Children (ICPC)……………………………………………………52I. Title IV-E in the Juvenile Delinquency Court……………………………………53J. Specialty Dockets…………………………………………………………………58

Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………58

CHAPTER III: INITIATING THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURT PROCESS…63A. The Importance of Consistency and Timeliness in Decision Making…………65B. Legal Sufficiency……………………………………………………………………66C. Process and Options for Diverting Affidavits and Petitions from the Formal

Delinquency System………………………………………………………………67D. Engaging the Formal Delinquency System………………………………………73E. Alternatives to Secure Detention, Managing the Detention Census, and

Restrictions on Holding Youth in Adult Jails……………………………………81Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………85

CHAPTER IV: THE DETENTION OR INITIAL HEARING…………………………87A. Purpose of the Detention or Initial Hearing……………………………………89B. Timing of the Detention or Initial Hearing………………………………………90C. Legal Representation at the Detention or Initial Hearing………………………90D. Conducting the Detention or Initial Hearing……………………………………91E. Questions That Must Be Answered………………………………………………96F. Written Findings and Orders………………………………………………………96

Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………97

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CHAPTER V: HEARINGS ON MOTIONS TO WAIVE JUVENILE DELINQUENCYCOURT JURISDICTION AND TRANSFER JURISDICTION TO CRIMINAL COURT…99

A. Purpose of the Hearing Process on Motions to Waive Juvenile Delinquency Court Jurisdiction and Transfer Jurisdiction to Criminal Court………………102

B. Timing of the Hearing Process on Motions to Waive Juvenile Delinquency Court Jurisdiction and Transfer Jurisdiction to Criminal Court………………103

C. Legal Representation……………………………………………………………105D. Conducting the Probable Cause Phase on Motions to Waive Juvenile

Delinquency Court Jurisdiction and Transfer Jurisdiction to Criminal Court…105E. Questions That Must Be Answered During the Probable Cause Phase……106F. Additional Information Needs, Questions, and Written Findings and Orders

Related to the Probable Cause Phase…………………………………………107G. The Evaluative Process for the Juvenile Delinquency Court to Decide

Whether to Retain Jurisdiction or Waive Jurisdiction and Transfer toCriminal Court on a Discretionary Waiver……………………………………110

H. Conducting the Second Phase of the Process to Decide Whether to Retain Juvenile Delinquency Court Jurisdiction or Waive Jurisdiction and Transferto Criminal Court..………………………………………………………………112

I. Questions That Must Be Answered During the Retain or Waive Phase……114J. Written Findings and Orders Related to the Second Phase of the Process…114

Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………116

CHAPTER VI: THE TRIAL/ADJUDICATION HEARING…………………………119A. Purpose of the Trial/Adjudication Hearing……………………………………121B. Timing of the Trial/Adjudication Hearing………………………………………121C. Legal Representation……………………………………………………………122D. Plea Agreements…………………………………………………………………122E. Conducting the Trial/Adjudication Hearing……………………………………123F. Questions That Must Be Answered ……………………………………………126G. Written Findings and Orders ……………………………………………………127

Endnotes …………………………………………………………………………128

CHAPTER VII: THE DISPOSITION HEARING………………………………………131A. Purpose of the Hearing …………………………………………………………135B. Timing of the Hearing……………………………………………………………137C. Legal Representation ……………………………………………………………137D. The Pre-Disposition Investigation ………………………………………………137E. Disposition Control Over the Parents of Adjudicated Youth…………………141F. Conducting the Disposition Hearing……………………………………………141G. Questions That Must Be Answered ……………………………………………142H. Determining Whether Progress Hearings or Progress Reports Will Be Part of

the Disposition Order ……………………………………………………………144I. Written Findings and Orders ……………………………………………………144J. Final Appealable Order …………………………………………………………145K. Disposition Interventions Every Juvenile Delinquency Court Should Have

Available …………………………………………………………………………147L. Research on the Impact of Juvenile Delinquency Court Disposition

Interventions………………………………………………………………………153Endnotes …………………………………………………………………………154

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CHAPTER VIII: THE APPEALS PROCESS …………………………………………157A. The Appellate Court ……………………………………………………………159B. Why Timeliness Is Important……………………………………………………159C. Orders That Can Be Appealed …………………………………………………160D. Interlocutory Appeals and Writs…………………………………………………160E. Issues Raised on Appeal…………………………………………………………161F. Responsibilities of the Juvenile Delinquency Court Regarding the Appeals

Process……………………………………………………………………………161G. Responsibilities of Counsel for Youth Regarding the Appeals Process………161H. Stays of Disposition………………………………………………………………162I. The Appellate Court Process and Recommended Timeframes………………162J. Conducting the Appellate Court Hearing………………………………………163K. Proposed Appellate Court Initiatives……………………………………………163

Endnotes …………………………………………………………………………164

CHAPTER IX: POST- DISPOSITION REVIEW OF DELINQUENT YOUTHWHO REMAIN IN THE HOME WITH COURT ORDERED SERVICES ……………165

A. Purpose of Post-Disposition Review of Youth Who Remain in The Homewith Court Ordered Services…………………………………………………167

B. Selecting the Method of Post-Disposition Review ……………………………167C. Timing of Post-Disposition Review ……………………………………………168D. Legal Representation During Post-Disposition Review………………………169E. Procedures for Progress Reports as a Method of Post-Disposition Review…169F. Procedures for Progress Review Conferences, Case Staffings, and Dispute

Resolution Alternatives as Methods of Post-Disposition Review……………170G. Conducting Review Hearings……………………………………………………170H. Questions That Must Be Answered……………………………………………171I. Written Findings and Orders……………………………………………………172

Endnotes…………………………………………………………………………173

CHAPTER X: POST-DISPOSITION REVIEW OF DELINQUENT YOUTHPLACED OUT OF THE HOME BY JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURT ORDER...175

A. Components of Post-Disposition Review of Delinquent Youth Placed by Juvenile Delinquency Court Order ……………………………………………178

B. Intensity of Review and Level of Risk to Reoffend……………………………179C. Purpose of Post-Disposition Review of Youth Placed Out of the Home by

Juvenile Delinquency Court Order ……………………………………………180D. Legal Representation During Post-Disposition Review ………………………181E. Selecting the Method of Post-Disposition Review ……………………………181F. Timing of Post-Disposition Review of Youth in Placement …………………182G. Procedures for Progress Reports as a Method of Post-Disposition Review…183H. Procedures for Progress Conferences, Case Staffings, and Dispute

Resolution Alternatives as a Method of Post-Disposition Review………………184I. Conducting Review Hearings……………………………………………………184J. Questions That Must Be Answered ……………………………………………185K. Written Findings and Orders ……………………………………………………186L. The Reentry Process ……………………………………………………………186

Endnotes …………………………………………………………………………191

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CHAPTER XI: PROBATION AND PAROLE VIOLATIONS…………………………193A. Determining Whether to File a Probation or Parole Violation or Request a

Review Hearing …………………………………………………………………195B. Legal Representation ……………………………………………………………196C. Conducting Hearings on Probation or Parole Violations ……………………196D. Questions That Must Be Answered ……………………………………………197E. Findings and Orders ……………………………………………………………198

Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………198

CHAPTER XII: THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURT OF EXCELLENCE……………………………………………………………201

A. Judicial Leadership and Establishing the Collaborative EnvironmentNecessary for a Juvenile Delinquency Court of Excellence………………………203B. The DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES’ Timeline Goals for Formal Juvenile

Delinquency Court Hearings ……………………………………………………206C. Assessing Strengths and Opportunities for Improvement ……………………210D. Caseloads and Workloads ………………………………………………………210E. Management Information System Design and Reports ………………………212F. Finding the Resources……………………………………………………………215G. Final Comments …………………………………………………………………224

Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………225

GLOSSARY OF TERMS…………………………………………………………………227

APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………235

A. National Organizations and ResourcesB. Key Supreme Court Cases Affecting the Rights of Juvenile OffendersC. State by State Age of Majority, Minority, and Retain JurisdictionD. “Script” of Questions To Ensure Due Process Rights E. Sample Juvenile Delinquency Court Disposition Hearing Findings and OrdersF. Sample Forms for Parents to Demand Education TestingG. Youth Courts/Teen CourtsH. Research on Juvenile Delinquency Disposition InterventionsI. Summary of Statutes Regarding Disposition Control Over the Parents of

Delinquent YouthJ. Title IV-E in the Juvenile Delinquency SystemK. Permanency Hearings for Delinquent Youth Receiving Title IV-E Funding

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