Juvenile Delinquency/Family Court Informational Gathering Project

UPDATEFebruary 2012

A DMC Initiative of NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services

Office of Juvenile Justice

Attorneys for the Child

Purpose of Project:

To receive input from parents of youth that have been involved in the juvenile justice system regarding their thoughts, concerns, and experiences with the processing of juvenile delinquency cases within the family court system.

Project Staff •NYS DCJS Staff Courtney Ramirez, DMC Coordinator Tina Taylor & Katie Nastars, Former JJ Program Representatives

•Master’s Level Student InternsChelsea Ruediger Sara Rising Maureen Keller

•Youth Advisory Council Members

Gregory Bloomfield Vassiana PrinceSyeda Jannat John DayeTalisha Dexter Jordan RamirezCaitlynne Demmin Joseph DemminShane Correia Savoi MarshallAsyria Godley Adam Torres

Project Activities

Youth Focus Group Sites

Communities Represented in Focus Groups

Parent Interview/ Focus Group Sites

Who we talked to:

Probation After-care

• Youth• Re-Entry Service Providers• Parents/Caregivers

Re: Courts

•Parents feel like their time is not valued

•No “directions” within courthouse

•Shortage of language interpreters

•Too many assumptions made by court staff

•Generally, “pleased” with judges

•“Mixed messages” to youth

• “Not impressed” with legal representation

Re: Detention

•Staff disconnected from system changes

•Practice vs. policy issues

•Parental concerns about violence and fighting

• Visiting

•No clock in waiting area

• “Correctional Facility”

•Kiosks in waiting areas

•Personal Property

Re: Placement

• Distance from home

•Visiting issues

•“Inconsistent” program availability

•School transitions

•Violence and fighting

Unanticipated “Findings”

• Interesting demographics

•School Concerns

•“New” substance use/abuse issues

Academic Achievement

School to Prison Pipeline

System Involvement

Youth “Flushing”

Youth “Flushing”

Disconnection from School

Disconnection from School

Inappropriate Behaviors

Inappropriate Behaviors

Re: Substance Use/Abuse

Not just your average drug…

Herbal incense, K2, Spice,

Whatever you call it- it’s bad news!!!

Can buy it practically everywhere… Smoke shops, corner stores, even Amazon.com

Next Steps •A narrative report of Phase I activities will be prepared.

• Reports will be presented to system stakeholders for feedback and input.

•Phase 2 of the project will be facilitated by PJCJC (Focus groups of Family Court judges).

•Initial “get ready for court” materials will be developed for families.

• Materials will be field tested amongst community & system stakeholders.

•Necessary revisions will be made to Materials and a distribution plan will be developed.

•Staff will monitor usage of materials and evaluate overall project impact.

For more information about this project contact:

Courtney E. Ramirez, MSWStatewide DMC Coordinator

NYS Division of Criminal Justice ServicesOffice of Juvenile Justice

4 Tower PlaceAlbany, NY 12203

(518) 485-9166courtney.ramirez@dcjs.ny.gov