For Judges
Reports and Guides
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Successful Implementation of a Model Juvenile Treatment Court Program: This is a summary report and outcome evaluation of the Anne Arundel County Juvenile Treatment Court. Maryland’s juvenile treatment courts are for youth that find themselves in the juvenile justice system with drug use as part of the problem. The report was prepared by Glacier Consulting under a grant received from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, by Anne Arundel County, Maryland. (March, 2007)
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Juvenile Mental Health Courts: An Emerging Strategy: In this research brief, the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice undertakes a preliminary investigation of existing juvenile mental health courts. The goal of this effort was to learn more about the juvenile mental health courts currently in operation in this country and to better understand their key characteristics and target population. (June, 2006)
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A Guide to Collecting Mental Health Court Outcome Data: The purpose of this guide published by the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance is to help both well-established and newly operating mental health courts develop practical, feasible, and effective strategies for collecting outcome data. After a brief discussion of key assumptions and target population and goals, the guide suggests strategies for determining which data to collect, obtaining the data, evaluating the data, comparing the data, collecting qualitative data, and overcoming common challenges. Outcome data can be of enormous value to courts in their efforts to demonstrate the initial promise of their approach and can help to attract researchers interested in conducting a more rigorous evaluation. Mental health courts usually receive initial funding based on their potential for positive impacts. They are funded (or not) in subsequent years based on their ability to demonstrate results. (2005)
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Juvenile Mental Health Court: Rationale and Protocols: Under the sponsorship of the judiciary, the Santa Clara County, California Juvenile Court - in partnership with the Juvenile Mental Health Department and a technical assistance agency (SOLOMON) - has pioneered a Juvenile Mental Health Court for seriously mentally ill children who have become involved in the criminal justice system. The judiciary, probation department, district attorney, public defender, county counsel, and service providers have collectively embarked upon the implementation of a modern approach to mental health diagnosis, triage, and treatment services for youth and families who come in contact with the justice system as a result of the combination of serious mental illness and juvenile delinquency. This article presents the court’s rationale and protocols. (2001)
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Reconnecting: The Role of the Juvenile Court in Re-Entry: Few juvenile courts in this country have focused their resources on the specific goal of leading a coordinated response to the obstacles that youthful offenders face when returning to their communities after placement. The purpose of this report by the National Council on Juvenile and Family Court Judges is to set out a blueprint for the use of juvenile court authority as part of a comprehensive strategy to address this problem. (2005)