REPORT OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION JUVENILE COURTS COMMITTEE, MAY 22, 1974

• NCJ Number: 17829
• Journal: LOS ANGELES BAR BULLETIN Volume: 49 Issue: 11 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 477-486
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Los Angeles Cty
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND CRITIQUE OF JUVENILE COURT OPERATIONS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, WHICH POINTS OUT SPECIFIC PERSONNEL AND SCHEDULING PROBLEMS AND OFFERS SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Abstract

AN OUTLINE OF THE STANDARD JUVENILE COURT PROCEDURES IS FIRST PROVIDED. THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM IS THEN OUTLINED. PROBLEMS IN CASE SCHEDULING, COURT NONAPPEARANCES, WITNESS APPEARANCES, COURT PEROSNNEL, AND COURTROOM FACILITIES ARE NOTED. PROBLEMS IN INVOKING THE JUVENILE COURT PROCESS THROUGH THE FILING OF JUVENILE PETITIONS ARE REVIEWED AS WELL. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE LACK OF PRE-FILING INVESTIGATIONS, FILINGS INITIATED WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND COURT CONGESTION DUE TO THE FILING OF MANY INAPPROPRIATE PETITIONS. A CRITIQUE OF THE DETENTION PROCESS IS PROVIDED, AND PROBLEMS IN PLACEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF MINORS DECLARED WARDS OR DEPENDENTS OF THE COURT ARE EXAMINED. FINALLY, THE AUTHORS DISCUSS THE NEED TO REDEFINE THE ROLE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF HEARING OFFICERS, ATTORNEYS, AND AGENCY PERSONNEL.