NCJ Number
66158
Journal
YOUTH AUTHORITY QUARTERLY Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1979) Pages: 19-22
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF A VIDEOTAPE RECORDING (VTR) TO ADVISE JUVENILES AND THEIR PARENTS OF JUVENILE COURT PROCEDURES AND JUVENILE RIGHTS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IN 1977, THE FRESNO COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, FACED WITH INCREASING CASELOADS, REQUESTED THE SERVICES OF THE STATE'S COURT CALENDAR MANAGEMENT TEAM TO REVIEW THE COURT'S CALENDAR PROCEDURES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING ITS EFFICIENCY. THEY RECOMMENDED THE USE OF VTR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO MINORS AND THEIR PARENTS, WHICH HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN COMMUNICATED BY COURT PERSONNEL IN PERSON, THUS SAVING THE COURT TIME THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ACTIVITIES. THE FILM DEVELOPED AFTER A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTAL PHASE COVERED THE MINORS' BASIC RIGHTS; THE PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES, LIABILITIES, AND RIGHTS, THE NAMES AND PURPOSES OF JUVENILE COURT HEARINGS; AN EXPLANATION OF THE TYPES OF PETITIONS AND CHARGES THAT COULD BE FILED; THE APPEAL PROCESS; AND DISPOSITIONS AVAILABLE TO THE JUDGE OR REFEREE. IN TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VTR ADVISEMENT PROCEDURE, A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED WHICH RANDOMLY SELECTED THREE GROUPS TO BE GIVEN ADVISEMENT BY DIFFERENT METHODS--VTR, TRADITIONAL IN-COURT ADVISEMENT, AND BOTH OF THE FOREGOING METHODS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT VTR ADVISEMENT RESULTED IN COMPREHENSION EQUAL TO THAT OF THE OTHER TWO METHODS. THE INSTITUTION OF THE VTR ADVISEMENT IS ESTIMATED TO SAVE FROM 7.3 AND 15.2 HOURS PER WEEK OF COURT PERSONNEL TIME. PLANNED USE OF VTR IN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. (RCB)