NCJ Number
244006
Date Published
October 2012
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This case study describes and analyzes efforts in two Washington State counties to develop and implement model "colloquies" designed to assist juvenile court judges in using age-appropriate language with juveniles regarding their restrictions and obligations in various stages of case processing.
Abstract
The term "colloquy" was chosen to describe the project's main feature, because this word captures the nature of the activity, i.e., to engage in conversation in the context of a high-level, serious discussion (conference). The case-processing stages addressed in the colloquies were first appearance/conditions of release and disposition/conditions of probation. For each of these stages, the project developed templates of conversational language suitable for a 6.5-grade reading level and with a high readability score. Templates were given to the juveniles in a "Do's and Don'ts" format so the juvenile could understand the requirements and the restrictions stemming from judges' decisions made at each processing stage. The project team worked closely with the pilot sites to develop and tailor the tools to each court's local practices. The "Do's and Don'ts" checklists were written to cover most of the possible orders youth are given during the two different hearings. After 3 months of using the templates, the project team completed a pre- and post-survey of youth and court observations. In one court, the youth interviewed reported understanding 90 percent of the conditions of release and probation ordered by the judge. This was a 158-percent change in the level of understanding prior to the introduction of the colloquy templates. The dramatic increase in youths' understanding and retention suggests an improvement in the court's communication with youth. Each of the templates can be easily revised to meet the needs of the local jurisdiction. Samples of the templates are provided in this report.