Wings For Life - Why Try Program

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

WFL - Why Try

An Innovative Program for Teens

Presented By

Cassondra Fox, BSW, LSAA

Andy’s Hall

505 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

SUNDAY, August 23, 2015

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

For Questions call:  Shelly Currier @ 317-2042

Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources 

NCJFCJ Resolves to Stop Shackling of Children in Juvenile Court

Resolution states shackling is contrary to the goals of juvenile justice
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has released its resolution on shackling of children in juvenile court 

“Resolutions of the NCJFCJ are how approximately 1,600 family court judges unite and speak out on important issues that face our children and families that come before all kinds of family courts across our nation," said NCJFCJ President Judge Darlene Byrne. 

"The presumption should not be only innocent until proven guilty but also a child should be presumed to be able to manage their behaviors in such a way in court as to not indiscriminately require shackling for their court hearings. The decision to shackle or not shackle should be made individually by the judge, and the presumption should be no shackles.” 

Up to 90% of justice-involved youth report exposure to some type of traumatic event. The NCJFCJ defines shackles to include handcuffs, waist chains, ankle restraints, zip ties or other restraints that are designed to impede movement or control behavior.

“Across the country, tens of thousands of young people are needlessly shackled in juvenile and family courts,” said David Shapiro, campaign manager for the Campaign Against Indiscriminate Juvenile Shackling (CAIJS) at the National Juvenile Defender Center.

“The courtroom is the last place this practice should occur. Judges have a unique responsibility to ensure not only fair outcomes, but fair processes. The NCJFCJ has issued a powerful message that the practice of automatically shackling youth in our courtrooms does not comport with what it means to be fair and trauma-informed, and that such a practice will no longer be tolerated," said Shapiro.

The NCJFCJ also recently released a resolution regarding trauma-informed juvenile and family courts , urging juvenile and family courts to be trauma-informed by engaging stakeholders, including children, parents and other court consumers, to jointly develop and implement universal precautions at an environmental, practice and policy level that limit stress often being involved when working within the court system.

To read the NCJFCJ's resolutions and policy statements, click here

The Impact of Child Protective Service History on Reoffending in a New Mexico Juvenile Justice Population

These results indicate that many of the New Mexico youth involved with juvenile justice services also were involved with child protective services.

The link between child maltreatment or abuse and juvenile delinquency is well established. Although this link exists, the majority of children who are abused do not offend. Abused children often suffer from developmental deficits, including disruptive behavior, behavioral and academic issues at school, depressive symptoms, and increased aggression in adolescence (Cicchetti & Rogosch, 1997; Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 1990; Thornberry, Ireland, & Smith, 2001). Researchers have shown that the timing of child abuse is critical, not just the age of onset of abuse, but the occurrence of abuse at certain developmental time points. Multiple studies have shown that maltreatment during adolescence increases the risk of children being involved with the juvenile justice system (Jonson-Reid & Barth, 2000; Smith, Ireland, & Thornberry, 2005; Thornberry et al., 2001).

Go here for more.

Judge's Page Newsletter

The Judges' Page newsletter is published by the National CASA Association and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. 
 

Summer 2015

Tribal Issues in Dependency Courts

J. Dean Lewis, Judge (retired)
Former Member, National CASA Association Board of Trustees and Past President, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
 

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and the National CASA Association are partners in publishing The Judges’ Page. Both organizations are deeply committed to effective court advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families involved in dependency court proceedings. This issue of The Judges’ Page addresses the importance of compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) from the legal as well as the cultural perspective. The issue provides effective educational tools for ICWA implementation and offers examples of collaborations between state and tribal courts.

Readers should be aware that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) issued updated Guidelines for State Courts and Agencies in Indian Child Custody Proceeding effective February 25, 2015. The updated Guidelines are intended to promote compliance with ICWA’s stated goals and to provide best practices for ICWA compliance by state courts and child welfare agencies. In addition, on March 20, 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs proposed Regulations for State Courts and Agencies in Indian Child Custody Proceedings. Recently, Congress passed two bills to help protect Native American Children: The Native American Children’s Safety Act and the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act. The Executive branch and the Congress are to be commended for their efforts to clarify the original intent of the ICWA, and to promote the health, safety, and well-being of Native Children.

More here.