Wiley-Online-Library: Juvenile & Family Court Journal: Table of Contents

Does context matter in juvenile court intake? Findings from a rural state

Angela A. Robertson, Richard Dembo, Sheena K. Gardner, Stacy H. Haynes — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:31:02 -0700

Abstract

Drawing on Sampson and colleagues' racial inequality theories, we examine how referral and county characteristics affect the handling of juvenile court caseloads. Specifically, we use data from Mississippi Youth Courts for the years 2016 through 2021 to conduct two-level multinomial regression analyses examining the role of referral-level factors (e.g., youth demographic and offense characteristics) and county-level factors (e.g., court and community characteristics) on juvenile court intake decisions. Results showed that race influences intake decisions even after controlling for referral- and county-level factors. Contrary to Sampson and Laub's conflict perspective, which posited harsher treatment of Black youth, Black referrals were treated more leniently than White referrals in that the courts were more likely to take no action or to divert Black youth from formal case processing. Results suggest that courts may be correcting for policing and school practices that disproportionately affect youth of color and responding to caseload demands in a practical manner given resource constraints.

Benefits and barriers to youth court implementation: Recommendations for moving forward

Nancy Blank, Mimi Staulters, Wendy Dorsainvil, Christie Bernier, Gregg Volz — Wed, 20 May 2026 22:30:45 -0700

Abstract

This study assesses the benefits of youth court participation for respondents, defendants, and peer volunteers, as well as barriers to implementation, recommendations to address the barriers, and resources necessary for the development and sustainability of youth courts. A mixed methods research design was employed using a quantitative survey (N = 53) and qualitative interviews (N = 31). Study participants included stakeholders with experience with school-based and/or community-based or justice-involved youth courts. Benefits to respondents and defendants reportedly include a reduction in suspensions/expulsions, and these youth turned their lives around. Benefits to peer volunteers span interpersonal and personal development. Barriers to implementation include buy-in from the school and juvenile justice system administrations and inconsistent administration of the courts, the need to address the youths' mental health issues, building cultural change from punishment to restorative justice, and territorial issues. The stakeholders offer recommendations and resources necessary to address the barriers uncovered. We interpret the findings within the context of the youth court literature and highlight next steps for moving forward with youth court development, sustainability, and effectiveness.

Digital exposure and juvenile crime: Evidence from dynamic panel analysis in Thailand

Nitiphong Songsrirote, Krit Sintusiri — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:50:29 -0700

Abstract

This paper investigates the extent and ways in which digital growth is embedded in regional economic and governance contexts that influence juvenile offending in Thailand from 2020 to 2024. It uses a balanced panel of 308 observations from 77 provinces and estimates a dynamic model using the 2-step System Generalized Method of Moments, accounting for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and dynamic persistence. Strikingly, the extent of the weighted age and shattered path dependence is considerably less for a substantially large portion. At the same time, cases agree that higher internet usage rates trigger more juvenile delinquency, leaving more digitally savvy youngsters alone without parents or guardians. Conversely, education is the most significant contributor to reducing youth crime. Moreover, per capita income has the exact opposite and insignificant effect once dynamic controls are in place. A positive sign indicates that the Integrity and Transparency Assessment is a favorable factor for the governance-reporting hypothesis. This hypothesis argues that bias detection is paramount when strong institutions are the base conditions, rather than incident reporting alone. Validity is a necessary component and includes numerous checks, such as alternative lag structures, one-step estimation, and diagnostic statistics to assess instrument validity. An immediate rallying behind its policies is needed, supported by innovations and by financing its programs to ensure sustainability and realization in the face of widespread, fast-track digitalization in the developing world.

Social work and juvenile justice: Comparative perspectives and policy lessons for Vietnam

Thai Duy Hoang, Minh Huyen Nguyen — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:54:29 -0700

Abstract

Juvenile justice is increasingly recognized as a distinctive field of criminal justice, requiring approaches that balance accountability with rehabilitation and reintegration. Social workers play a pivotal role in this process, serving as intermediaries between the justice system and the social, psychological, and familial realities of young offenders. This article undertakes a comparative legal analysis of how social work is integrated into juvenile justice systems in Germany, Japan, the United States, and Australia, drawing on international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Rules, the Riyadh Guidelines, and the Havana Rules. The analysis demonstrates that while these jurisdictions institutionalize social work at multiple stages—diversion, court proceedings, community supervision, and post-release reintegration—Vietnam's legal framework has only recently begun to recognize this role, most notably in the Juvenile Justice Law (2024, effective 2026). The article argues that strengthening social work is critical for ensuring a child-centered juvenile justice system in Vietnam. By synthesizing comparative practices, it offers policy recommendations for embedding social work into legal processes, thereby advancing both compliance with international standards and effective reintegration outcomes. The study contributes to comparative juvenile justice scholarship by linking international norms with reform pathways in emerging systems.

Examining traditional and expanded ACEs among youth in secure care: Patterns of interrelatedness

Wongeun Ji — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence and interrelatedness of traditional and expanded adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among high-risk youth placed in secure care facilities in Korea. Extending prior research conducted primarily in Western contexts, this study incorporates an expanded ACE framework and focuses on a justice-involved population rarely examined in East Asian settings. The analysis explored how different forms of adversity co-occur and accumulate. Results showed that both traditional and expanded ACEs were highly prevalent, with most youth reporting multiple adversities. Logistic regression identified strong co-occurrence between specific ACE combinations, and linear regression showed that each ACE was significantly associated with elevated cumulative adversity. These findings highlight the extent to which adverse experiences co-occur and accumulate in this population and underscore the importance of ACE-informed assessments and interventions within the justice system.

Issue Information

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:25:07 -0700

Juvenile &Family Court Journal, Volume 77, Issue 1, Page 1-3, March 2026.

Trauma‐informed care in virtual courtrooms: An exploratory pilot study of implementation throughout one metropolitan courthouse

April N. Terry, Ziwei Qi — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:25:07 -0700

Abstract

Trauma-informed care (TIC) has become a buzzword in many settings, including within and throughout the criminal legal system. Yet, studies show that while training and knowledge on TIC exist for justice workers, implementation is still greatly lacking. Additionally, as the U.S. found itself rapidly responding to a public health concern in 2020, courtrooms were not exempt. Many courtrooms across the U.S. then moved to a virtual setting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Research and guidance on implementing TIC within virtual courtrooms were not well established at the time, and to this day, studies are still lacking in understanding best practices for TIC within virtual courtrooms and how these courts have since evolved. As such, the current study included courtroom observations within in-person and virtual courtroom settings for one metropolitan judicial district within a Midwestern state. Using validated TIC courtroom rubrics, alongside field observations, a case study is provided, comparing TIC practices in both courtroom modalities. The results suggest a lack of TIC practices and procedures in both settings, with slightly more TIC adherence occurring within the virtual setting. These findings further add to the lacking literature on current virtual courtroom operations and provide insight into areas for improvement across all courtroom modalities.

Reimagining family courts: Integrating trauma‐informed care for healthier legal outcomes

Laura Pearl Spivack, Michael Saini — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:25:07 -0700

Abstract

This paper explores the integration of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) within the family court system, emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift that incorporates understanding and addressing trauma as a fundamental aspect of legal proceedings. The authors argue that the existing family law framework, often marked by adversarial processes, fails to recognize the pervasive impact of trauma on individuals involved in family court cases. The paper reviews the principles of TIC and their application in family courts, advocating for an approach that prioritizes safety, empowerment, collaboration, and trustworthiness. By aligning these principles with the concept of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, the paper suggests a more compassionate and effective legal system that not only addresses legal outcomes but also fosters the psychological well-being of those involved. The discussion includes practical recommendations for implementing TIC in family courts, highlighting the potential to reduce retraumatization and enhance the overall effectiveness of the court system in addressing complex family dynamics. The authors call for widespread training and education for legal professionals to ensure the successful adoption of trauma-informed practices, ultimately aiming to create a more empathetic and supportive environment within family courts.

Care and control: Juvenile probation officers' roles when supervising pregnant and parenting teens

Brae Young — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:25:07 -0700

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand how juvenile probation officers (JPOs) fulfill the “care” and “control” functions of their job when supervising a potentially vulnerable group of young people: pregnant and parenting teens. The results, derived from surveys administered to JPOs in a large county in Texas, indicate that many JPOs have pregnant and parenting teens on their caseloads. In working with these youth, the average JPO in this sample felt as if they got to know these youth quite well and were able to offer them a variety of services. They also largely handled violations of probation similarly for this group. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.

“The one person in their world that doesn't have expectations”: Guardian ad Litem perceptions of working with children in the child welfare system

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:25:07 -0700

Abstract

Guardians ad Litem (GALs) are uniquely situated to support children's best interest in foster care. In Florida, GALs are volunteers drawn from the community who are mandated by the court to advocate for children but are not employed by the state or a private child welfare agency. GALs conduct home visits, provide recommendations supporting the child's best interest in court, and navigate relationships with the children they serve, their caseworkers, and other service providers. Despite the pertinent role child advocates play, there are several gaps in understanding their experiences or contributions to the child welfare system, particularly how GALs perceive and enact their work. The purpose of this research was to analyze GALs' perspectives of what it is like to work with youth who are in the foster care system in their own words to help enhance these relationships for GALs and youth in care. As a part of a larger qualitative study, this secondary analysis consisted of 555 GALs in the state of Florida who participated in an online survey. Inductive thematic analysis was used by two independent coders to elicit themes from the responses. Three overarching themes that emerged are as follows: (1) a multifaceted and dynamic sense of responsibility for children that we refer to as “stewardship”; (2) challenges to interacting and connecting with youth; and (3) the importance of teamwork or collaboration. Serving as a GAL is perceived by respondents as a challenging but rewarding endeavor that involves emotional investment, relationship management, and long-term commitments. Implications for future research, practice, training, and program administration are discussed for supporting the work of GALs within the child welfare system, as well as the well-being of children.

Assessing the impact of North Carolina Teen Court on recidivism

Alexandra Cockerham, James Cockerham — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:04:43 -0700

Abstract

Despite their theoretical benefits on restoring youth, there are mixed results surrounding the effectiveness of teen courts in the literature. We acknowledge that the previously inconsistent and substantively small effects of teen court are at least in part due to methodological limitations in previous research designs examining this topic. In the form of a quasi-experimental research design, we examine every juvenile in North Carolina across every teen court in the state and other diversion programs as well as the comparable youth who entered the traditional justice system, totaling 6554 juveniles. We find that Teen Court has a statistically significant reductionary effect on recidivism when compared to the other processing alternatives. Teen court is not only a practicable alternative to traditional juvenile justice processes but also a more effective one in terms of its ability to reduce recidivism.