In 2007, the Sweetwater Children’s Justice Project (CJP) invited the National Center for Juvenile Justice to conduct an initial analysis of the Third District Court’s juvenile court processing in child abuse and neglect cases, as well as to offer recommendations. This report is a three year follow-up from the initial 2008 report which highlighted strengths, potential areas for improvement, “best practices” recommendations, and analysis of Jcats Wyoming, a pilot of an automated dependency case tracking system. This publication gives an in-depth look at progress and reforms of Sweetwater CJP since 2008, and the annual savings of Wyoming DFS and Sweetwater County. Also included are data and results of the 2008 reform including, more substantive hearings, timely decision-making and case processing, decrease in hearing continuances, and reduction in the time children remain in out-of-the home placement due to reductions in the length of time the case remains active in court. In conclusion NCJJ also offers suggestions for future system reforms.
Wyoming Children's Justice Project: Third District Court (Sweetwater County) Children's Justice Project: Three Years Later - Final Report
10/29/11
Report