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‹6Times New Roman Regular%ô\  `*Times New RomanTTQÔTable_ATABLE B(((3Þ $¤¤Ý ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó*Ͼ¦ `(CG TimesScalableTable_ATable_BTable_CTable_A d>c$"Small Circleð"ðà0 àTable_BTable_C #Ñ#€YmYXÿÿd#Ñ&ÿÿ0 d dTable_DÔTABLE A #Ñ#€Xd#Ñ ÿÿÿd«<þ6X9`(CourierXôxþ6X@ɹ`7ûX@%ô\  `$Times NewRomanXXjô\  PŽ6G;XP%ô\  `$Times NewRomanÂÂPô\  PŽ6G;ÂP%ô\  `$Times NewRomanGô\  PŽ6G;P)ÿÿ!dxdx«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXôxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@*Ͼ¦ `(CG TimesScalableXXwϾ¦ P쉊7ûXP Ñ  Ñ KÔ_ÔÔ€mX]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú1Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ‡ X]XXmX]Ôà  àÔ#†mX]XX X]m#ÔÔ‡ X]XXmX]ÔòòÔ_ÔDominguesÔ_Ô€v.€Johnsonóó,€323€Md.€486€(1991)Ô#†mX]XX X]»#Ô($Ó$‘‘òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóTable_ATable_BTable_CTable_DTable_ETable_F((3•z$¥¥Ý ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú. }Ô_ÔÔ‡ X]XXXÔ5.à  àòòÔ_ÔResoureÔ_Ô€Guidelinesóó€(p.93).EEEE)ýÿ!dxdxþÿ dÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ 8Ѱ°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°°ÒÒ°°Ò <‹6Times New Roman RegularPµ¶·/Eþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÔTable_ATABLE A«<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXxþ6X@ÉJQX@ô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô\  `*Times New RomanTTÂÂ<ô\  PŽ6QÂPÔ6Times New Roman RegularTable_A #Ñ#€YmYXÿÿd#јHP LaserJet 5/5M - Standard,,,,0 DÔ_ÔÔ€aX]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú2Ú  Ú.Ý  Ýà  àNational€Council€of€Juvenile€&€Family€Court€Judges,€òòResource€Guidelines:€Improving€Ð  € Ðà  àCourt€Practice€in€Child€Abuse€&€Neglect€Casesóó,€Reno,€NV:€The€Council€(1995)€p.22.(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular 7Ô_ÔÔ€dX]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú3Ú  Ú.Ý  Ýà  àRamsey,€Ô_ÔS.H.Ô_Ô,€ð ðRepresentation€of€the€Child€in€Protection€Proceedings,ðð€òòFamily€Law€Ð ­ (  Ðà  àQuarterlyóó,€vol.17€p.261€(1983).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regularù’ñ* (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ÄÔ_ÔÔ€„X]XXXÔ4.Ô€{X]XX„X]Ôà  àÔ_ÔIJAÔ_Ô„ABA,€òòStandards€Relating€to€Counsel€for€Private€Partiesóó€(1978).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular Ô_ÔÔ€yX]XXXÔ15.à  àòòFinal€Report€of€the€Governorððs€Task€Force€on€Children€Youth€and€Families€Systems€Ð Ý(X% Ðà  àReformóó,€Lt.€Governor€Kathleen€Kennedy€Townsend,€Chair,€(November€1996).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ÈÔ_ÔÔ€~X]XXXÔ16.à  àRiley,€M.,€òòCorridors€of€Agony:€€A€Review€of€Baltimore€City€Juvenile€Courtóó,€Time€Ð …+( Ðà  à(January€27,€1992).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular !Ô_ÔÔ€}X]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú6Ú  Ú.Ý  Ýà  àAmerican€Bar€Association,€òòStandards€of€Practice€for€Lawyers€who€Represent€Children€in€Ð Å@ Ðà  àAbuse€and€Neglect€Casesóó€(1996).à À à(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ýÔ_ÔÔ€€X]XXXÔ12.à  àSegal,€E.C.,€òòEvaluating€and€Improving€Child€Welfare€Agency€Legal€Representationóó,Ð Õ!P Ðà  àNational€Legal€Resource€Center€for€Child€Advocacy€and€Protection€(1990).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular _Ô_ÔÔ€‚X]XXXÔ13.à  àòòResource€Guidelinesóó€(p.23).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ¹Ô_ÔÔ€wX]XXXÔ14.à  àChild€Welfare€League€of€America,€òòReview€of€the€Maryland€Child€Welfare€Systemóó€Ð 5&°" Ðà  à(1996).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular JÐ -.¨* v ÐÔ_ÔÔ€†X]XXXÔ17.à  àSocial€Security€Act€ðððð€427€(a)€(2)€(B),€471€(a)€(16),€475€(5)€(c),€42€U.S.C.A.€Ô‡ X]XX†X]ÔððððÔ#††X]XX X]¬#Ô€627€(a)€Ð … Ðà  à(2)€(B),€671€(a)€(16),€675€(5)€(c)€(1983).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular .Ô_ÔÔ€ŠX]XXXÔ7.à  àòòLegal€Representation€to€Children€in€Maryland€Child€in€Need€of€Assistance€(CINA)€Ð mè Ðà  àCases:óó€A€Preliminary€Report€by€the€Maryland€Legal€Services€Corporation€(October€8,€Ð ]Ø Ðà  à1990).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ÄÔ_ÔÔ€X]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú8Ú  Ú.Ý  Ýà  àGovernorððs€Commission€on€Legal€Services€Contracts:€€Final€Report€(1992).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ¸Ô_ÔÔ€‘X]XXXÔ9.à  àòòReview€of€the€Maryland€Child€Welfare€Systemóó,€Child€Welfare€League€of€America€Ð ½8 Ðà  à(1996).(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ’Ô_ÔÔ€“X]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú10Ú  Ú.Ý  Ýà  àABA€òòStandardsóó€L„1.(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ’Ô_ÔÔ€•X]XXXÔÝ ƒB•zÿÝÓ  ÓÚ  Ú11Ú  Ú.Ý  Ýà  àABA€òòStandardsóó€L„2.(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular((3í¸$¢¢Ý ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý((3í¸$££Ý ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó¹¹'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X]XXXÔÑ8€]XXdðdÈ8ÑÌÌÌò òINTRODUCTIONó óÐ €Ð ÐÌÌÌÓ  ÓTable€of€Contentsà‚Ä"Ä"J(#.H H à1ˆÐ @  ÐÌà  àTHE€BACKGROUND€AND€PURPOSE€OF€THE€FOSTER€CARE€COURT€à Ð àÐ  p  Ðà  àIMPROVEMENT€PROJECT€(Ô_ÔFCCIPÔ_Ô)à‚Ä"Ä"J(#.&&*à2ˆÐ `  ÐÌà  àPROJECT€RESPONSIBILITY€AND€THE€ESTABLISHMENT€OF€THE€Ô_ÔFCCIPÔ_Ô€à Ð àÐ ð@  Ðà  àADVISORY€COMMITTEEà‚Ä"Ä"J(#.ææ!à3ˆÐ à0  ÐÌà  àGOALS€OF€THE€ASSESSMENTà‚Ä"Ä"J(#.¼¼&à4ˆÐ À ÐÌà  àPROJECT€METHODOLOGY€à‚""H(#.ÊÊ#à5„7ˆÐ   ð Ðò òÓ  ÓÑ€H›ÑTHE€BACKGROUND€AND€PURPOSE€OF€THE€FOSTER€CARE€COURTÐ ° ÐIMPROVEMENT€PROJECT€€(Ô_ÔFCCIPÔ_Ô)ó óÐ  ð ÐÓwÓÌPrior€to€the€1970's,€juvenile€and€family€courts€were€expected€only€to€determine€whether€a€child€hadÐ €Ð Ðbeen€abused€or€neglected€and,€if€so,€whether€the€child€should€return€home€under€the€supervision€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€Department€of€Social€Services€or€be€placed€in€foster€care.€€In€the€mid„1970's,€child€advocatesÐ ` ° Ðbecame€concerned€about€what€was€later€labeled€"foster€care€driftðð„€the€placement€of€€children€inÐ P   Ðfoster€care€for€years,€with€no€oversight€by€the€courts€or€monitoring€of€their€care€by€child€welfareÐ @  Ðagencies.€€Ð 0 € ÐÌò òòòOverview€of€Ô_ÔP.L.Ô_Ô€96„272Ð `  Ðóóó óÌIn€1980,€Congress€enacted€Public€Law€96„272,€the€Adoption€Assistance€and€Child€Welfare€Act€ofÐ ð@  Ð1980.€€The€purposes€of€this€legislation€were€to:€(1)€improve€the€quality€of€care€provided€to€childrenÐ à0  Ðin€foster€care,€(2)€reduce€the€number€of€removals€of€children€from€their€own€homes€for€placementÐ Ð  Ðin€foster€care,€(3)€return€children€from€foster€care€to€their€own€homes€as€soon€as€conditions€in€theirÐ À Ðhomes€permitted,€and€(4)€facilitate€the€adoption€or€other€permanent€placement€for€those€children€whoÐ ° Ðcould€not€or€should€not€be€returned€to€their€homes.€€Ð  ð ÐÌThe€requirements€of€Ô_ÔP.L.Ô_Ô€96„272€transformed€juvenile€courts€having€a€far€more€active€role€in€theÐ €Ð Ðdecision€making€process€in€child€abuse€and€neglect€cases.€€Courts€now€were€required€to€determineÐ pÀ Ðnot€only€whether€the€child€was€maltreated€but€also€whether€efforts€offered€to€families€by€socialÐ `° Ðservices€were€"reasonable"€under€the€circumstances€and€to€ensure€that€timely€permanency€planningÐ P  Ðdecisions€were€achieved€and€procedural€safeguards€were€provided.€€In€addition,€courts€were€requiredÐ @ Ðto€conduct€reviews€every€eighteen€months.Ð 0€ ÐÌSince€1980,€federal€and€State€law€continues€to€be€revamped€and€refined€in€an€effort€to€give€clearerÐ ` Ðdirection€to€social€service€agencies€and€to€the€court.€€At€the€same€time,€the€child€welfare€caseloadÐ P Ðrose€greatly,€the€number€of€hearings€and€the€number€of€persons€required€to€be€present€increased,€andÐ ð@ Ðthe€problems€of€poverty,€violence€and€drug€abuse€exacerbated€the€situation.€€Ultimately,€courts€haveÐ à0 Ðbeen€left€with€an€ever€increasing€burden,€without€an€increase€in€resources.Ð Ð  ÐÌò òòòFederal€Grant€to€the€Statesóóó óÐ °"  ÐÌAs€part€of€the€Omnibus€Budget€Reconciliation€Act€of€1993,€also€known€as€the€Family€PreservationÐ $à" Ðand€Support€Act,€Congress€authorized€$35€million€over€a€period€of€four€years€as€grants€to€enhanceÐ €%Ð # Ðthe€judicial€administration€of€cases€that€involve€foster€care.€€Under€this€grant,€each€participating€stateÐ p&À!$ Ðis€to€(1)€conduct€an€assessment€of€how€its€courts€are€handling€child€abuse€and€neglect€cases€(inÐ `'°"% ÐMaryland€that€is€Child€in€Need€of€Assistance€(CINA),€Termination€of€Parental€Rights€(Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô)€andÐ P( #& Ðsubsequent€Adoption€cases);€(2)€develop€a€plan€to€improve€the€judicial€administration€of€these€cases;Ð @)$' Ðand€(3)€implement€the€plan.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌThe€State€of€Maryland€received€in€March€of€1995€$102,123€to€conduct€the€assessment€and€developÐ ,`'* Ðthe€improvement€plan€and€$193,121€for€each€of€the€following€three€years€to€implement€the€plan'sÐ ° Ðrecommendations.€€A€match€of€25%€is€required€for€each€year€of€the€implementation€phase.€€TheÐ  ð Ðmatch€can€be€in€kind.€€This€report€is€the€result€of€that€assessment.Ð  à Ðò òÓ  ÓPROJECT€RESPONSIBILITY€AND€THE€ESTABLISHMENT€OF€THE€Ô_ÔFCCIPÔ_ÔÐ ° ÐADVISORY€COMMITTEEÐ  ð Ðó óÓ¬ÓÌÌòòò òFederal€Guidelinesó óóóÐ pÀ ÐÌFederal€guidelines€mandated€that€only€the€highest€state€court€in€a€state€was€eligible€to€apply€forÐ P   ÐCourt€Improvement€Project€funds.€Such€an€application€had€to€contain€a€timetable,€budget,€andÐ @  Ðmethodology€for€conducting€the€assessment.€In€addition,€the€State€child€welfare€agency€and€fosterÐ 0 € Ðcare€citizen€review€board€were€required€to€certify€that€both€agencies€were€provided€with€anÐ  p  Ðopportunity€for€review€and€comment.€Also€required€were€€assurances€that€grant€funds€not€needed€forÐ `  Ðthe€assessment€would€be€used€to€implement€recommended€changes€and€that€grant€funds€would€notÐ P  Ðsupplant€other€State€or€local€funds€used€for€similar€purposes.Ð ð@  ÐÌIn€order€to€fulfill€these€federal€requirements€and€to€develop€collaboration€with€other€organizationsÐ Ð  Ðand€individuals€responsible€for€promoting€and€protecting€the€well„being€of€children€and€families€inÐ À Ðthe€foster€care€process,€the€Foster€Care€Court€Improvement€Advisory€Committee€was€formed€by€thenÐ ° ÐChief€Judge€Robert€C.€Murphy,€who€appointed€€Judge€Patrick€L.€Woodward€of€the€District€CourtÐ  ð Ðfor€Montgomery€County€as€Chairperson.€That€Committee€has€met€a€total€of€sixteen€times€over€theÐ à Ðlast€three€years.ò òòòÐ €Ð ÐÌComposition€of€the€Committeeóóó óÐ `° ÐÌMembers€of€the€Committee€have€included€Judges€Richard€H.€Ô_ÔSothoronÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€Ô_ÔTeaetteÔ_Ô€S.€Price,€NancyÐ @ ÐB.€Ô_ÔShugerÔ_Ô,€and€Lee€M.€Ô_ÔSislenÔ_Ô,€Juvenile€Master€Ann€R.€Ô_ÔSparroughÔ_Ô,€the€Chairperson€andÐ 0€ ÐAdministrator€of€the€Foster€Care€Review€Board,€and€representatives€of€the€following€persons€orÐ  p Ðorganizations€that€are€involved€in€the€treatment€of€children€and€families€in€foster€care:€the€SecretaryÐ ` Ðof€€Human€Resources,€the€Secretary€of€€Juvenile€Justice,€the€Baltimore€City€Department€of€SocialÐ P ÐServices,€the€Office€of€the€Attorney€General,€the€Legal€Aid€Bureau,€the€Office€of€the€PublicÐ ð@ ÐDefender,€and€the€Court€Appointed€Special€Advocates€program€(CASA).Ð à0 ÐÌMembers€of€the€Committee€assisted€in€the€development€of€the€original€grant€application€andÐ À! Ðparticipated€in€designing€the€assessment€portion€of€the€project.€As€the€results€of€the€data€analysisÐ °"  Ðwere€compiled,€they€were€shared€with€Committee€members€who€then€supplied€valuable€commentsÐ  #ð! Ðand€suggestions.€Overall,€the€Committee€provided€direction€for€the€assessment€throughout€theÐ $à" Ðprojectððs€duration.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ  ,`'* ÐÑH›Ñâ HâѰ°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°°ÒÒ°°Òâ HâÑ  Ñà@LLìàò òGOALS€OF€THE€ASSESSMENTó óˆÐ ° ÐÌò òòòFederal€Requirementsóóó óÐ à ÐÌFederal€guidelines€require€that€each€assessment€identify€the€rules,€standards,€and€criteria€imposedÐ pÀ Ðpursuant€to€state€laws€that€establish€procedures€for€courts€to€achieve€safe,€timely,€and€permanentÐ ` ° Ðplacements€for€abused€and€neglected€children.€€In€addition,€rules€and€procedures,€established€underÐ P   Ðstate€law€or€adopted€by€a€state€court€system€on€its€own€initiative,€that€address€such€matters€as€timeÐ @  Ðtables€for€proceedings€and€representation€of€parents€and€children,€also€should€be€identified.€Ð 0 € ÐÌFollowing€the€review€of€statutes€and€rules,€the€performance€of€state€courts€was€to€be€examined€byÐ `  Ðassessing€processes€and€procedures€including€the€frequency€and€severity€of€judicial€delays€and€€howÐ P  Ðoften€parents€and€children€had€legal€representation€and€the€adequacy€of€such€representation.€Ð ð@  ÐÌBased€upon€the€assessment,€the€final€report€should€contain€€recommendations€for€(1)€changes€in€stateÐ Ð  Ðlaws,€(2)€changes€in€procedures€and€practices€of€the€state€courts€or€of€the€state€agenciesÐ À Ðadministering€foster€care,€adoption,€child€welfare€and€child€protective€services€programs,€(3)Ð ° Ðadditional€education€or€training€of€state€court€judges,€(4)€improvements€in€the€selection,Ð  ð Ðcompensation,€and€training€of€court„appointed€legal€representatives€of€parents€and€children,€and€(5)Ð à Ðimprovements€in€judicial€Ô_ÔcaseflowÔ_Ô€management.Ð €Ð ÐÌò òòòAreas€Excluded€From€The€Assessmentóóó óÐ `° ÐÌSeveral€aspects€of€the€management€of€cases€of€children€in€foster€care€were€not€addressedÐ @ Ðdeliberately.€€Specifically,€the€Ô_ÔFCCIPÔ_Ô€did€not€examine€issues€relating€to€the€Ô_ÔP.L.Ô_Ô€95„608€Indian€ChildÐ 0€ ÐWelfare€Act€of€1978.€Its€exclusion€from€the€report€was€based€upon€conversations€with€employeesÐ  p Ðof€the€Department€of€Human€Resources€who€were,€at€the€time€of€the€assessment,€in€the€process€ofÐ ` Ðdeveloping€regulations€to€conform€to€the€Act.€Possible€changes€in€court€procedures€will€beÐ P Ðconsidered€upon€issuance€of€the€€Department€of€Human€Resources€regulations.Ð ð@ ÐÌAnother€area€excluded€from€the€assessment€was€the€CINA€review€process.€The€implementation€ofÐ Ð  ÐChapters€595€and€596,€Acts€of€1996,€€which€required€courts€to€conduct€review€hearings€every€sixÐ À! Ðmonths€instead€of€the€previously€required€eighteen€months,€lessened€the€suitability€of€the€reviewÐ °"  Ðprocess€for€analysis.€The€implementation€of€recommendations€within€the€report€requiring€moreÐ  #ð! Ðspecific€data€collection€regarding€review€hearings€should€be€considered€as€being€of€the€highestÐ $à" Ðpriority.€Ð €%Ð # ЀÌò òòòPrimary€Goalóóó óÐ `'°"% ЀÌFinally,€unspoken€in€the€recommendations,€but€strongly€implied€in€the€emphasis€on€the€effectiveÐ @)$' Ðgeneration€of€information€in€a€timely€manner,€is€the€desire€that€the€enormous€efforts€undertaken€toÐ 0*€%( Ðobtain€information€in€the€assessment€need€not€be€repeated€at€some€future€date.€Only€through€theÐ  +p&) Ðintroduction€of€new€data€collection€systems€designed€to€assess€performance€and€with€new€methodsÐ ,`'* Ðto€provide€administrators€with€rapid€statistical€feedback€will€such€a€need€not€recur.€In€short,€then,Ð ° Ðthe€primary€goal€of€this€assessment€is€to€ensure€that€it€does€not€have€to€be€done€again.€Ð  ð ÐÐ à ÐÔ‡ X]XXX]ÔÓ  Óò òPROJECT€METHODOLOGYÔ‡ ÂæÂX X]Ôó óÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÌÌÔ_ÔÔ#† X]XÂ Âæ0#ÔÔ#†X]XX X]Ò/#ÔÔ€IX]XXX]Ôòòò òReviewÔ_Ô€of€StatutesÐ X Ðó óóóÌThe€first€step€in€the€assessment€process€was€to€conduct€a€comprehensive€review€of€Maryland€statutesÐ è8 Ðand€rules€as€they€relate€to€Termination€of€Parental€Rights€cases€and€to€CINA€cases.€€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€areÐ Ø ( Ðgoverned€primarily€by€Maryland€Ann.€Code,€Family€Law€Art.€ðð5„301€et€seq.€€CINA€cases€areÐ È  Ðcovered€by€Maryland€Ann.€Code,€Ô_ÔCtsÔ_Ô€&€Ô_ÔJudÔ_Ô.€Proc.€Art.€ðð3„801€et.€seq.€€These€statutes€€wereÐ ¸  Ðcompared€with€federal€law,€national€standards€promulgated€by€the€National€Council€of€Juvenile€andÐ ¨ ø  ÐFamily€Court€Judges€(Ô_ÔNCJFCJÔ_Ô),€as€well€as€other€national€and€out„of„state€publications.€€TheÐ ˜ è  Ðconclusion€of€this€review€was€that€Marylandððs€statutory€scheme€is€consistent€€with€€federalÐ ˆØ  Ðrequirements€and€suggested€time„line€standards€recommended€by€various€organizations.€€What€wasÐ xÈ  Ðleft€to€be€determined€was€whether,€in€actual€practice,€Maryland€courts€are€in€compliance€with€€theseÐ h¸  Ðrequirements.Ð X¨  Ѐ€€€òòò òÐ H˜  ÐInterviews€with€Court€Personnelóóó óÐ 8ˆ ÐÌInterviews€were€conducted€with€court€personnel€from€òòeveryóó€jurisdiction€in€Maryland.€€There€are€24Ð h Ðjurisdictions€in€Maryland.€€Judges€and€masters€participated€in€on„site€interviews€in€all€countiesÐ X Ðexcept€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô€(where€telephone€interviews€were€conducted)€and€Queen€Anneððs€counties.€€AdditionalÐ øH Ðon„site€interviews€were€conducted€with€court€personnel,€including€clerks€of€court,€juvenile€clerks,Ð è8 Ðadoption€clerks,€assignment€clerks,€court€administrators,€and€Differentiated€Case€ManagementÐ Ø( Ðcoordinators€in€all€jurisdictions€with€the€exceptions€of€St.€Mary's€and€Ô_ÔGarrettÔ_Ô€counties.€€During€theÐ È Ðinterviews,€questions€were€asked€concerning€local€practice€variations,€training€needs,€and€courtÐ ¸ Ðstaffing.€€Additionally€all€interviewees€were€asked€for€€individual€comments€regarding€the€processingÐ ¨ø Ðof€CINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€in€their€jurisdiction.Ð ˜è ÐÌò òòòIntensive€Site€Visits€Ð xÈ Ðóóó óÌòòò òÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases:ó óóó€€Site€visits€were€conducted€in€the€€eight€jurisdictions:€Anne€Ô_ÔArundelÔ_Ô,€Baltimore,€Cecil,Ð X ¨ ÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô,€Montgomery,€Prince€George's,€and€Washington€Counties,€as€well€as€Baltimore€City.€€TheseÐ H!˜ Ðjurisdictions€were€selected€because€a€€minimum€of€ten€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€had€been€completed€during€FYðð95.€Ð 8"ˆ  ÐAt€each€site,€a€random€sample€of€files€were€reviewed.€€Hearings€were€observed€(if€possible),€andÐ (#x! Ðinterviews€were€conducted€with€judges€and€other€court€personnel€responsible€for€processing€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_ÔÐ $h" Ðcases.€€When€possible,€discussions€also€were€initiated€with€attorneys€involved€in€the€cases€beingÐ %X # Ðreviewed.€€A€total€of€101€cases€were€reviewed,€approximately€15€hearings€were€observed,€courtÐ ø%H!$ Ðfacilities€were€examined,€and€the€appropriate€court€personnel€and€judges€were€interviewed.€€òòNote:Ð è&8"% ÐAll€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€site€visits€were€conducted€in€the€equity€court€prior€to€the€passage€of€legislation€thatÐ Ø'(#& Ðtransferred€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€to€the€juvenile€court.óó€€€òòò òÐ È($' Ðà  àÌCINA€casesó ó:€€óóThe€CINA€site€visits€were€conducted€in€the€following€jurisdictions:€€Ô_ÔCalvertÔ_Ô,€Caroline,Ð ¨*ø%) ÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô,€Howard,€Montgomery,€Prince€George's,€Washington€and€Worcester€Counties,€€as€well€asÐ ˜+è&* ÐBaltimore€City.€€These€sites€were€chosen€because€they€represent€one€jurisdiction€in€each€judicialÐ ° Ðcircuit.€Baltimore€City,€Prince€George's€County€and€Montgomery€County€represent€92%€of€theÐ  ð Ðoriginal€CINA€terminations€in€the€sample€jurisdictions.€€During€the€site€visits€a€statisticallyÐ à Ðsignificant€sample€of€each€jurisdiction's€FY'95€original€terminations€were€reviewed.€€Interviews€wereÐ €Ð Ðconducted€with€the€judges€and€masters€in€each€jurisdiction€who€are€responsible€primarily€Ô_ÔforÔ_Ô€theÐ pÀ ÐCINA€caseload.€Hearing€reviews€were€conducted€in€each€of€the€nine€jurisdictions,€with€the€exceptionÐ ` ° Ðof€Worcester€County.€Juvenile€clerks€in€each€jurisdiction€were€interviewed,€court€facilities€wereÐ P   Ðexamined€and€attorneys€involved€in€the€cases€were€interviewed€when€feasible.€€The€length€of€timeÐ @  Ðspent€in€each€jurisdiction€and€the€amount€of€cases€reviewed€are€detailed€below.Óf¦ÓÐ 0 € ÐÒX°ÒÌÌÔ*‹ƒ°ddd Xdd Xdd XX(#X(#‹ÔÔ,‘”d ÔÔ,rtd ÔÔ,ûtd ÔÔ,Ftd ÔÔ,ÿt” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''æ6æ6 €Ø€‚l‚ƒƒ„„6ÐÔ_ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔCircuit/CountyÔ_ÔÐ 2€'#R¢'' „„2ÐTotal€Number€of€CasesÐ 2€'#R¢' „„2ÐError€Rate„10%Ð 2€'#R¢' „„2ÐHearing€ReviewsÐ 6€''#R¢' „„6ÐTime€To€Conduct€Site€VisitÐ J€';#R¢ l Ø '' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐFirst€CircuitÐ >Ž ÐÔ_ÔWorcesterÔ#†IX]X IG#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔÔ_ÔÐ R€C¥õ '  B@36„„‰B@‰RÐà@> > ‚ à36ˆÐ q€b7>Ž   B@36 B@  ,@14„„‰,@‰qÐà@ôô(8à14ˆÐ e€V7>Ž   ,@14 ,@ # „„‰‰eÐà@773Yà0ˆÐ I€'6+>Ž  #  „„IÐ1€dayÐ J€';#>Ž  L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐSecond€CircuitÐ ‘á ÐCarolineÐ R€CøH'  (@12„„‰(@‰RÐà@> > ‚ à12ˆÐ Q€B7‘á  (@12 (@ „„QÐà@ôô(8à12ˆÐ 2€#‘á „„2Ðà@773Yà1ˆÐ 6€'#‘á „„6Ð1€dayÐ J€';#‘á L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐThird€CircuitÐ ä 4 ÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_ÔÐ 2€#K ›' „„2Ðà@ú ú ‚ à47**ˆÐ 2€#ä 4 „„2Ðà@ôô(8à20ˆÐ 2€#ä 4 „„2Ðà@773Yà7ˆÐ 6€'#ä 4 „„6Ð2€half€daysÐ J€';#ä 4 L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐFourth€CircuitÐ 7 ‡ ÐÔ_ÔWashingtonÔ#†IX]X II#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔÔ_ÔÐ R€Cž î'  W@92„„‰W@‰RÐà@> > ‚ à92ˆÐ q€b77 ‡  W@92 W@  €@@33„„‰€@@‰qÐà@ôô(8à33ˆÐ q€b77 ‡  €@@33 €@@  $@10„„‰$@‰qÐà@2Yà10ˆÐ U€'B77 ‡  $@10 $@ „„UÐ1€dayÐ J€';#7 ‡ L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐFifth€CircuitÐ Š Ú  ÐÔ_ÔHowardÔ#†IX]X IýN#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔÔ_ÔÐ R€Cñ A!'  P@64„„‰P@‰RÐà@> > ‚ à64ˆÐ q€b7Š Ú"  P@64 P@  €A@35„„‰€A@‰qÐà@ôô(8à35ˆÐ p€a7Š Ú#  €A@35 €A@  @7„„‰@‰pÐà@773Yà7ˆÐ T€'A6Š Ú$  @7 @ „„TÐ1€Ô_Ô1/2Ô_Ô€daysÐ J€';#Š Ú% L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐSixth€CircuitÐ Ý - & ÐÔ_ÔMontgomeryÔ#†IX]X IžQ#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔÔ_ÔÐ S€DD” '' Ðv@365„„‰Ðv@‰SÐà@  ‚ à365ˆÐ r€c8Ý - ( Ðv@365 Ðv@  €O@63„„‰€O@‰rÐà@ôô(8à63ˆÐ p€a7Ý - )  €O@63 €O@   @8„„‰ @‰pÐà@773Yà8ˆÐ T€'A6Ý - *   @8  @ „„TÐ3€daysÐ J€';#Ý - + L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐSeventh€CircuitÐ 0€ , ÐÔ_ÔCalvertÔ#†IX]X IeT#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔÔ_ÔÐ R€C—ç -'  €G@47„„‰€G@‰RÐà@- - ‚ à€47ˆÐ q€b70€ .  €G@47 €G@  4@20„„‰4@‰qÐà@ôô(8à20ˆÐ Q€B70€ /  4@20 4@ „„QÐ`à@&&2Yà€6ˆÐ 6€'#0€ 0 „„6Ð1€day€Ð J€';#0€ 1 L $ ' €$€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔÔ#†IX]X I W#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔSeventhÔ_Ô€CircuitÐ ƒÓ 2 ÐPrince€Ô_ÔGeorge'sÔ#†IX]X IGY#ÔÔ‡I XIX]ÔÔ_ÔÐ S€Dê: 3' Ð{@445„„‰Ð{@‰SÐà@  ‚ à445ˆÐ r€c8ƒÓ 4 Ð{@445 Ð{@  €S@78„„‰€S@‰rÐà@ôô(8à78ˆÐ q€b7ƒÓ 5  €S@78 €S@  (@12„„‰(@‰qÐà@2Yà12ˆÐ U€'B7ƒÓ 6  (@12 (@ „„UÐ3€daysÐ J€';#ƒÓ 7 L $ ' €:€‚L‚ƒƒ„„JÐEighth€CircuitÐ Ö& 8 ÐBaltimore€CityÐ 2€#= 9' „„2Ðà@ú ú ‚ à2450ˆÐ 2€#Ö& : „„2Ðà@°°'8à275*ˆÐ 2€#Ö& ; „„2Ðà@2Yà30ˆÐ 6€'#Ö& < „„6Ð9€daysÐ H€''7#Ö& = L : ' €j€‚L‚„„HÐTOTALÐ )y> ÐÐ 4€'#à?'' „„4Ðà@ú ú ‚ à3558ˆÐ 4€'#)y@' „„4Ðà@ÒÒ(8à550ˆÐ 4€'#)yA' „„4Ðà@2Yà81ˆÐ 6€''#)yB' „„6Ð22ðð€daysÐ3)')yC L0 j '' 3ÐÔ#†IX]X IÜY#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÔ‡ ÂæÂÂIÂæÔÓf¦Óà ° àà  à*€5%€error€rateÐ `°C Ðà ° àà  à**€cases€filed€by€family,€not€by€childÐ dD ÐÔ#†IÂæÂÂ Âæb_#ÔÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæC_#ÔÒ°XÒÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÌò òòòQuestionnairesÐ ¸F ÐóóÌó óSeparate€instruments€were€developed€for€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€judges,€CINA€judges,€CINA€masters,€juvenile€clerks,Ð ˜èH ÐÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€attorneys€and€CINA€attorneys.€€After€a€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€site€visit€was€conducted,€questionnaires€were€sentÐ ˆØI Ðto€the€judges€identified€during€the€interviews€and€to€attorneys€whose€names€appeared€in€the€fileÐ xÈJ Ðreviews.€€During€the€CINA€assessment,€questionnaires€were€sent€to,€and€returned€by,€the€CountyÐ h¸K ÐAdministrative€Judge€in€all€24€jurisdictions.€€Each€County€Administrative€Judge€was€asked€toÐ X¨L Ðidentify€those€judicial€officers€in€the€county€who€handle€currently€Ô_ÔorÔ_Ô€were€assigned€Ô_ÔpreviouslyÔ_Ô€toÐ H˜M Ðhear€CINA€cases.€€Sixty„seven€judges€and€seventeen€masters€were€identified€Statewide.€Ð 8ˆN ÐQuestionnaires€were€sent€individually€to€each€judicial€officer.€€Forty„two€judges€(63%)€returnedÐ (xO Ðsurveys,€13€(19%)€responded€that€they€did€not€hear€a€sufficient€number€of€CINA€cases€to€answer€theÐ  hP Ðsurvey€and€12€(18%)€did€not€respond.€€Fourteen€masters€(82%)€returned€completed€questionnaires,Ð !XQ Ðand€one€(6%)€indicated€his€CINA€experience€was€not€recent€enough€to€be€relevant.€Two€mastersÐ ø!HR Ð(12%)€did€not€respond.€€At€least€one€response€was€received€from€every€jurisdiction€with€theÐ è"8S Ðexception€of€Queen€Anneððs€County.€€Ð Ø#(T ÐÌQuestionnaires€relating€to€the€processing€of€CINA€cases€were€returned€by€the€Clerk's€Office€in€allÐ ¸%!V Ð24€jurisdictions.€€In€September€1996,€Statewide€training€for€attorneys€representing€parties€in€CINAÐ ¨&ø!W Ðcases€was€sponsored€by€the€Maryland€Department€of€Human€Resources€and€the€AdministrativeÐ ˜'è"X ÐOffice€of€the€Courts.€€During€that€training€program€questionnaires€were€hand„delivered€to€117Ð ˆ(Ø#Y Ðattorneys.€€Additionally,€approximately€35€questionnaires€were€mailed€to€attorneys€who€did€notÐ x)È$Z Ðattend€the€program.€€One€hundred€and€one€(66%)€of€the€questionnaires€were€returned.€€At€least€oneÐ h*¸%[ Ðresponse€was€received€from€every€jurisdiction€with€the€exception€of€Dorchester€County.Ð X+¨&\ Їòòò òFile€Reviewsó óÐ ° ÐóóÌòòò òÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases:ó óóó€€The€methodology€employed€for€the€case€file€reviews€involved€identifying€in€eachÐ à ÐÔ_ÔjurisdictionÔ_Ô€all€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€that€had€been€concluded€during€FY'95.€€The€result€of€the€proceeding€wasÐ €Ð Ðnot€relevant€to€identifying€the€cases.€€Once€the€total€number€of€cases€in€each€jurisdiction€wereÐ pÀ Ðidentified,€a€statistically€valid€sample€was€reviewed.€Ð ` ° ÐÌA€recurring€criticism€leveled€at€the€court€system€is€how€long€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€take€to€complete,€with€itsÐ @  Ðeffect€on€how€long€children€remain€in€foster€care€without€a€permanent€home.€€Examining€the€timeÐ 0 € Ðtaken€to€conclude€a€case€made€it€possible€to€examine€how€long€each€stage€of€the€process€lasted€fromÐ  p  Ðinitial€filing€through€the€final€disposition.€€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÐ `  ÐÌò òòòCINA€cases:óóó ó€€The€methodology€used€in€the€CINA€file€reviews€was€similar€to€that€used€for€the€Ô_ÔTPRsÔ_Ô.€Ð ð@  ÐTo€capture€the€steps€involved€in€completing€a€CINA€case,€it€was€desirable€cases€to€look€at€cases€thatÐ à0  Ðhad€reached€a€disposition€or€had€been€closed€prior€to€disposition.€€FY'95€original€terminations€forÐ Ð  Ðall€CINA€cases€Statewide€were€chosen.€€These€included€cases€that€were€dismissed€prior€toÐ À Ðdisposition,€as€well€as€cases€in€which€a€child€was€returned€home,€placed€in€foster€care,€or€placed€inÐ ° Ðthe€legal€custody€of€some€other€person.€€This€process€permitted€examination€of€how€long€it€took€toÐ  ð Ðcomplete€cases,€how€long€each€stage€took,€who€was€involved€at€each€stage€of€the€proceedings,€whatÐ à Ðtypes€of€information€were€collected€by€the€court,€what€types€of€documents€were€filed,€which€judicialÐ €Ð Ðofficers€heard€the€cases,€and€what€types€of€decisions€were€being€made.€Ð pÀ ÐÌDifficulties€were€encountered€when€trying€to€establish€a€methodology€for€capturing€cases€that€wereÐ P  Ðin€the€review/permanency€planning€process.€€When€the€1996€permanency€planning€legislation€(Chs.Ð @ Ð595€and€596)€was€implemented,€the€Committee€decided€that€data€on€these€cases,€though€capable€ofÐ 0€ Ðillustrating€problems€in€the€system,€would€not€be€relevant€to€the€future€needs€of€the€foster€careÐ  p Ðsystem€because€the€requirements€for€six€month€reviews,€specific€permanency€planning€decisions,Ð ` Ðand€expedited€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€procedures€should€address€some€of€those€concerns.€€Additionally,€the€successÐ P Ðof€this€legislation€in€meeting€the€goals€of€expeditious€permanency€planning€for€children€will€needÐ ð@ Ðto€be€evaluated€once€the€legislation€has€been€in€effect€for€a€period€of€time.Ð à0 ÐÔ_Ôò òÔ_ÔÐ  Ð  Ðà@%ìàCHAPTER€ONEˆÐ ° ÐÌà@BBìàInformation€in€the€Juvenile€CourtˆÐ à ÐÌó óÌTable€of€Contentsà‚Ä"Ä"J(#.H H à8ò òˆÐ ` ° Ðà  àó óÌà  àPRESENT€SOURCES€OF€STATEWIDE€INFORMATIONà‚Ä"Ä"J(#.¦¦7à9ˆÐ @  ÐÌà  àDATA€VARIABLES€USED€IN€THE€JIS€COLLECTION€SYSTEM€FOR€JUVENILE€Ð  p  Ðà  àCASESà‚`"`"I(#.x x à10ˆÐ `  ÐÌà  àPROBLEMS€ENCOUNTERED€IN€IDENTIFYING€CLOSED€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€CASESà‚ü!ü!G(#.ÐÐCà.€11ˆÐ ð@  ÐÌà  àPROBLEMS€ENCOUNTERED€IN€IDENTIFYING€CLOSED€CINA€CASESà‚`"`"I(#.HHDà12ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌòòò ò1.1à  àRecommendation€„€Clarifying€and€Enhancing€the€Collection€of€Basic€Case€Statistics€„€Ð ° Ðà  àJudiciaryó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.  à13ˆÐ  ð Ðòòò ò1.2à  àRecommendation€„€Responsibilityó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.ÚÚ.à14ˆÐ à Ðòòò ò1.3à  àRecommendation€„€Trainingó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.44(à14ˆÐ €Ð Ðòòò ò1.4à  àRecommendation€„€Reportsà‚`"`"I(#.ÎÎ'àóóó ó15òòò òˆÐ pÀ Ð1.5à  àRecommendation€„€Inventory€of€Open€Casesó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.JJ7à15ˆÐ `° Ðòòò ò1.6à  àRecommendation€„€Clarifying€and€Enhancing€the€Collection€of€Basic€Case€Statistics€„Ð P  Ðà  àFiling€Practicesó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.. . à15ˆÐ @ ÐÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôò òòòÐ  0€ Ðà@ï ï ìàóóCURRENT€SOURCES€OF€STATEWIDE€INFORMATIONˆÐ ° ÐÌÔ_Ôó óÔ#†IX]XX X]¾|#ÔStatisticsÔ_Ô€on€Juvenile€Court€activity€€are€compiled€and€maintained€by€the€Judicial€InformationÐ à ÐSystem€Ô_Ô(JIS)Ô_Ô€Unit€of€the€Administrative€Office€of€the€Courts.€Ô‡ X]XXIX]Ôò òÐ €Ð ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ#†IX]XX X]c~#ÔòòFromÔ_Ô€Automated€Jurisdictionsóóó óÐ ` ° ÐÌÔ_ÔAutomatedÔ_Ô€jurisdictions€supply€statistical€data€to€the€JIS€mainframe€computer€through€the€followingÐ @  Ðprocedures:Ð 0 € ÐÌÝ‚ cÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ cÒÝð"ðà0  àÝ  Ýthe€circuit€courts€for€Howard,€Montgomery,€and€Prince€Georgeððs€Counties€submit€data€byÐ `  Ðmagnetic€tape;݃ cÒíÝŒÐP (#(# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ‚ cÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ cÛ€Ýð"ðà0  àÝ  Ýthe€circuit€courts€for€Anne€Ô_ÔArundelÔ_Ô€and€Carroll€Counties€download€information€from€theirÐ à0  ÐAS400€computers€directly€to€the€€mainframe;݃ cÛ€ö€ÝŒÐÐ (#(# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ‚ cÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ c ‚Ýð"ðà0  àÝ  Ýthe€Juvenile€Court€in€Baltimore€City€operates€from€an€AS400€computer€and€submits€a€tapeÐ ° Ðto€JIS;€and݃ c ‚;‚݌Рð(#(# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ‚ cÿÝÝ  ÝÝ‚ c$ƒÝð"ðà0  àÝ  Ýthe€civil€division€in€Baltimore€City,€which€handles€ongoing€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€and€Adoption€cases,Ð €Ð Ðoperates€directly€from€the€JIS€mainframe.݃ c$ƒ?ƒÝŒÐpÀ(#(# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌThe€Juvenile€Court€in€Montgomery€County€is€in€the€process€of€implementing€a€new€automatedÐ P  Ðsystem€that€will€supply€statistical€data€directly€to€the€Ô_Ômainframe;Ô_ÔÐ @ ÐÌò òòòFrom€Non„Automated€Jurisdictionsóóó óÐ  p ÐÌThe€remaining€of€the€jurisdictions€in€the€State€collect€information€manually€through€the€use€of€caseÐ P Ðlog€sheets.€The€log€sheets€are€submitted€to€JIS€where€data€entry€operators€enter€the€data€directly€intoÐ ð@ Ðthe€mainframe.€Ð à0 ÐÌThe€table€on€the€following€page€illustrates€the€daily€case€log€sheet€currently€utilized€by€the€non„Ð À! Ðautomated€Ô_Ôjurisdictions.Ô_Ô€€With€such€a€variety€of€€submission€methods,€all€of€which€must€have€theÐ °"  Ðsame€data€structure€and€variables,€only€general€court€activity€can€be€compiled.€Ð  #ð! Ðà  àÌò òÌó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ,`'* ЇÌÌÌÌà@ŸŸìàò òDATA€VARIABLES€USED€IN€THE€JIS€COLLECTION€SYSTEM€ˆÐ pÀ ÐÓ  ÓFOR€JUVENILE€CASESó óÐ ` ° ÐÓ§ˆÓÌÌÔ*±ƒd °d‘”d ‘rtd rûtd ûFtd Fÿt” ÿ°(#°(#±ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ "€'''0 €0 € "ÐÓ  ÓTRANSACTION€TYPEÐ 4€''#!” ä  ''' 4Ðà@ÌÌ&ìàCATEGORYˆÐ -€'''” ä '' -ÐÓŠÓà@SS=àHEARINGˆÐ $” ä ''' $Ð1€„€Original€FilingÐ h  Ð2€„€Reopened€CaseÐ X  Ð3€„€Change/CorrectionÐ øH  Ð4€„€Update„Hearing/TrialÐ è8  Ð9€„€TerminationÐ  Ø(  Ð1€„€DelinquencyÐ h  Ð2€„€AdultÐ X  Ð3€„€Child€in€Need€of€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð øH  Ѐ€SupervisionÐ è8  Ð4€„€Child€in€Need€of€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð Ø(  Ѐ€AssistanceÐ È Ð5€„€Guardianship€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ¸ Ѐ(Termination€of€Parental€€€€€€€Ð ¨ø ÐRights)Ð ˜è Ð6€„€Adoption€Ð  ˆØ Ð1€„€1st€day€of€a€multi„day€€€€€€€€Ð h  Ѐ€€hearingÐ X  Ð2€„€Continuation€of€a€multi„€€€€Ð øH  Ѐ€€€day€trial€or€hearingÐ è8  Ð3€„€Last€day€of€a€multi„day€€€€€€Ð Ø(  Ѐ€€trial€or€hearingÐ È  Ð4€„€One€day€trial€or€hearingÐ "€'''' ¸! ……"Ðà@„„%ìàDISPOSITIONˆÐ ' \"'''' 'ÐA€„€Jurisdiction€WaivedÐ à# ÐB€„€DismissedÐ €Ð$ ÐC„€€StetÐ pÀ% ÐD€„€ProbationÐ `°& ÐE€„€Care€and€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð P ' ЀCustody/Committed€to€€€€€€€€€€Ð @( Ðthe€Department€of€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð 0€) ÐSocial€ServicesÐ   p* „„ÐF€„€€Care€and€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð à+ ÐCustody/Committed€to€€€€€€€€€€Ð €Ð, Ðthe€Department€Of€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð pÀ- ÐJuvenile€JusticeÐ `°. ÐG€„€Committed€to€a€Hospital€€€Ð P / Ѐ€€€€FacilityÐ @0 ÐH€„€Institutional€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð 0€1 ЀCommitmentÐ  p2 ÐJ€„€€Transferred€in,€for€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð !`3 ЀSupervisionÐ "P4 ÐK€„€Transferred€outÐ ð"@5 ÐL€„€€Continued€with/without€€€€Ð à6 Ѐ€€€a€FindingÐ €Ð7 ÐM€„€Guardianship€Granted€€€€€€Ð pÀ8 Ѐ€€€€(Termination€of€Parental€€€€Ð `°9 Ѐ€€Rights)Ð P : ÐN€„€€Adoption€GrantedÐ @; ÐX€„€€Other€Conclusion€or€€€€€€€€€Ð 0€< Ѐ€€€DispositionÐ  p=  ÐÌÌA€review€of€the€variables€listed€above€indicate€that,€not€only€is€the€information€collected€of€a€generalÐ ð%@!? Ðnature,€but€dispositions€are€clearly€weighted€toward€the€collection€of€information€from€delinquencyÐ à&0"@ Ðcases.€Ð Ð' #A ÐÌÌÌEntries€referencing€Termination€of€Parental€Rights€and€Adoption€cases€were€added€in€1996€as€aÐ +à&E Ðresult€of€the€transfer€of€jurisdiction€of€these€cases€to€the€Juvenile€Court.Ð ° ÐÌÌÌÐ  pÀ ÐÔ_Ôò òÔ_Ôà@^^ìàPROBLEMS€ENCOUNTERED€IN€IDENTIFYING€CLOSED€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€CASESˆÐ ° ÐÌÌó óThe€focus€of€the€case€file€reviews€was€to€be€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€that€exceeded€180€Ô_ÔdaysÔ_Ô€among€cases€closedÐ €Ð ÐÔ_ÔinÔ_Ô€the€most€recently€completed€fiscal€year.€€Obtaining€a€list€of€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€case€numbers,€however,€involvedÐ pÀ Ðmore€detailed€analysis€than€simply€reviewing€file€Ô_Ônumbers.Ô_ÔÐ ` ° ÐÌBefore€October€1,€1996,€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€throughout€the€state€were€filed€as€civil€cases€in€the€circuit€court.Ð @  ÐDue€to€€similar€confidentiality€requirements,€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€were€placed€routinely€Ô_ÔinÔ_Ô€the€same€fileÐ 0 € Ðcabinet€with€adoption€cases.€In€order€to€simplify€file€location,€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€were€assigned€the€sameÐ  p  Ðtype€of€file€designation€as€adoptions.€As€a€result,Ð `  ÐÌA€similar€problem€was€encountered€when€JIS€attempted€to€produce€an€elapsed€time€report€for€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_ÔÐ ð@  Ðcases.€Then,€as€now,€the€methodology€in€the€collection€of€civil€case€statistics€by€JIS€did€not€separateÐ à0  ÐÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€from€adoption€cases.€Upon€filing,€clerk€personnel€in€non„automated€jurisdictions€wouldÐ Ð  Ðplace€the€case€number€of€a€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€or€adoption€case€on€a€collection€sheet€and€assign€the€same€caseÐ À Ðdesignation,€ð ðGuardianship/Adoption.ðð€€As€a€result,€it€was€impossible€for€JIS€personnel€to€separateÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€from€Adoption€cases.€The€document€produced€by€JIS€was,€therefore,€inclusive€of€all€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€andÐ  ð ÐAdoption€cases€filed€in€the€State,€€consisting€of€more€than€2,500€case€numbers.Ð à ÐÌTo€isolate€the€desired€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases,€extensive€research€was€conducted€focusing€upon€the€data€availableÐ pÀ Ðfrom€individual€jurisdictions.€€This€research€included€numerous€phone€calls€to€every€adoption€clerkÐ `° Ðin€the€state,€visits€to€larger€jurisdictions€to€access€their€databases,€a€review€of€computer€printouts€ofÐ P  Ðcases€produced€by€€automated€systems€under€the€control€of€local€€jurisdictions€and€actual€case€reviewÐ @ Ðof€files€over€a€two€month€period.€Through€these€efforts,€the€list€was€narrowed€down€to€450€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_ÔÐ 0€ Ðcases.Ð  p ÐÌContact€also€was€Ô_ÔmadeÔ_Ô€with€the€Foster€Care€Review€Board€and€local€departments€of€social€servicesÐ P Ðoffices€and€counsel€in€an€effort€to€obtain€accurate€case€lists.€It€became€evident€that€neither€of€theseÐ ð@ Ðorganizations€maintained€automated€records€that€were€accessible€based€upon€the€court€disposition.€Ð à0 ÐÔ_Ôò òÔ_ÔÌó óThis€difficulty€can€be€illustrated€by€describing€efforts€undertaken€to€ascertain€an€accurate€list€ofÐ À! Ðclosed€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€in€Baltimore€City.€The€local€automated€system€produced€a€list€of€142€cases€closedÐ °"  Ðin€FYðð95€while€the€JIS€elapsed€time€case€report€only€Ô_ÔlistedÔ_Ô€56€cases.€Of€the€86€cases€not€listed€in€theÐ  #ð! Ðreport,€nine€cases€were€improperly€coded€(see€Appendix€A).€Eventually,€a€list€was€compiled€byÐ $à" Ðinformation€supplied€by€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô,€JIS€and€the€local€Court.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌIn€non„automated€jurisdictions,€it€became€necessary€to€ask€individual€adoption€clerks€to€go€throughÐ `'°"% Ðtheir€docket€books€from€the€last€five€years€and€provide€the€case€numbers€for€all€of€their€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€casesÐ P( #& Ðduring€that€time€period.€Ô_Ôò òÔ_ÔÐ @)$' ÐÌÔ_Ôó óÔ_Ôà@ìì*ìàˆÐ   +p&) Ðà@''ìàò òPROBLEMS€ENCOUNTERED€IN€IDENTIFYING€CLOSED€CINA€CASESó óˆÐ ° ÐÌÌUpon€initiation€of€the€CINA€file€reviews,€the€Judicial€Information€System€was€again€asked€toÐ €Ð Ðproduce€a€report€listing€original€terminations€in€CINA€cases€for€FY'95€including€the€reason€forÐ pÀ Ðdisposition.€€An€elapsed€time€report€was€produced€but,€unfortunately,€it€did€not€include€the€reasonÐ ` ° Ðfor€disposition.€Also,€the€elapsed€time€format€created€practical€difficulties€in€reviewing€the€caseÐ P   Ðnumbers.€Eventually,€a€report€was€received€consisting€of€case€numbers,€each€with€one€of€the€nineÐ @  Ðreasons€for€disposition€(see€previous€table).€Unfortunately,€this€report€still€could€be€produced€Ô_ÔonlyÔ_ÔÐ 0 € Ðin€an€elapsed€time€format€and,€as€with€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases,€this€data€did€not€match€the€information€receivedÐ  p  Ðfrom€other€sources.€€Ð `  ÐÌComparison€of€the€JIS€list€with€information€€from€local€jurisdictions,€made€clear€that€no€StatewideÐ ð@  Ðor€even€systemwide€(courts€with€more€than€one€clerk€processing€juvenile€cases)€criteria€are€beingÐ à0  Ðutilized€for€recording€the€closure€of€a€€CINA€case.€€Juvenile€delinquency€cases€appeared€Ô_ÔfrequentlyÔ_ÔÐ Ð  Ðon€the€JIS€printouts,€as€did€cases€with€dispositions€of€ð ðstetðð€or€ð ðprobationðð€which€are€not€CINAÐ À Ðterms.€€Ô_ÔSomeÔ_Ô€counties€(Montgomery€and€Prince€Georgeððs)€closed€cases€without€a€finding€orÐ ° Ðdisposition.€One€jurisdiction€(Queen€Anneððs)€added€suffixes€€to€cases€that€were€reopened€yet€closedÐ  ð Ðas€original€terminations.€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÐ à ÐÌÔ_ÔSomeÔ_Ô€jurisdictions€closed€cases€according€to€hearing€dates,€while€others€left€them€open€until€theÐ pÀ Ðorder€was€signed€(which€could€be€months€later).€€One€county€(Worcester)€would€close€a€case€afterÐ `° Ðshelter€care€and€not€open€it€again€unless€a€CINA€petition€was€filed,€while€another€(Caroline)€€wouldÐ P  Ðleave€a€shelter€care€case€open€and€never€go€back€and€close€it€even€if€a€CINA€petition€was€never€filed.Ð @ ÐOne€jurisdiction€(Montgomery)€assigned€the€shelter€care€petition€and€€the€CINA€petition€separateÐ 0€ Ðnew€case€numbers,€which€are€an€impression€of€greater€than€actual€caseload.€Most€significantly,€Ð  p ÐBaltimore€City€did€not€close€90%€of€its€original€dispositions.€Ð ` ÐÌIn€Baltimore€City,€the€majority€of€dispositions€reviewed€€were€listed€in€the€QUEST€system€asÐ ð@ Ð"pending€further€review"€which€left€the€case€open€and€never€reported€as€closed€to€JIS.€€As€a€result,Ð à0 Ðboth€the€JIS€report€and€the€Annual€Report€of€the€Maryland€Judiciary€Ô_ÔunderreportedÔ_Ô€Baltimore€CityÐ Ð  ÐCINA€dispositions€by€over€2000€cases.€€The€QUEST€system€could€not€locate€these€cases€and€theÐ À! Ðlocal€department€of€social€services€and€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€also€were€not€able€to€produce€lists€of€closed€cases€withÐ °"  Ðcourt€case€numbers.Ð  #ð! Ѐ€Ð $à" ÐInformation€was€requested€from€the€Foster€Care€Review€Board€as€well.€€The€Ô_ÔFCRBÔ_Ô€supplied€a€listÐ €%Ð # Ðof€cases€for€Baltimore€City€and€Ô_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô€County.€€Many€of€the€Ô_ÔFCRBÔ_Ô€court€case€numbers€did€notÐ p&À!$ Ðcontain€the€correct€number€of€digits.€Several€cases€on€the€list€were€filed€in€the€1980's€thereby€makingÐ `'°"% Ðit€impossible€for€such€a€case€to€have€an€original€disposition€in€1995.€Some€cases€were€entered€by€IDÐ P( #& Ðnumber€and€petition€number,€resulting€in€double€recording.€Finally€the€Ô_ÔFCRBÔ_Ô€list€€included€onlyÐ @)$' Ðthose€children€who€entered€foster€care,€not€those€where€shelter€care€was€not€requested€or€was€denied.€Ð 0*€%( ÐÌÐ ,`'* ÐÔ_ÔAdditionalÔ_Ô€case€review€difficulties€were€experienced€due€to€the€practice€in€some€jurisdictionsÐ ° Ð(Carroll,€Ô_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔWicomico,Ô_Ô€and€Ô_ÔWorcester)Ô_Ô€of€€filing€cases€by€family€rather€than€by€child.€€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÐ  ð ÐÌEventually,€in€Baltimore€City,€a€random€sample€of€days€on€the€CINA€disposition€docket€was€utilizedÐ €Ð Ðto€estimate€the€total€dispositions€for€the€year€and€develop€a€statistically€significant€sample€of€cases.€Ð pÀ ÐIn€all€other€Ô_ÔjurisdictionsÔ_Ô€the€juvenile€clerk€was€contacted€and,€with€the€assistance€€of€local€automatedÐ ` ° Ðsystems€in€automated€jurisdictions,€project€staff€and€clerk€personnel€reviewed€cases€and€verified€theÐ P   Ðaccuracy€of€the€reported€information,€located€missing€cases,€and€deleted€from€the€list€some€Ô_ÔcasesÔ_Ô€thatÐ @  Ðwere€entered€erroneously.€€Ð 0 € ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÌÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔAll€of€this€activity€was€dedicated€to€collecting€and€correcting€information€in€cases€that€were€closed.€Ð `  ЀTo€avoid€the€need€to€repeat€this€process€at€some€future€date,€it€is€imperative€that€the€maintenanceÐ P  Ðof€data€be€thoroughly€revised.€Ð ð@  ÐÌò òòòÌÌÌÌÌÌÌRecommendation€1.1€„€Clarifying€and€Enhancing€the€Collection€of€Basic€Case€Statistics€„Ð `° ÐJudiciaryóóÐ P  ÐÌBasic€case€statistics€should€be€reassessed,€including€the€development€of€clear€guidelines€as€toÐ 0€ Ðwhen€€Child€In€Need€of€Assistance,€Termination€of€Parental€Rights,€and€Adoption€cases€areÐ  p Ðto€be€recorded€as€filed,€terminated€and€reopened€and€why€these€events€occurredó ó.ò òÐ ` Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ó óòòÐ P ÐThe€opening€or€reopening€and€the€closing€of€a€case€should€be€linked€to€specific€court€filings€(suchÐ ð@ Ðas€the€original€petition)€or€a€type€of€disposition€that€would€be€listed€in€the€court€order.€These€filingsÐ à0 Ðmust€be€pre„defined€and€(in€non„automatedÔ#†IX]XX X]E¼#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€jurisdictions)€selected€by€clerk€personnel€from€€a€€listÐ Ð  Ðon€a€revised€data€collection€form€dedicated€specifically€to€CINA,€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô,€and€Adoption€cases.Ð À! ÐPrograms€in€the€automated€jurisdictions€will€have€to€be€revised€in€order€to€conform€to€the€newÐ °"  Ðstandards.€Ð  #ð! ÐÌSince€basic€case€information€regarding€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€was€revised€onlyÔ#†IX]XX X]Á#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€recentlyÔ#†IX]XX X]*Ã#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô,€the€examples€providedÐ €%Ð # Ðbelow€apply€only€to€CINA€cases.€Based€upon€information€collected€€during€file€reviews,€theÐ p&À!$ Ðfollowing€list€of€variables€is€proposed€for€inclusion€as€part€of€the€new€information€system€for€basicÐ `'°"% Ðcase€statistics.Ð P( #& ÐÌÐ 0*€%( ЇÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òOriginal€Filing:ó óÐ ° ÐÌ1.à  àPetition€for€Continued€Shelter€Care.Ð à Ð2.à  àPetition€for€Child€in€Need€of€à h àà À àAssistance€(only€in€cases€initiated€as€à Ð ànon„Ð €Ð Ðshelter€care).Ð pÀ ÐÌò òOriginal€Termination:ó óÐ P  ÐÌ1.à  àDismissed€by€the€Court.Ð 0€ Ð2.à  àWithdrawn€by€Department€of€Social€à À àServices.Ð  p Ð3.à  àCommitted€to€Department€of€Social€à À àServices.Ð ` Ð4.à  àCommitted€to€Department€of€Social€à À àServices€and€Department€of€Health€à x àand€MentalÐ P ÐHygieneÔ#†IX]XX X]uÃ#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô.Ð ð@ Ð5.à  àCommitted€to€Department€of€Health€à À àand€Mental€Hygiene€HÔ#†IX]XX X]îÇ#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôospital.Ð à0 Ð6.à  àCommitted€to€Department€Social€à À àServices€and€Department€Juvenile€à x àJustice.Ð Ð  Ð7.à  àCommitted€to€Department€of€Social€à À àServices€for€Relative€Placement.Ð À! Ð8.à  àCommitted€toóó€òòDepartment€of€Social€à À àServicesÔ#†IX]XX X]–È#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€for€Placement€with€a€à x àSpecificÐ °"  ÐCaretaker.Ð  #ð! Ð9.à  àCustody/Guardianship€to€a€Relative€or€à  àother€Caretaker.Ð $à" Ð10.à  àOrder€of€Protective€Supervision.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌò òRe„Open:Ð `'°"% ÐÌó ó1.à  àReview€Hearing€„€Permanency€Plan.Ð @)$' Ð2.à  àReview€Hearing€„€Emergency.Ð 0*€%( Ð3.à  àReview€Hearing€„€Other€Review.Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* Ðò òTerminate€(Re„Open):Ð ° Ðó óÌ1.à  àPlacement€Continued.Ð à Ð2.à  àPlacement€Modified.Ð €Ð Ð3.à  àRecision€of€Commitment.Ð pÀ ÐÌDue€to€its€extreme€age,€it€is€unlikely€that€the€present€Statewide€data€collection€system€can€beÐ P   Ðmodified€sufficiently€to€conform€to€Year€2000€standards.€Therefore,€it€is€imperative€that€developmentÐ @  Ðof€a€€new€automated€system,€which€should€contain€the€new€data€elements,€be€completed€in€sufficientÐ 0 € Ðtime€for€extensive€testing€prior€to€the€end€of€1999.óóò òòòÐ  p  ÐÌÌRecommendation€1.2€„€Responsibility€for€Revising€Terminology.óóó óÐ ð@  ÐÌò òA€joint€committee,€comprised€of€members€of€the€Committee€on€Juvenile€Law€and€the€Ð Ð  ÐCommittee€on€Family€and€Domestic€Relations€Law,€should€be€formed€to€develop€specificÐ À Ðuniform€€guidelines€regarding€the€terminology€utilized€for€information€collected€andÐ ° Ðmaintained€by€the€Judiciary€for€Child€In€Need€of€Assistance,€Termination€of€Parental€Rights,Ð  ð Ðand€Adoption€cases.ó óÐ à ÐÌòòAs€part€of€this€process,€the€Department€of€Human€Resources,€the€Ô_ÔFCRBÔ_ÔÔ#†IX]XX X]3Ê#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€and€all€other€appropriateÐ pÀ Ðagencies,€should€be€consulted€regularlyÔ#†IX]XX X]¢Ñ#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô.€Specific€focus€should€be€given€to€enabling€the€€sharing€ofÐ `° Ðinformation€€between€the€new€Uniform€Court€System€(UCS)€and€the€new€State€Automated€ChildÐ P  ÐWelfare€Information€€System€(Ô_ÔSACWISÔ_Ô)€under€development€by€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô.óó€Ô#†IX]XX X]:Ò#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔÐ @ ÐÔ#†IX]XX X]½Ó#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔòòÌò òóóòòRecommendation€1.3€„€Trainingóóòòó óÐ  p ÐÌóóò òUpon€completion€of€the€reassessment,€but€prior€to€the€implementation€of€Recommendation€1.2,Ð P Ðtraining€should€be€provided€to€the€Clerkððs€employees€who€process€these€cases.€A€revisedÐ ð@ Ðtraining€manual€should€be€developed€and€issued.€Regional€training€also€should€be€providedÐ à0 Ðto€the€Clerkððs€employees.ó óòòÐ Ð  ÐóóÌòòThe€importance€of€accuracy€in€the€collection€of€data€needs€to€be€demonstrated€to€appropriate€clerkÐ °"  Ðand€court€personnel.€€Ô#†IX]XX X]Ô#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔÐ  #ð! ÐÌò òóóòòRecommendation€1.4€„€Reportsóóòòó óÐ €%Ð # ÐÌò òóóFollowing€implementation€of€these€recommendations,€€monthly€reports€should€be€provided€toÐ `'°"% Ðlocal€jurisdictions,€especially€Clerksðð€Offices,€detailing€the€extent€of€activity€reported€by€thatÐ P( #& Ðjurisdiction€in€the€previous€month.Ð @)$' Ðòòó óÌóóò òòòRecommendation€1.5€„€Inventory€of€Open€Casesóóó óòòÐ  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* Ðóóò òUpon€initiation€of€Recommendation€1.2,€an€inventory€of€€open€cases€existing€at€that€timeÐ ° Ðshould€be€undertaken€to€validate€and€€in€order€to€conform€their€status€to€the€guidelines€forÐ  ð Ðbasic€case€statistics.Ð à ÐÌòòó óThis€inventory€should€commence€upon€implementation€of€the€new€guidelines€on€July€1,€1998€and€beÐ pÀ Ðcompleted€by€June€30,€1999.€As€much€as€possible,€funding€for€contractual€employees€who€willÐ ` ° Ðundertake€this€project€should€be€supplied€from€the€Foster€Care€Court€Improvement€Grant.Ð P   Ðóóò òòòÌRecommendation€1.6€„€Clarifying€and€Enhancing€the€Collection€of€Basic€Case€Statistics€„€FilingÐ 0 € ÐPracticeóóó óòòÐ  p  ÐÌóóò òThe€Standing€Committee€on€Rules€of€Practice€and€Procedure€should€propose,€and€the€CourtÐ P  Ðof€Appeals€adopt,€a€rule€requiring€attorneys€representing€the€local€departments€of€socialÐ ð@  Ðservices€to€submit€for€filing€a€separate€Child€In€Need€of€Assistance,€Termination€of€ParentalÐ à0  ÐRights,€or€Adoption€petition€for€each€child,€rather€than€one€petition€for€multiple€children.Ð Ð  ÐÌòòó óThis€rule€change€should€be€accompanied€by€an€amendment€to€the€Fee€Schedule€eliminating€theÐ ° Ðoption€of€the€court€to€assess€filing€fees€in€CINA€or€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases.óóÔ#†IX]XX X]½Ö#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€€òòIn€addition,€this€measure€should€notÐ  ð Ðpreclude€efforts€by€the€courts€to€coordinate€hearings€of€siblings.óóÐ à ÐÔ#†IX]XX X]“Þ#ÔÐ  €Ð ÐÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔÑ€2PÔÑÑ€\F,ÑÌò òÓ  ÓCHAPTER€TWOòòÐ  ð ÐÌóóJudges€and€Masters€in€the€Juvenile€Courtó óÐ €Ð ÐÓÇßÓÌÌTable€of€Contentsà‚`"`"I(#.H H à16ˆÐ P   ÐÌà  àINTRODUCTIONà‚`"`"I(#.ì ì à17ˆÐ 0 € ÐÌà  àEXPERIENCE€AND€TRAINING€OF€JUDGES€AND€MASTERS€IN€THE€Ð `  Ðà  àJUVENILE€COURTà‚V!V!F(#.Ž Ž à17„19ˆÐ P  ÐÌò òòò2.1à  àRecommendation€„€Training€of€Juvenile€Judges€and€Masters€€„€Ð à0  Ðà  àInitial€Assignmentóóà‚`"`"I(#.  !àó ó19ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌò òòò2.2à  àRecommendation€„€Training€of€Juvenile€Judges€and€Masters€„Ð ° Ðà  àSemi„Annual€Eventsà‚`"`"I(#.¶ ¶ !àóóó ó20ˆÐ  ð ÐÌò òòò2.3à  àRecommendation€„€Training€of€Juvenile€Judges€and€Masters€„€Ð €Ð Ðà  àAnnual€Conferenceóóà‚`"`"I(#.f f àó ó20ˆÐ pÀ ÐÌà  àPROCEDURES€FOR€ASSIGNMENT€TO€THE€JUVENILE€COURTà‚`"`"I(#.ºº>à21ˆÐ P  ÐÌò òòò2.4à  àRecommendation€„€Assignment€Procedures€for€Judges€and€Mastersóóà‚`"`"I(#.ººLàó ó21ˆÐ 0€ ÐÌà  àROLE€OF€JUDGES€AND€MASTERSà‚`"`"I(#.)à22ˆÐ ` ÐÌò òòò2.5à  àRecommendation€„€Role€of€Judgesóóà‚`"`"I(#..àó ó23ˆÐ ð@ ÐÌà  àRESOURCES€FOR€THE€JUVENILE€COURTà‚`"`"I(#.´´/à23ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌò òòò2.6à  àRecommendation€„€Adequate€Staffing€Levelsóóà‚`"`"I(#.ff8àó ó23ˆÐ °"  ÐÌò òòò2.7à  àRecommendation€„€Facilities€in€the€Juvenile€Courtóóà‚`"`"I(#.``@àó ó23ˆÐ $à" ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ,`'* ÐÑ\F,Ñâ \âÑ8€Y]YXXdðXXdð8Ñâ \âÑ  Ñà@ÌÌ$ìàò òINTRODUCTIONó óˆÐ ° ÐÌÌThe€creation€of€the€juvenile€court€was€a€recognition€that€children€are€developmentally€different€fromÐ €Ð Ðadults€and€that€those€differences€should€be€considered€when€children€are€brought€before€the€court.€Ð pÀ ÐThe€caseload€of€the€court,€including€delinquency€as€well€as€child€abuse€and€neglect€cases,€€has€grownÐ ` ° Ðsteadily,€especially€in€recent€years.€With€that€growth€has€come€an€expansion€of€the€authority€of€theÐ P   Ðcourt.€In€addition€to€the€power€to€approve€the€removal€of€a€child€from€the€home,€the€juvenile€courtÐ @  Ðin€Maryland€has€recently€been€assigned€the€authority€to€terminate€parental€rights.€The€complexityÐ 0 € Ðof€the€activities€brought€before€the€court€has€alsoò òòòÐ  p  Ðó óóóexpanded,€due€primarily€Ô#†IX]XX X]‚ß#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôto€the€federalòòò ò€ó óóóAdoption€Assistance€and€Child€Welfare€Act€of€1980.òòò òÐ `  ÐÌDevelopment€of€Surveysóóó óÐ ð@  ÐÌThe€statute€governing€the€assignment€and€rotation€of€judges€in€the€juvenile€court,€Courts€Article€ðð3„Ð Ð  Ð803,€describes€a€variety€of€qualifications€for€assignment€that€seem€to€address€a€number€of€the€issuesÐ À Ðdescribed€above.€In€order€to€gain€a€better€understanding€of€the€assignment€of€judges€to€the€juvenileÐ ° Ðcourt,€their€background,€and€the€extent€of€available€training,€surveys€were€prepared€and€distributedÐ  ð Ðto€judges€who€were€identified€as€being€assigned€to€the€juvenile€court.Ô#†IX]XX X]ýê#ÔÔ‡X{õXXIX]ÔÐ à Ðà@ïïìàò òEXPERIENCE€AND€TRAINING€OF€JUDGES€IN€THE€JUVENILE€COURTòòó óˆÐ €Ð ÐóóÌUnder€Courts€and€Judicial€Proceedings,€Article€ðð3„803,€judges€assigned€to€hear€juvenile€casesÐ `° Ðshould€have€special€experience€or€training€in€juvenile€cases€and€the€problems€of€children€likely€Ð P  Ðto€come€before€the€court.€Ð @ ÐÌQuestions€were€submitted€to€judges€assigned€to€the€juvenile€court€to€ascertain€the€extent€ofÐ  p Ðcompliance€with€statutory€provisions.€The€responses€from€the€judges€and€masters€are€listed€below.Ô‡ô)9òXX{õÔÐ ` Ðà@Á Á ìàDid€you€have€any€special€experience€in€the€field€of€abuse€and€neglectˆÐ P Ðà@¦ ¦ ìàor€foster€care€in€general€prior€to€your€handling€juvenile€cases?ˆÐ È ÐÌÔ*…ƒ dd( dd ( ( dd ( ( dd ( °(#°(#…ÔÔ,5”d ÔÔ,ët” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 4€'''#X ¨X ¨ €ª€‚¨‚„„4Ðà@D D âàTypes€of€ResponsesˆÐ 6€'''#!P''' „„6Ðà@ÑÑ<Êà€JudgesˆÐ J€';#!P  ¨0 ª ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@aa âàYesˆÐ V€'C€"Ð!'  1@17„„‰1@‰VÐà@xx>Êà17ˆÐ i€'ZB€"Ð"  1@17 ˆ q 1@' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„iÐà@|| âàNoˆÐ V€'CÐ# #'  8@24„„‰8@‰VÐà@xx>Êà24ˆÐ g€''VBÐ# $  8@24 ˆ q 8@' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„gÐà@^^âàNo€AnswerˆÐ U€''B %p %''  ð?1„„‰ð?‰UÐà@¡¡?Êà1ˆÐQGE %p &  ð?1 ˆ0 ¡  ð?'' QÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà@™ ™ ìàIf€you€have€special€experience€in€the€field€of€abuse€and€neglect€or€foster€care,ˆÐ È*&, Ðà@Æ Æ ìà€please€indicate€where€you€acquired€your€experience.€ˆÐ +à&- Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð X,¨'. ÐÔ*rƒ dd5”d 5ët” ë°(#°(#rÔÔ,5”d ÔÔ,øt” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 4€'''#°° €«€‚¨‚„„4Ðà@ê ê âàSources€of€ExperienceˆÐ 6€'''#X¨''' „„6ЂJudgesÐ S€'D,X¨" ¨0 « ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„SÐà@ñ ñ âàOffice€of€the€Public€DefenderˆÐ U€'BØ('  @3„„‰@‰UÐà@¨¨AÑà3ˆÐ q€'bJØ(  @3 ˆ q @' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„qÐà@õ õ âàOffice€of€the€State's€AttorneyˆÐ U€'B(x'  @5„„‰@‰UÐà@¨¨AÑà5ˆÐ h€'YA(x  @5 ˆ q @' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„hÐà@Ÿ Ÿ âàAgency€AttorneyˆÐ U€'Bx È'  @2„„‰@‰UÐà@¨¨AÑà2ˆÐ h€'YAx È  @2 ˆ q @' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„hÐà@È È âàPrivate€PracticeˆÐ U€'BÈ  '  @6„„‰@‰UÐà@¨¨AÑà6ˆÐ h€'YAÈ    @6 ˆ q @' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„hÐà@ âàProbation€OfficerˆÐ U€'B h '  ð?1„„‰ð?‰UÐà@¨¨AÑà1ˆÐ f€''UA h   ð?1 ˆ q ð?' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„fÐà@Y Y âàFoster€Care€Review€BoardˆÐ U€''Bh ¸ ''  ð?1„„‰ð?‰UÐà@¨¨AÑà1ˆÐQGEh ¸  ð?1 ˆ0 ¡  ð?'' QÐÌÌà@1 1 ìàHow€many€years€of€experience€do€you€have€handling€CINA€casesˆÐ ð@  Ðà@§§ìàsince€becoming€a€Judge?ˆÐ ¸  ÐÌÔ*rƒ dd5”d 5øt” ø°(#°(#rÔÔ,5”d ÔÔ,Ct” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 4€'''#H˜ H˜  €ª€‚¨‚„„4Ðà@  âàExtent€of€ExperienceˆÐ 6€'''#ð@''' „„6Ðà@?öàJudgesˆÐ J€';#ð@ ¨0 ª ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@g g âàLess€than€one€yearˆÐ 6€'#pÀ' „„6Ðà@ÍÍBöà6ˆÐ J€';#pÀ ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@r r âàOne€to€three€yearsˆÐ 6€'#À' „„6Ðà@ÍÍBöà8ˆÐ J€';#À ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@£ £ âàFour€to€six€yearsˆÐ 6€'#`' „„6Ðà@ÍÍBöà5ˆÐ J€';#` ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@& & âàSeven€years€or€moreˆÐ 6€'#`°' „„6Ðà@¤¤Aöà20ˆÐ H€''7#`° ˆ q ' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„HÐà@^^âàNo€AnswerˆÐ 6€''#°'' „„6Ðà@ÍÍBöà3ˆÐ3)'° ˆ0 ¡  '' 3ÐÔ#†IôŽšòòô)9 î#ÔÔ‡ ôŽšòòIôŽšÔÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌà@55ìàDid€you€receive€any€training€in€CINA€casesˆÐ 8ˆ! Ðà@žžìàprior€to€or€after€you€began€to€hear€them?ˆÐ P" ÐÌÔ*rƒ dd5”d 5Ct” C°(#°(#rÔÔ,D”d ÔÔ,4t” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ /€'''à$à €z€‚¨‚ƒƒ/Ðà@O O êàTypes€of€ResponsesˆÐ 8ˆ% ÐÐ -€''' P&''' -Ðà@?þàJudgesˆÐ J€';#8ˆ' ¨ z ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ii êàYesˆÐ 6€'#P! (' „„6Ðà@ªªAþà13ˆÐ J€';#P! ) ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@„„ êàNoˆÐ 6€'# "ð*' „„6Ðà@ªªAþà29ˆÐ H€''7# "ð+ ˆ q ' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„HÐà@llêàNo€AnswerˆÐ 6€''#ð#@,'' „„6Ðà@ÔÔBþà1ˆÐ3)'ð#@- ˆ0 ¡  '' 3ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@± ± ìàIf€you€have€received€training€in€CINA€cases€after€appointment,ˆÐ (+x&5 Ðà@‘‘ìàplease€indicate€the€source€of€the€training.ˆÐ ð+@'6 ЇÔ*rƒ!" ddD”d D4t” 4°(#°(#rÔÔ,X”d ÔÔ, t” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ /€'''°° €z€‚¨‚ƒƒ/Ðà@\\ôàSources€of€TrainingˆÐ -€'''X¨''' -Ðà@››@ àNumber€ofˆÐ X¨ Ðà@©©@ àResponsesˆÐ J€';# p ¨ z ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ËËôàJudicial€Instituteà@@ôô$ôàˆÐ 6€'#pÀ' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à5ˆÐ J€';#pÀ ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐÓ  ÓNational€Conference€of€Juvenile€and€Family€Court€JudgesÐ ?€',!À ' „„?Ðà@ÞÞD à2ˆÐ J€';#À ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@½½ ôàIn„HouseˆÐ 6€'# `' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à1ˆÐ H€''7# `  ˆ q ' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„HÐÓ  ÓUnspecifiedÐ ?€'',!` °  '' „„?Ðà@ÞÞD à5ˆÐ3)'` °  ˆ0 ¡  '' 3ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌà@± ± ìàIf€you€have€received€training€in€CINA€cases€after€appointment,ˆÐ °  Ðà@ŸŸìàplease€indicate€the€extent€of€the€training.ˆÐ xÈ  ÐÌÔ*rƒ#$ ddX”d X t” !"°(#°(#rÔÔ,X”d ÔÔ, t” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ /€'''X X  €z€‚¨‚ƒƒ/Ðà@ŠŠôàExtent€of€TrainingˆÐ -€'''° ''' -Ðà@››@ àNumber€ofˆÐ °  Ðà@©©@ àResponsesˆÐ J€';#xÈ  ¨ z ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ûûôàUp€to€one€hourˆÐ 6€'#È' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à1ˆÐ J€';#È ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ˆˆôàOne€to€three€hoursˆÐ 6€'#h' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à5ˆÐ J€';#h ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ÛÛ!ôàOne€dayˆÐ 6€'#h¸' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à2ˆÐ J€';#h¸ ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@­­ ôàTwo€daysˆÐ 6€'#¸' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à1ˆÐ H€''7#¸ ˆ q ' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„HÐà@ggôàThree€days€or€moreˆÐ 6€''#X'' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à4ˆÐ3)'X ˆ0 ¡  '' 3ÐÌÌà@  ìàDo€you€receive,€or€have€access€to,€written€materials€related€to€CINA€issues;ˆÐ à  Ðà@  ìàsuch€as€national€publications€or€appellate€decisions?ˆÐ X¨! ÐÌÔ*rƒ&( ddX”d X t” #$°(#°(#rÔÔ,X”d ÔÔ, t” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ /€'''è8#è8 €z€‚¨‚ƒƒ/Ðà@YYôàTypes€of€ResponsesˆÐ -€'''à$''' -Ðà@››@ àNumber€ofˆÐ à% Ðà@©©@ àResponsesˆÐ J€';#X¨& ¨ z ''' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ss#ôàYesˆÐ 6€'#¨ ø'' „„6Ðà@´´C à35ˆÐ J€';#¨ ø( ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐà@ŽŽ#ôàNoˆÐ 6€'#ø!H)' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à6ˆÐ H€''7#ø!H* ˆ q ' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„HÐà@vv ôàNo€AnswerˆÐ 6€''#H#˜+'' „„6Ðà@ÞÞD à1ˆÐ3)'H#˜, ˆ0 ¡  '' 3ÐÔ#†IôŽšòò ôŽšt#ÔÔ‡ô)9òòIôŽšÔÌÔ#†X{õXòô)9–ð#ÔÌThe€survey€results€indicate€a€significant€lack€of€CINA€training.€€It€is€recommended€that€theÐ ø%H!. Ðfollowing€measures€be€taken€to€rectify€this€situation.€Ð è&8"/ ÐÌò òòòÔ#†IX]XXX{õ#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔRecommendation€2.1€„€Training€of€Juvenile€Judges€and€Masters€„€Initial€AssignmentÐ È($1 ÐÌóóUpon€notification€of€such€an€assignment,€the€newly€appointed€judge€or€master€should€beÐ ¨*ø%3 Ðprovided€with€both€appropriate€written€materials,€including€a€revised€and€updated€version€ofÐ ˜+è&4 Ðthe€Ô_ÔBenchbookÔ_Ô,€and€video€instruction€programs€prior€to€the€beginning€of€their€assignment.òòÐ ° ÐÌRecommendation€2.2€„€Training€of€Juvenile€Judges€and€Masters€„€Semi„Annual€EventsÐ à ÐÌóóThe€Judiciary€of€the€State€of€Maryland€should€initiate,€and€the€Judicial€Institute€administer,Ð pÀ Ðregional€single€topic€training€programs€that€would€be€scheduled€for€the€afternoon€and/orÐ ` ° Ðevening.€These€programs€should€occur€semi„annually.òòÐ P   ÐÌRecommendation€2.3€„€Training€of€Juvenile€Judges€and€Masters€„€Annual€Conferenceóóó óÐ 0 € ÐÌò òThe€Judiciary€of€the€State€of€Maryland€should€provide€for,€and€the€Judicial€InstituteÐ `  Ðadminister,€€a€yearly€conference€dedicated€to€the€training€of€judges€and€masters€in€casesÐ P  Ðinvolving€abused€and€neglected€children.€The€first€annual€conference€should€be€scheduled€forÐ ð@  ÐSeptember€of€1998€with€funding€included€as€a€separate€line€item€in€the€Judiciaryððs€FY€1999Ð à0  Ðbudget.€ó óÐ Ð  ÐÌòòThe€content€of€the€conference€should€include€legislative€updates,€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€administrative€requirements,Ð ° Ðnew€federal€mandates,€appellate€decisions,€automation,€and€procedural€changes€required€by€newÐ  ð Ðstatute€and/or€rule.€Holding€the€conference€in€September€would€allow€for€a€timely€review€of€newÐ à Ðlegislation€prior€to€the€usual€implementation€date€of€October€1.€Participants€should€include€judgesÐ €Ð Ðand€masters,€then€hearing,€or€likely€to€hear,€these€cases€in€the€near€future,€relevant€Federal€andÐ pÀ ÐState€officials,€and€prominent€speakers.€Upon€approval€of€the€budget€expenditure€at€the€conclusionÐ `° Ðof€the€1998€legislative€session,€a€planning€committee,€selected€by€the€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€ofÐ P  ÐAppeals,€should€be€appointed.óóÐ @ ÐÔ#†IX]XX X]A#ÔÔ‡X{õXXIX]ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ#†IX]XXX{õÎ##ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôò òòòÌÐ  0*€%( Ðà@iiìàóóPROCEDURES€FOR€ASSIGNMENT€TO€THE€JUVENILE€COURTòòˆÐ ° ÐÌÌóóó óCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€Article,€ðð3„803€directs€the€Circuit€Administrative€Judges€whoseÐ €Ð Ðcircuits€include€Baltimore€City,€Prince€Georgeððs€County,€and€any€other€county€in€which€the€juvenileÐ pÀ Ðcaseload€requires,€to€assign€have€one€or€more€judges€assigned€specially€to€handle€juvenile€cases.Ð ` ° ÐWith€the€exception€of€Montgomery€County,€this€assignment€is€made€by€the€Chief€Judge€of€theÐ P   ÐDistrict€Court.€€All€assignments€are€subject€to€the€approval€of€the€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€ofÐ @  ÐAppeals.€However,€a€review€of€files€in€the€Court€of€Appeals€Clerkððs€Office€contains€few€requestsÐ 0 € Ðfor€approval€or€orders€signed€by€the€Chief€Judge€authorizing€assignment.€Ð  p  ÐÌOne€possible€explanation,€expressed€during€interviews€with€various€judges,€was€that€€the€notificationÐ P  Ðyielded€little€in€terms€of€concrete€benefits€for€the€assigned€judges.€However,€with€the€initiation€ofÐ ð@  Ðnew€training€programs,€including€the€development€and€dissemination€of€training€materials€to€newlyÐ à0  Ðassigned€judges,€the€need€for€more€specific€notification€procedures€with€greater€uniformity€becomesÐ Ð  Ðmore€understandable.€€ò òòòÐ À ÐÌóóó óWith€respect€to€the€appointment€of€masters,€Courts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€Article,€ðð3„813Ð  ð Ðprohibits€appointment€of€a€master€for€juvenile€causes€unless€the€appointment€is€approved€by€theÐ à ÐChief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals.€A€review€of€Court€of€Appeal€records,€similar€to€that€undertakenÐ €Ð Ðfor€evidence€of€assignment€of€judges€to€the€juvenile€court,€revealed€even€fewer€indications€of€theÐ pÀ Ðappointment€of€Juvenile€Court€masters.€As€with€judges,€it€can€be€assumed€that€little€in€the€way€ofÐ `° Ðconcrete€benefits€could€be€anticipated€with€formal€notification€of€the€assignment€of€a€master€to€theÐ P  ÐJuvenile€Court.€Indeed,€until€a€formal€request€from€the€Committee€on€Juvenile€Law€to€the€JudicialÐ @ ÐInstitute,€masters€were€not€included€on€the€Instituteððs€mailing€list€for€available€reference€material.Ð 0€ ÐIt€is€hoped€that€this€perception€can€be€altered€with€the€inclusion€of€masters€as€part€of€theÐ  p Ðrecommended€training€programs.Ô#†IX]XX X]$#ÔÔ‡X{õXXIX]ÔÐ ` ÐÌò òòòÔ#†IX]XXX{õh.#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔRecommendation€2.4€„€Assignment€Procedures€for€Judges€and€Masters€ó óóóÐ ð@ ÐÌò òCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€€should€be€amended€to€include€a€provision€establishing€aÐ Ð  Ðuniform€procedure€for€circuit€Administrative€judges€to€request€the€assignment€of€a€judge€orÐ À! Ðmaster€to€the€Juvenile€Court.Ð °"  ÐÌòòNotification€of€this€request€for€assignment€should€take€place€sufficiently€in€advance€of€theÐ $à" Ðassignment€to€ensure€that€training€materials€are€provided€to€the€assigned€judge€in€a€timelyÐ €%Ð # Ðfashion.€óóÐ p&À!$ ÐÌòòIn€addition,€procedures€for€notification€of€this€assignment€should€include€creation€of€aÐ P( #& Ðnotification€form.óóó óÔ#†IX]XX X]Æ.#ÔÔ‡X{õXXIX]ÔÐ @)$' ÐÌÌÐ ,`'* ÐÑ2PÔÑâ 2âÑ  Ñâ 2âÑ  ÑÌÌà@Ê Ê ìàà@@$$ìàò òROLE€OF€JUDGES€AND€MASTERòòó óˆÐ à ÐóóÔ#†IX]XXX{õ2#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔÌÌMany€juvenile€courts€throughout€Maryland€are€characterized€by€the€use€of€masters€rather€than€judgesÔ#†IX]XX X]3#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]ÔÐ ` ° Ðas€hearing€officers.€Indeed,€in€several€of€our€larger€jurisdictions,€the€juvenile€court€is€virtually€a€courtÐ P   Ðof€masters,€not€of€judges.€Ð @  ÐÌIt€is€important€to€note,€however,€€that€the€role€of€masters€tends€to€differ€from€jurisdiction€toÐ  p  Ðjurisdiction.€Of€particular€interest€was€the€role€played€by€judges€in€actually€conducting€CINAÐ `  Ðhearings.€The€following€table€states€the€number€of€cases€that€featured€hearings€conducted€by€judges.Ô‡ ôŽšòX X]ÔÐ P  ÐÔ*xƒ)*ddX”d X t” &(°(#°(#xÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ "€'''ð@ ð@  "ÐJurisdictionÐ 4€''#T¤ ''' „„4ÐTotal€Number€of€Cases€ReviewedÐ ?€''',!T¤ "'' „„?ÐCases€With€a€Hearing€ConductedÐ T¤  Ðby€a€JudgeÐ 2€'#!l "''' 2ÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô€CountyÐ MCxÈ '  4@20„„‰4@‰MÐ20Ð n€'[1xÈ "  4@20 4@  @4„„‰@‰nÐ4Ð P€'A?xÈ "  @4 @' PÐHoward€CountyÐ MCÔ$'  €A@35„„‰€A@‰MÐ35Ð n€'[1Ô$"  €A@35 €A@  @3„„‰@‰nÐ3Ð P€'A?Ô$"  @3 @' PÐPrince€Georgeððs€CountyÐ MC0€'  €S@78„„‰€S@‰MÐ78Ð n€'[10€"  €S@78 €S@  "@9„„‰"@‰nÐ9Ð R€''A?0€"  "@9 "@' RÐBaltimore€CityÐ U€'DŒÜ'' 0q@275„„‰0q@‰UÐ275Ð €€''mAŒÜ" 0q@275 0q@' Z@104„„‰Z@‰€Ð104ÐQGEŒÜ" Z@104  Z@'' QÐÌÔ#† X]Xò ôŽšò5#ÔÌThe€involvement€of€judges€in€Baltimore€City€is€proportionally€higher€due€to€the€full€time€assignmentÐ <Œ Ðof€a€judge€to€hear€contested€CINA€cases.Ð ,| ÐÌThis,€of€course,€is€not€a€full€reflection€of€the€involvement€of€judges€in€CINA€cases.€Overall,€exceptÐ  \! Ðin€orders€continuing€shelter€care€or€delinquency,€judges€are€required€to€review€the€reports€andÐ üL" Ðrecommendations€issued€by€masters.€As€the€Court€of€Appeals€has€acknowledged,€the€burden€placedÐ ì<# Ðupon€a€judge€reviewing€the€report€and€recommendation€of€the€master€is€substantial.€The€findings€ofÐ Ü,$ Ðfact€of€a€master€may€involve€a€review€by€a€judge€based€upon€hundreds€of€Ð Ì% Ðpages€of€testimony,€all€without€the€added€enhancement€of€personally€observing€witnesses.€Ð ¼ & ÐÌIn€examining€the€issue€of€a€review€by€a€master€in€a€custody€action,€the€Court€of€Appeals€questionedÐ œ"ì( Ðthe€advisability€of€referring€contested€custody€cases€to€a€master€(Ô_ÔDominguesÔ_Ô€v.€Johnson€323€Md.€486Ð Œ#Ü) Ð(1991).Ô_Ô× ƒ4 ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€The€same€concern€applies€in€contested€CINA€cases.€In€addition,€the€level€of€exceptions,Ð |$Ì* Ðwhich€require€a€judge€to,€in€essence,€duplicate€the€work€of€a€master,€must€be€considered.€Therefore,Ð l%¼ + Ðthe€extent€of€involvement€of€judges€in€hearing€juvenile€cases€should€be€defined€carefullyÔ#†IX]XX X]À3#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô.Ð \&¬!, ÐÌÌÌÌÌÐ ü+L'2 Ðòòò òRecommendation€2.5€„Role€€of€Judgesó óóóÐ ° ÐÌò òThe€Standing€Committee€on€Rules€of€Practice€and€Procedure€should€propose,€and€the€CourtÐ à Ðof€Appeals€adopt,€a€rule€clearly€defining€the€role€of€Circuit€Court€judges€in€the€processing€ofÐ €Ð ÐCINA€cases.€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòPossible€criteria€for€the€selection€of€CINA€actions€that€would€be€referred€to€judges€could€includeÐ P   Ðthe€following:€Ð @  ÐÌ(A)€certain€contested€adjudicatory€and€disposition€hearings€that€feature€an€extensive€number€ofÐ  p  Ðwitnesses€and/or€substantial€overall€length€and€complexity.Ð `  ÐóóÌòò(B)€a€percentage€of€new€CINA€filings,€selected€randomlyÔ#†IX]XX X]HC#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€by€clerks€or€other€administrativeÐ ð@  Ðpersonnel,€could€be€assigned€in€their€entirety€to€a€specific€trial€judge.Ð à0  ÐÌRegardless€of€the€criteria€adopted,€careful€consideration€should€be€given€to€the€effect€of€thisÐ À Ðrecommendation€on€the€judicial€workload.Ð ° Ðóóó óÌÌà@  ìàò òRESOURCES€FOR€THE€JUVENILE€COURTó óˆÐ €Ð ÐÌÌInterviews€with€judicial€and€non„judicial€personnel€indicate€serious€concerns€about€€the€level€ofÐ P  Ðresources€available€to€the€juvenile€court.€There€is€ample€reason€to€believe€that€resource€issuesÐ @ Ðcontribute€significantly€to€these€delays.€Furthermore,€the€juvenile€court€faces€a€substantial€increaseÐ 0€ Ðin€workload€pursuant€to€the€enactment€of€Chapters€595€and€596,€Acts€of€1996.€While€staffing€levels€Ð  p Ðhave€improved€recently€with€the€hiring€of€additional€masters€in€certain€jurisdictions,€a€full€reviewÐ ` Ðof€the€methods€utilized€in€determining€staffing€levels€should€be€undertaken.Ð P ÐÌò òòòÌÌRecommendation€2.6€„€Adequate€Staffing€Levelsóóó óÐ À! ÐÌò òSubject€to€implementation€of€Ô_ÔrecommendationsasÔ_Ô€to€€new€methods€of€collecting€and€compilingÐ  #ð! Ðcase€statistics,€the€Judiciary€should€develop€methodology€that€would€define€optimum€staffingÐ $à" Ðlevels€in€the€juvenile€court€for€judges,€masters,€clerks,€and€other€court€staff.ó óÐ €%Ð # ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€2.7€„€Facilities€in€the€Juvenile€Courtóóó óÐ `'°"% ÐÌò òUpon€determination€of€optimum€staffing€levels€in€the€juvenile€court,€the€Judiciary€shouldÐ @)$' Ðconduct€a€needs€assessment€of€the€facilities€in€the€juvenile€courts€and€devise€a€workableÐ 0*€%( Ðfunding€mechanism€to€pay€for€improvements.€€ó óÐ  +p&) ÐÔ#†IX]XX X]¥F#ÔÐ  ,`'* ÐÔ‡X;ùXXIX]Ôà@‹‹$ìàÑ€,ÑÔ#†IX]XXX;ù‹N#Ôò òCHAPTER€THREEˆÐ ° ÐÌà@ššìà€Representation€of€Partiesó óˆÐ à ÐÌTable€of€Contentsà‚`"`"I(#.H H à24ˆÐ pÀ ÐÌà  àRIGHT€TO€COUNSELà‚`"`"I(#.rrà25ˆÐ P   Ðò òÌ3.1à  àòòRecommendation€„€Broadening€Parent€Access€to€Representationó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.ÀÀJà25ˆÐ 0 € Ðò ò3.2òòà  àRecommendation€„€Use€of€Reduced€Fee€Panelsóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.  9à25ˆÐ  p  ÐÌà  àSTANDARDS€OF€REPRESENTATION€FOR€CHILDRENà‚ò ò D(#.ÈÈ7à.€26„28ˆÐ P  ÐÌò ò3.3òòà  àRecommendation€„€Establishment€of€Uniform€Standards€of€RepresentationÐ à0  Ðà  àfor€Childrenó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.  à28ˆÐ Ð  Ðò òÌó óà  àAPPOINTMENT€PROCESSà‚$!$!E(#."""à€28„31ˆÐ ° ÐÌò ò3.4òòà  àRecommendation€„€Prompt€Appointment€of€Counselóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.ÊÊ=à31ˆÐ à ÐÌà  àCONTINUITY€OF€REPRESENTATIONà‚`"`"I(#.  +à31ˆÐ pÀ ÐÌò ò3.5à  àòòRecommendation€„€Continuous€Appointment€of€Counseló óóóà‚`"`"I(#.22Aà32ˆÐ P  ÐÌà  àSELECTION€OF€ATTORNEYSà‚$!$!E(#.PP%à€32„33ˆÐ 0€ ÐÌò ò3.6à  àòòRecommendation€„€Evaluation€of€Quality€of€Purchased€Legal€Contracts€to€Ð ` Ðà  àRepresent€Children€in€CINA/Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€Casesóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.3à32ˆÐ P ÐÌò ò3.7òòà  àRecommendation€„€The€Role€of€the€Judiciary€in€the€Selection€Processóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.ddRà32ˆÐ à0 ÐÌà  àATTORNEY€COMPENSATIONà‚V!V!F(#.ŒŒ$à33„34ˆÐ À! ÐÌò ò3.8òòà  àRecommendation€„€Compensation€of€Attorneys€in€CINA€Casesóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.""Gà34ˆÐ  #ð! ÐÌà  àQUALITY€OF€REPRESENTATIONà‚V!V!F(#.²²(à34„38ˆÐ €%Ð # ÐÌò ò3.9òòà  àRecommendation€„€The€Role€of€the€Judiciary€in€Ensuring€Quality€Ð `'°"% Ðà  àRepresentation€ó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.  à38ˆÐ P( #& Ðò ò3.10à  àòòRecommendation€„€Mandatory€Caseload€Levelsóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.DD9à38ˆÐ @)$' ÐÌÐ   +p&) ÐÑ,Ñâ ,âÑ8€;ùXXdðYXXdð8Ñâ ,âÑ  ÑÑ8€Y]YXXdðXXdð8Ñà@÷÷"ìàà@@÷÷7ìàò òRIGHT€TO€COUNSELˆÐ ° Ðó óÌMaryland€law€is€clear€that€all€parties€in€CINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€Cases€are€entitled€to€counsel,€and€that€thisÐ à Ðright€attaches€at€the€start€of€the€proceedings:Ð €Ð ÐÌò òòòCINA€cases:€€óóó óA€party€in€a€child€in€need€of€assistance€proceeding€is€entitled€to€the€assistance€ofÐ ` ° Ðcounsel€at€every€stage€of€any€proceeding€under€this€subtitle€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€ðð€3„821(a)€&€Rule€11„106„53].€€AÐ P   Ðparty€is€a€child€who€is€the€subject€of€a€petition,€the€child's€parent,€guardian,€or€custodian,€and€theÐ @  Ðpetitioner€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€ðð3„801].Ð 0 € Ðò òÌó óA€child's€parent,€guardian,€or€custodian€in€a€CINA€proceeding€is€not€entitled€to€the€assistance€ofÐ `  Ðcounsel€at€State€expense€unless:€(1)€the€party€is€the€custodial€parent€or€guardian€of€the€child€allegedÐ P  Ðto€be€in€need€of€assistance,€(2)€the€party€is€€indigent,€and€(3)€the€proceeding€is€a€shelter€care€hearing,Ð ð@  Ðan€adjudicatory€hearing,€a€disposition€hearing,€or€a€review€hearing€in€which€the€State€has€moved€toÐ à0  Ðremove€the€child€from€the€custody€of€the€party€or€the€party€has€moved€to€regain€custody€and,€due€toÐ Ð  Ðthe€presence€of€complex€factual€or€legal€issues,€the€assistance€of€counsel€is€necessary€to€ensure€thatÐ À Ðthe€proceeding€does€not€entail€the€risk€of€erroneous€deprivation€of€custody€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„821(b)].Ð ° ÐÌThe€assessment,€however,€revealed€that€this€law€is€not€being€followed€consistently€throughout€theÐ à ÐState.€As€will€be€demonstrated€in€a€later€section,€the€process€of€appointing€attorneys€for€indigentÐ €Ð Ðparents€in€most€counties€results€in€virtually€no€representation€for€parents€at€shelter€care€hearings€andÐ pÀ Ðagain€at€review€hearings.€€Parents€who€do€not€qualify€for€the€Office€of€Public€DefenderÐ `° Ðrepresentation€will€likely€be€unrepresented.€The€assessment€found€that€the€local€department€of€socialÐ P  Ðservices€was€represented€100%€of€the€time€at€all€stages€of€the€proceeding€and€that€attorneys€wereÐ @ Ðalways€appointed€for€children,€although€in€some€of€the€smaller€counties,€the€shelter€care€hearingÐ 0€ Ðmight€be€held€without€the€child's€attorney€being€present.€€€Ð  p Ðò òÌòòRecommendation€3.1€„€Broadening€Parent€Access€to€Representation€óóÐ P ÐÌÔ_ÔCJÔ_Ô€ðð3„821€(b)€(1)€and€(3)€should€be€modified€or€removed.€€The€custodial€relationship€betweenÐ à0 Ðthe€parent€and€child€should€be€eliminated€as€a€factor€in€deciding€whether€or€not€the€parent€isÐ Ð  Ðentitled€to€representation.€€Custodial€agreements€change€frequently€during€these€proceedingsÐ À! Ðand€parents€should€have€equal€access€to€representation.€€Additionally,€attorneys€for€parentsÐ °"  Ðshould€be€available€to€represent€those€seeking€representation€at€the€shelter€care€hearing€andÐ  #ð! Ðat€review€hearings.Ð $à" ÐÌòòRecommendation€€3.2€„€Use€of€Reduced€Fee€PanelsóóÐ p&À!$ ÐÌThe€Judiciary€should€be€encouraged€to€look€to€other€sources€of€attorneys€€available€for€theÐ P( #& Ðrepresentation€of€parents€who€fall€just€above€the€Ô_ÔindigencyÔ_Ô€guidelines.€€Services€of€reduced€feeÐ @)$' Ðpanels€who€have€been€screened€by€the€judges€and€who€have€at€least€some€minimum€amountÐ 0*€%( Ðof€training€in€CINA€issues€should€be€sought€out.Ð  +p&) Ðòòó óÐ ,`'* ÐRepresentation€should€be€more€accessible€in€order€to€comply€with€the€Ô_ÔNCJFCJÔ_Ô€Resource€GuidelinesÐ ° Ðwhich€state€€that€"each€party€must€be€competently€and€diligently€represented€in€order€for€juvenileÐ  ð Ðand€family€courts€to€function€effectively."€€Each€party€should€have€access€to€representation€at€eachÐ à Ðstage€of€the€proceedings,€especially€in€any€proceeding€bearing€on€parents'€rights€to€custody€of€theirÐ €Ð Ðchildren.× ƒ` ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€ò òóóÐ pÀ ÐÌòòÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases:óó€€ó óIn€an€involuntary€termination€of€parental€rights€proceeding,€the€court€shall€appointÐ P   Ðseparate€counsel€to€represent€an€individual€who€is€the€subject€of€the€proceeding€and€an€indigentÐ @  Ðparent€is€represented€by€the€Public€Defender.€[FL€5„323(a)(1)(ir)€&€(b)(1),€Rule€9„106(a)].Ð 0 € ÐÌJurisdictions€again€are€interpreting€differently€when€the€right€to€counsel€attaches€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_ÔÐ `  Ðproceedings.€€In€some€counties,€the€process€of€appointing€an€attorney€for€the€parent€will€not€beginÐ P  Ðuntil€a€parent€is€located,€is€served,€files€a€notice€of€objection,€and€requests€counsel€(which€can€be€1„2Ð ð@  Ðyears€after€filing),€and€counsel€for€the€child€is€€appointed€after€that.€€In€other€counties,€counsel€forÐ à0  Ðthe€child€is€appointed€at€the€time€the€petition€is€filed€in€every€case.€In€a€very€few€jurisdictions,Ð Ð  Ðcounsel€for€parents€may€be€appointed€at€filing€if€€DSS€knows€the€parents€will€object€to€the€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€orÐ À Ðif€the€parent€is€disabled.Ð ° ÐÌMaryland€Legal€Services€(Ô_ÔMLSPÔ_Ô),€a€program€within€the€Community€Services€Administration€ofÐ à ÐÔ_ÔDHRÔ_Ô,€was€created€in€1971€for€the€purpose€of€ensuring€legal€representation€in€the€circuit€courts€to,Ð €Ð Ðamong€others,€children,€in€proceedings€in€which€a€department€of€social€services€is€a€party€to€the€case.€Ð pÀ ÐTherefore,€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€controls€the€process€of€providing€counsel€for€all€children€involved€in€CINA€andÐ `° ÐÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€in€all€counties€in€Maryland€with€the€exception€of€Montgomery€County.Ð P  ÐÓ  Óò òÌSTANDARDS€OF€REPRESENTATIONÐ 0€ ÐÌÌÓ  Óó óNothing€in€the€Maryland€statutes€or€rules€addresses€an€attorneyððs€specific€duties€or€obligations€asÐ P Ðthey€relate€to€standards€of€representation€for€children€in€CINA€cases.€However,€in€addition€to€theÐ ð@ Ðright€to€counsel€provision€of€Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„821(a),€the€legislature€enacted€the€following:€In€CINA€cases€Ô_ÔCtsÔ_Ô.Ð à0 Ð&€Ô_ÔJudÔ_Ô.€Proc.€ðð3„834€adds€a€requirement€for€the€appointment€of€an€attorney€to€represent€the€òòinterestóóÐ Ð  Ðof€the€child€in€addition€to€the€requirements€relating€to€the€appointment€of€counsel€for€children,€whereÐ À! Ðit€appears€that€the€protection€of€the€rights€of€the€child€require€independent€representation.€€It€appears,Ð °"  Ðtherefore,€that€by€enacting€the€requirement€to€appoint€an€attorney€to€represent€the€best€interest€of€theÐ  #ð! Ðchild€in€certain€circumstances,€the€legislature€may€have€intended€for€the€right€to€counsel€provisionÐ $à" Ðto€require€attorneys€to€represent€their€clients€according€to€the€clientððs€wishes.€€Additionally€theÐ €%Ð # ÐMaryland€Lawyers'€Rules€of€Professional€Conduct€state€"A€lawyer€shall€abide€by€a€client's€decisionsÐ p&À!$ Ðconcerning€the€objectives€of€representation"€(Rule€1.2(a))€and€"When€a€client's€ability€to€makeÐ `'°"% Ðadequately€considered€decisions...is€impaired...because€of€minority...the€lawyer€shall,€as€far€asÐ P( #& Ðreasonably€possible,€maintain€a€normal€client„lawyer€relationship€with€the€client"€(Rule€1.14(a)).€Ð @)$' ÐÌThe€value€of€independent€counsel€for€children€was€first€recognized€in€the€landmark€case€òò€óóòòIn€re€Ô_ÔGaultÔ_Ôóó,Ð  +p&) Ð387€U.S.€1€(1967).€€Ô_ÔGaultÔ_Ô,€however,€did€not€suggest€a€detailed€model€of€competent€legalÐ ,`'* Ðrepresentation€for€children.€"Much€of€the€conflict€about€the€lawyer's€role€is€due€to€the€different€goalsÐ ° Ðmeant€to€be€achieved€by€having€a€representative.€€Representation€of€the€child€in€protectionÐ  ð Ðproceedings€has€a€dual€purpose:€€to€minimize€the€harm€to€the€child,€and€to€provide€the€child€with€anÐ à Ðadvocate.€€At€times€these€purposes€are€congruent;€at€times,€however,€they€diverge,€resulting€inÐ €Ð Ðconfusion€about€the€lawyer's€role."€(Representation€of€the€Child...p.€291)Ô_Ô× ƒc ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€€The€Juvenile€JusticeÐ pÀ ÐStandards€€Project€of€the€Institute€of€Judicial€Administration€and€the€American€Bar€Association€haveÐ ` ° Ðissued€standards€that€recommend€appointment€of€independent€counsel€for€any€child€who€is€theÐ P   Ðsubject€of€proceedings€affecting€his/her€status€or€custody.Ð @  ÐÌAdvocating€the€child's€wishes€versus€their€best€interest€has€long€been€the€subject€of€debate€inÐ  p  ÐMaryland€as€well€as€around€the€country.€€It€has€long€been€the€established€practice€of€the€Legal€AidÐ `  ÐBureau€(which€prior€to€1994€was€responsible€for€representation€of€almost€all€CINA€children),€toÐ P  Ðrepresent€the€child€client€under€guidelines€that€closely€resemble€the€òòÔ_ÔIJAÔ_Ô„ABA€Standards,óó€StandardsÐ ð@  ÐRelating€to€Private€Parties.Ô_Ô× ƒn ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€€The€standard€in€part€states€"Where€counsel€is€appointed€to€represent€aÐ à0  Ðjuvenile€in€a€child€protective€proceeding€and€the€juvenile€is€capable€of€considered€judgment€on€hisÐ Ð  Ðor€her€own€behalf,€the€determination€of€the€client's€interests€in€the€proceeding€should€ultimatelyÐ À Ðremain€the€client's€responsibility€after€full€consultation€with€counsel."€€In€1994€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€implementedÐ ° Ða€competitive€procurement€process€and€as€a€result€cases€were€transferred€to€seven€contractors/firmsÐ  ð Ðwho€contracted€with€the€Department€for€a€three€year€period€to€provide€legal€services€to€children€atÐ à Ða€specific€cost€per€case.€€The€Request€for€Proposals€for€FY'98€through€FY'2000€has€just€been€issuedÐ €Ð Ðand€the€approved€vendors€may€again€change.€€As€more€and€more€private€vendors€and€individualÐ pÀ Ðattorneys€are€becoming€involved€in€the€representation€of€children,€there€are€no€standards€orÐ `° Ðguidelines€in€existence€for€use€in€court€proceedings€in€Maryland.€€Ð P  ÐÌThe€responses€to€a€questionnaire€sent€to€over€100€attorneys€involved€in€CINA€proceedings€confirmedÐ 0€ Ðthat€attorneys€do€not€have€one€clear€standard€of€representation.€€€€Court€observations€also€revealedÐ  p Ða€high€degree€of€diversity€in€the€manner€in€which€attorneys€are€representing€their€child€clients.€€AtÐ ` Ðone€end€of€the€spectrum,€a€particular€attorney€in€one€jurisdiction€deferred€to€the€Court€to€make€aÐ P Ðdecision€in€the€"best€interest€of€the€child"€while€taking€no€position€in€the€case.€€Concerns€wereÐ ð@ Ðexpressed€by€some€members€of€the€Judiciary€as€to€the€value€of€having€an€attorney€for€the€child€inÐ à0 Ðsuch€circumstances.€€In€contrast,€an€attorney€in€a€different€county€was€criticized€by€the€presidingÐ Ð  Ðmaster€for€advocating€òòsolelyóó€what€the€child€wanted€and€it€was€suggested€that€she€could€thereforeÐ À! Ð"phone€in"€her€position€because€it€was€always€going€to€be€the€same.€Uniform€standards€would€helpÐ °"  Ðto€resolve€such€conflicts.Ð  #ð! ÐÌò òCourt€Appointed€Special€Advocates:ó óÐ €%Ð # ÐIn€addition€to,€but€not€instead€of,€an€attorney,€the€court€may€appoint€an€individual€provided€by€theÐ p&À!$ ÐCourt€Appointed€Special€Advocate€Program€(CASA).€€The€purpose€of€the€CASA€program€is€toÐ `'°"% Ðprovide€volunteers€whose€primary€purpose€is€to€insure€that€children€who€are€subjects€of€CINAÐ P( #& Ðproceedings€are€provided€with€appropriate€service€and€case€planning€and€give€the€courts€informationÐ @)$' Ðto€aid€in€making€decisions€in€their€best€interest.€€The€program€is€administered€by€the€AdministrativeÐ 0*€%( ÐOffice€of€the€Courts,€which€may€adopt€rules€governing€the€implementation€and€operation€of€theÐ  +p&) Ðprogram€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„834.1].€€CASA€programs€are€currently€operating€in€the€following€jurisdictions:€AnneÐ ,`'* ÐÔ_ÔArundelÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô,€Howard,€Montgomery,€St.€Mary's,€Talbot,€and€Washington€Counties€andÐ ° ÐBaltimore€City.Ð  ð ÐÌIt€is€unclear€whether€the€legislature€envisioned€that€the€child€would€be€represented€by€an€attorneyÐ €Ð Ðunder€Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„821,€as€well€as€a€guardian€òòad€litemóó€attorney€under€Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„834,€and€a€CASA€under€Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„Ð pÀ Ð834.1.€€Obviously,€the€resources€required€to€provide€this€type€of€representation€would€be€prohibitiveÐ ` ° Ðand€our€assessment€did€not€reveal€any€cases€where€this€was€occurring.€€We€observed€that€noÐ P   Ðconsistent€type€of€representation€is€being€provided.Ð @  ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€€3.3€„€Establishment€of€Uniform€Standards€of€Representation€for€Children€óóó óÐ  p  ÐÌò òA€task€force€of€the€child€advocacy€community€in€cooperation€with€the€judiciary€and€theÐ P  Ðlegislature€should€establish€uniform€standards€of€representation€for€òòchildrenóó.€€Specifically,€theÐ ð@  Ðstandards€should€articulate€whether€the€attorney€should€represent€the€wishes€of€the€child€orÐ à0  Ðwhat€the€attorney€considers€to€be€in€the€child's€best€interest.€€The€task€force€should€beÐ Ð  Ðappointed€in€the€Fall€of€1997€and€findings€should€be€presented€to€the€Rules€Committee€andÐ À Ðappropriate€legislation€should€be€drafted€for€introduction€prior€to€the€1999€legislative€session.Ð ° ÐÓ  ÓAPPOINTMENT€PROCESSÐ  ð ÐÓ  ÓòòÌÌòòDSS€Ð pÀ Ðóóó óóóThe€department€of€social€services€in€each€county€is€represented€by€an€attorney€at€all€CINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_ÔÐ `° Ðproceedings.€€The€attorneys€range€from€a€full„time€employee€of€the€department,€handling€multipleÐ P  Ðcases€daily,€to€the€Countyððs€or€Stateððs€Attorney,€to€a€law€firm€or€independent€practitioner€underÐ @ Ðcontract€with€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€to€provide€representation€to€the€Department€with€only€a€few€cases€per€year.ò òÐ 0€ ÐÌòòAgency€RepresentationóóÐ ` Ðó óEvery€judge€and€master€reported€that€the€agency€is€represented€by€an€attorney€at€each€and€everyÐ P Ðhearing,€except€for€three€judges€who€reported€that€the€agency€did€not€have€100%€representation€atÐ ð@ Ðshelter€care.€€Approximately€one„third€of€the€judges€reported€that€cases€are€regularly€transferredÐ à0 Ðbetween€agency€attorneys.€òòò òÐ Ð  Ðó óÌò òòòChildrenóóÐ °"  Ðó óóóIn€an€action€in€which€the€local€department€of€social€services€is€responsible€for€payment€for€theÐ  #ð! Ðservices€of€a€court„appointed€attorney€for€the€child€unless€the€court€finds€that€it€would€not€be€in€theÐ $à" Ðbest€interests€of€the€child,€the€court€shall€appoint€an€attorney€who€has€contracted€with€the€DepartmentÐ €%Ð # Ðof€Human€Resources€to€provide€those€services,€in€accordance€with€the€terms€of€the€contract€andÐ p&À!$ Ðstrike€the€appearance€of€a€previously€appointed€attorney€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„834(2)€&€FL€5„323(a)(2)].Ð `'°"% ÐÌPrior€to€FY'95,€the€State€entered€into€sole€source€contracts€with€the€Legal€Aid€Bureau,€Inc.€(LAB)Ð @)$' Ðto€represent€the€general€child€population€and€the€Maryland€Disability€Law€Center,€Inc.€to€representÐ 0*€%( Ðseverely€disabled€children.€€Additional€attorneys€were€available€through€the€Court€AppointedÐ  +p&) ÐAttorney€Program€(Ô_ÔCAAPÔ_Ô),€a€panel€of€about€400€attorneys€administered€through€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€butÐ ,`'* Ðindividually€appointed€by€the€court.€€During€FY'95,€cases€were€transferred€to€seven€contractors/firmsÐ ° Ð(including€LAB)€through€a€competitive€procurement€process.€€Note:€Montgomery€County€does€notÐ  ð Ðparticipate€in€the€procurement€process.€€Children€in€Montgomery€County€are€represented€by€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_ÔÐ à Ðor€by€a€Ô_ÔCAAPÔ_Ô.€€If€no€contractor€is€available€the€court€appoints€a€Ô_ÔCAAPÔ_Ô€on€a€case€by€case€basis.€Ð €Ð ÐÌAlthough€a€court€seemingly€chooses€an€attorney€the€court€in€actuality€sanctions€the€attorneyÐ ` ° Ðcontracted€by€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô,€absent€a€finding€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€it€is€in€the€best€interestÐ P   Ðof€the€child€that€this€appointment€not€be€made.€€During€the€procurement€process,€vendors€wereÐ @  Ðrequired€to€submit€technical€proposals,€including€the€qualifications€of€their€staff,€which€wereÐ 0 € Ðexamined€by€the€evaluation€panel.€€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€requires€resumes€to€be€submitted€when€new€staff€is€hiredÐ  p  Ðby€an€approved€vendor€.€€At€this€time€it€appears€the€quality€of€legal€representation€for€children€inÐ `  ÐCINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€rests€in€the€hands€of€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô,€which€is€the€parent€agency€of€the€petitioner€in€theseÐ P  Ðcases.€€There€is€a€State€policy€included€in€€the€Ô_ÔRFPÔ_Ô€requiring€that€the€contractor€must€agree€not€toÐ ð@  Ðfile€a€civil€suit€against€the€agency€without€prior€notice€and€consultation€with€the€agency.€€Ð à0  ÐThe€American€Bar€Association€Standards€of€Practice€for€Lawyers€who€Represent€Children€in€AbuseÐ Ð  Ðand€Neglect€Cases€(approved€by€the€Council€of€the€Family€Law€Section€in€August€1995€and€adoptedÐ À Ðin€final€form€in€February€1996)Ô_Ô× ƒC ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€seeks€to€enhance€the€judicial€role€in€ensuring€competentÐ ° Ðrepresentation€of€children.€€These€standards€suggest€that€courts€play€a€stronger€role€in€the€selection,Ð  ð Ðtraining,€oversight€and€prompt€payment€of€court€appointed€lawyers€for€children.€€This€includes:€Ð à Ðensuring€the€independence€of€the€attorney€from€other€òòparticipationóó€in€the€litigation;€establishingÐ €Ð Ðuniform€representation€rules;€enhancing€lawyer€relationships€with€other€court€connected€personnel;Ð pÀ Ðensuring€timely€appointments€and€entry€of€compensation€orders€at€the€time€of€appointment;Ð `° Ðdetermining€lawyer€eligibility€for,€and€method€of,€appointment;€€involving€the€judiciary€in€attorneyÐ P  Ðtraining;€ensuring€adequate€compensation;€and€controlling€attorney€caseloads.Ð @ Ѐòòòòò òÐ 0€ ÐParentsÐ  p Ðóóó óóóThe€Public€Defender€maintains€offices€for€CINA€representation€in€Montgomery€and€Prince€George'sÐ ` ÐCounties,€and€Baltimore€City.€€Parents€seeking€representation€must€meet€eligibility€requirements,Ð P Ðand€attorneys€are€appointed€via€staff€attorneys€or€panel€attorneys€throughout€the€State.€€All€requestsÐ ð@ Ðfor€representation€in€termination€of€parental€rights€proceedings€are€arranged€through€the€CINA€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_ÔÐ à0 Ðoffice€in€Baltimore€City.€€Again€the€court€has€no€role€in€the€selection€of€the€attorneys€appearing€inÐ Ð  Ðthe€cases.Ð À! ÐòòÌóóTimely€appointment€of€counsel€for€indigent€parents€can€avoid€serious€delay.€€€National€StandardsÐ  #ð! Ðcall€for€appointments€to€occur€immediately€after€a€termination€of€parental€rights€petition€is€filed€withÐ $à" Ðconsideration€of€an€attorney€who€represented€the€parent€earlier.€€Attorneys€can€be€instructed€toÐ €%Ð # Ðcontact€their€clients€immediately.€Parents€can€be€summoned€to€court€a€few€days€after€they€receiveÐ p&À!$ Ðnotice€of€the€case€and€counsel€can€be€appointed€and€should€be€present€to€discuss€the€case.€€ParentsÐ `'°"% Ðalso€can€be€given€the€name€of€their€attorney€the€first€time€they€receive€notice€or€the€first€time€theyÐ P( #& Ðcontact€the€court.€€(See€Guidelines....pp.€93)× ƒ| ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð @)$' ÐÌò òòòòòPromptness€of€€Appointmentóóóóó ó:Ð  +p&) ÐCounsel€may€not€be€appointed€for€parents€until€after€the€proceeding€that€results€in€losing€their€childÐ ,`'* Ðor€at€a€hearing€after€disposition€in€which€they€seek€to€regain€custody€of€their€child.€€In€jurisdictionsÐ ° Ðthat€do€not€have€Public€Defender€staff€at€the€courthouse€on€a€daily€basis,€parents€must€requestÐ  ð Ðappointment€through€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€office€in€Baltimore,€wait€to€receive€notice€of€that€appointment,€andÐ à Ðwait€to€be€contacted€by€the€attorney.€€The€adjudicatory€hearing€may€be€scheduled€prior€to€an€actualÐ €Ð Ðmeeting€between€the€attorney€and€the€parent.€€Ð pÀ Ðò òÌPercentage€of€Parents€Represented€at€Each€Hearing:€ó ó€€The€most€noticeable€finding€was€the€lackÐ P   Ðof€consistency€between€judges€and€jurisdictions€regarding€the€frequency€with€which€parents€areÐ @  Ðrepresented.€€Answers€ranged€from€0%€to€100%€of€parents€being€represented,€with€representationÐ 0 € Ðvaried€by€hearing€type.€€Parents€were€less€likely€to€be€represented€at€shelter€care€hearings€and€thenÐ  p  Ðagain€at€review€hearings€than€at€adjudication€and€disposition€hearings.€€Non„custodial€parents€wereÐ `  Ðrarely€represented€at€any€type€of€hearing.€€Mixed€responses€were€received€to€questions€regardingÐ P  Ðcontinuity€of€representation€as€well.€€Very€few€judicial€officers€reported€attorneys€representingÐ ð@  Ðparents€from€shelter€care€through€disposition€€and€even€fewer€reported€continuity€through€the€reviewÐ à0  Ðprocess.€€A€small€number€of€judicial€officers€also€reported€that€one€attorney€represents€both€parentsÐ Ð  Ðin€all€cases.€€That€procedure€has€been€shown€to€be€a€cause€for€postponements€and€continuancesÐ À Ðthroughout€this€study.€Ð ° ÐÌò òRepresentation€of€Children€at€Each€Hearing:€ó ó€Almost€every€judge€and€master€reported€thatÐ à Ðchildren€are€always€represented€by€an€attorney.€€However,€when€asked€at€what€stages€they€areÐ €Ð Ðrepresented,€a€few€judicial€officers€again€reported€that€some€children€were€unrepresented€at€shelterÐ pÀ Ðcare€and€review€hearings.€€Most€judicial€officers€were€unaware€of€any€training€or€experienceÐ `° Ðrequirements€for€appointment€to€represent€children€although€all€appointment€orders€must€be€signedÐ P  Ðby€the€court.€€Although€appointments€to€specific€vendors€were€often€continuous€through€theÐ @ Ðproceedings,€the€court€reported€there€were€a€number€of€times€when€the€specific€attorney€variedÐ 0€ Ðbetween€hearings.€€The€court€also€reported€that€attorneys€for€children€frequently€addressed€medical,Ð  p Ðschool€and€permanency€planning€issues€on€behalf€of€their€clients.Ð ` Ðò òÌó óSeventy„five€percent€of€judges€felt€that€social€workers€written€documentation€was€well€prepared€asÐ ð@ Ðdid€half€of€the€masters.€€No€judicial€officers€rated€the€workers€as€unprepared.€€There€was€moreÐ à0 Ðvariation€in€responses€to€questions€concerning€the€worker's€preparedness€for€oral€testimony,€withÐ Ð  Ðsome€judicial€officers€finding€as€many€as€40%€of€the€workers€unprepared.Ð À! ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€€3.4€„€€Prompt€Appointment€of€Counselóóó óÐ  #ð! ÐÌò òThe€court€should€ensure€the€prompt€appointment€of,€or€referral€to,€counsel€for€all€partiesÐ €%Ð # Ðentitled€to€representation.€€The€right€to€counsel€and€the€procedure€for€appointment€of€counselÐ p&À!$ Ðat€State€expense€should€be€articulatedó ó€ò òclearly€in€the€shelter€care€authorization€form€given€toÐ `'°"% Ðparents€when€the€child€is€removed€from€the€home.€€Ð P( #& Ðó óÌÐ  0*€%( Ðà@  ìàò òCONTINUITY€OF€REPRESENTATIONó óˆÐ ° ÐÌÌA€serious€concern€was€expressed€over€the€lack€of€continuity€in€representation€for€parties,€especiallyÐ €Ð Ðparents.€€In€some€counties,€€attorneys€are€permitted€to€withdraw€their€appearance€after€disposition.€Ð pÀ ÐThe€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€is€€precluded€by€statute€from€appearing€at€certain€review€hearings€and,€as€was€seen€duringÐ ` ° Ðone€site€visit,€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€as€a€matter€of€course€is€not€involved€in€review€proceedings.€€Appointments,Ð P   Ðonce€made,€need€to€be€continuous€throughout€at€least€the€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€process.€€Although€the€MarylandÐ @  ÐRules€call€for€service€of€the€petition€on€the€attorney€for€the€parent,€in€almost€all€cases€there€is€noÐ 0 € Ðattorney€on€whom€the€petition€could€be€served.€€Parents€and€sometimes€children€face€Ð  p  Ðdecisions€regarding€giving€up€all€rights€to€the€continuing€relationship€of€their€family€without€theÐ `  Ðbenefit€of€anyone€to€help€them€understand€and€come€to€an€informed€decision.€€In€some€of€the€largerÐ P  Ðjurisdictions,€attorneys€for€children€and€DSS€have€set€up€specialized€units€which€deal€only€withÐ ð@  Ðparticular€segments€of€the€case,€thereby€switching€cases€between€as€many€as€four€attorneys€for€fourÐ à0  Ðdifferent€types€of€hearings€in€as€little€as€a€year.€€Although€attrition€may€be€responsible€for€many€ofÐ Ð  Ðthe€changes€in€counsel,€agencies€involved€in€these€cases€should€make€efforts€to€avoid€the€transferÐ À Ðof€cases€between€attorneys€during€the€various€stages€of€the€proceeding.€ò òÐ ° ÐÌÌÌòòRecommendation€3.5€„€Continuous€Appointment€of€CounselÐ pÀ ÐÌóóOnce€counsel€is€appointed€to€represent€a€party€in€a€CINA€case,€the€court€shall€scrutinizeÐ P  Ðcarefully€any€request€to€strike€anÐ @ Ðattorney's€appearance€in€the€case€and€shall€make€efforts€to€ensure€continuous€representation.€Ð 0€ ÐIn€particular,€special€attention€shall€be€paid€to€appointment€of€counsel€for€all€parties€whoseÐ  p Ðlocation€is€known€upon€initiation€of€a€new€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€case.Ð ` Ðó óÌà@wwìàò òSELECTION€OF€ATTORNEYSˆÐ ð@ Ðó óÌÌò òòòRecommendation€3.6€„€Evaluation€of€Quality€of€Purchased€Legal€Contracts€to€RepresentÐ À! ÐChildren€in€CINA/Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€Cases.Ð °"  Ðóóó óÌò òAn€evaluation€of€the€quality€of€purchased€legal€assistance€should€be€conducted€by€anÐ $à" Ðindependent€agency.€€The€evaluation€should€make€recommendations€concerning€the€use€ofÐ €%Ð # Ðcompetitive€bidding,€a€staff€attorney€model€or€sole€source€contracts.€Consideration€should€beÐ p&À!$ Ðgiven€to€setting€a€floor€for€the€amount€that€could€be€bid€€per€case.€€The€evaluation€shouldÐ `'°"% Ðinclude€whether€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€is€the€appropriate€agency€to€administer€the€contracts€for€representationÐ P( #& Ðof€children.€€Consideration€should€be€given€to€including€minimum€qualifications€for€theÐ @)$' Ðawarding€of€contracts€to€represent€children€and€whether€contracts€should€be€awarded€on€aÐ 0*€%( Ðgeneric€per€case€basis€or€whether€specific€types€of€cases€require€a€differentiated€approach€toÐ  +p&) Ðfunding.€€Ð ,`'* ÐòòÌRecommendation€3.7€„€The€Role€of€the€Judiciary€in€the€Selection€ProcessÐ  ð ÐÌóóThe€authority€of€the€Judiciary€to€appoint€qualified€attorneys€should€be€enhanced.€€TheÐ €Ð Ðjudiciary€needs€to€ensure€the€independence€of€the€attorney€for€the€child€and€the€parents€fromÐ pÀ Ðthe€other€participants€in€the€litigation.€€€The€Judiciary's€role€in€reviewing€and€commentingÐ ` ° Ðupon€the€selection€of€vendors€in€the€representation€of€children,€with€specific€emphasis€onÐ P   Ðintroduction€and€monitoring€of€attorney€guidelines€for€training€and€experience,€should€alsoÐ @  Ðbe€clarified.Ð 0 € Ðó óÌòòThe€issue€of€the€most€effective€manner€in€which€to€provide€legal€representation€to€parties€in€theseÐ `  Ðproceedings€has€been€addressed€in€a€number€of€studies€commissioned€by€the€State.€€Specifically,€inÐ P  Ð1990€the€Maryland€Legal€Services€Corporation€evaluated€the€programmatic€and€fiscal€requirementsÐ ð@  Ðfor€publicly€funded€legal€representation€for€children.× ƒ‰ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€preliminary€report€states€substantialÐ à0  Ðsupport€for€the€services€being€provided€by€Legal€Aid€and€Maryland€Disability€Law€Center.€€StaffÐ Ð  Ðattorneys€were€generally€perceived€as€understanding€the€applicable€law€and€providing€very€goodÐ À Ðrepresentation.€€Recommendations€included€the€adoption€and€implementation€of€caseload€limits€forÐ ° Ðstaff€attorneys€and€increased€training€requirements€for€private€attorneys€and€staff€attorneys€as€wellÐ  ð Ðas€a€Statewide€system€of€representation€for€all€parties.€€The€Governor's€Commission€on€LegalÐ à ÐServices€Contracts€issued€a€€report€in€1992€after€being€given€the€task€of€creating€a€consistent,Ð €Ð Ðstandardized€process€by€which€State€agencies€could€procure€civil€legal€services€for€entitled€publicÐ pÀ Ðcitizens.× ƒŽ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€The€Commission€recommended€that€legal€services€be€procured€through€notice€to€potentialÐ `° Ðproviders,€issuance€of€requests€for€proposals,€evaluation€of€submitted€proposals€by€a€reviewÐ P  Ðcommittee,€and€awards€of€contracts€by€a€procurement€officer.€€The€report,€however,€cited€anÐ @ Ðexperiment€with€the€competitive€bidding€process€in€Ohio€that€was€deemed€a€failure€because€(1)€theÐ 0€ Ðsuccessful€bidders€either€under„bid€to€earn€the€contracts€or€underestimated€their€costs;€(2)Ð  p Ðsuccessful€bidders€wanted€only€simple€and€"clean"€cases;€(3)€the€bids€did€not€accommodate€theÐ ` Ðspecial€needs€of€eligible€clients€with€mental€health€or€other€problems;€and€(4)€the€system€did€notÐ P Ðadjust€for€significant€changes€in€law€and€procedure€which€took€place€during€the€contract€period.€Ð ð@ ÐThese€are€the€same€issues€the€competitive€procurement€process€in€Maryland.€€Additionally€thisÐ à0 Ðreport€along€with€the€report€recently€issued€by€the€Child€Welfare€League€of€America's€òòReview€of€theÐ Ð  ÐChild€Welfare€System× ƒ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×óó€urge€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€to€ensure€that€legal€services€for€children€are€not€contracted€toÐ À! Ðagencies€that€also€represent€parents€in€CINA€proceedings€(as€is€the€current€practice€in€MontgomeryÐ °"  ÐCounty).€€The€Ô_ÔCWLAÔ_Ô€report€also€recommends€that€additional€efforts€at€continuity€of€representationÐ  #ð! Ðfor€all€parties€be€encouraged.óó€à h àÐ $à" ÐThe€National€Council€of€Juvenile€and€Family€Court€Judgesðð€Resource€Guidelines€suggest€thatÐ €%Ð # Ðjuvenile€and€family€courts€should€take€active€steps€to€ensure€that€the€parties€to€these€cases€haveÐ p&À!$ Ðaccess€to€competent€representation.€€The€guidelines€state€that€courts€have€the€ability€to€positivelyÐ `'°"% Ðinfluence€the€quality€of€counsel.€€Ð P( #& ÐÓ  Óò òÐ  @)$' ÐÌATTORNEY€COMPENSATIONÐ  ð ÐÓ  ÓÌÌó óThe€issue€of€compensation€was€raised€over€and€over€again€by€virtually€every€participant€in€this€study.€Ð pÀ ÐProblems€ranged€from€the€inability€of€the€court€to€proceed€with€cases€because€of€the€€unwillingnessÐ ` ° Ðof€local€attorneys€to€accept€cases€under€the€limits€set€by€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô,€to€individual€attorneys€who€couldÐ P   Ðnot€afford€to€hire€independent€experts,€to€parents€who€did€not€have€the€money€available€forÐ @  Ðtransportation€to€their€attorneyððs€office,€to€salaried€employees€of€the€various€agencies€who€are€rankedÐ 0 € Ðamong€the€lowest,€if€not€the€lowest,€paid€attorneys€in€the€State.€€Ð  p  ÐÌò òMaryland€Law:ó óÐ P  ÐCompensation€for€the€services€of€an€attorney€appointed€to€represent€a€child€in€a€CINA€action€mayÐ ð@  Ðbe€assessed€by€the€court€against€any€party€or€against€a€parent€of€the€child€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€ðð3„821(e)].Ð à0  ÐÌCounsel€appointed€in€a€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€proceeding€may€be€compensated€for€reasonable€fees,€as€approved€byÐ À Ðthe€court.€€The€court€may€assign€the€costs€among€the€parties€as€the€court€considers€appropriate€[FLÐ ° Ððð5„323(d)].Ð  ð Ðò òÌó óTwenty„four€judges€responded€to€a€question€concerning€whether€attorneys€are€being€compensatedÐ €Ð Ðadequately€for€the€services€rendered€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases.€€Thirteen€or€54%€indicated€the€fees€are€fair,€nineÐ pÀ Ðor€37%€indicated€they€are€too€low€and€two,€or€8%€thought€fees€are€too€high.€€Attorneys€throughoutÐ `° Ðthe€State€expressed€concern€over€the€inadequacy€of€the€fees€they€received.€€Counties€where€panelÐ P  Ðattorneys€from€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€are€used€had€the€most€complaints,€not€only€about€the€level€of€the€fees€butÐ @ Ðthe€difficulty€in€attracting€qualified€attorneys€to€remain€on€the€list€without€increased€compensation.€Ð 0€ ÐOf€particular€note€were€concerns€expressed€by€attorneys€and€judges€in€Baltimore,€Cecil,Ð  p ÐMontgomery,€Prince€George's,€and€Washington€Counties.€€€€Ð ` ÐÌAttorneys€under€contract€with€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€receive€a€flat€fee€per€case€regardless€of€the€time€or€€complexityÐ ð@ Ðof€the€case.€€Fees€vary€among€vendors;€in€Baltimore€City,€ranging€between€$350€and€$440€per€caseÐ à0 Ðper€year.€€Attorneys€who€participate€in€the€Court€Appointed€Attorney€Program€(when€no€attorneyÐ Ð  Ðunder€contract€is€available)€submit€fee€petitions€to€the€court€with€copies€to€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô.€€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€requestsÐ À! Ðvoluntary€compliance€with€a€fee€limit€of€$75€per€hour;€though€some€attorneys€request€almost€doubleÐ °"  Ðthat€amount.€€In€Fiscal€Year€1995€the€average€cost€per€case€in€the€Ô_ÔCAAPÔ_Ô€was€a€little€over€$1000.Ð  #ð! ÐData€provided€by€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€for€FY'95€show€attorneys€appointed€for€children€in€14,129€CINAÐ $à" Ðproceedings€and€437€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€proceedings€(Note:€One€proceeding€may€involve€multiple€children.)€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌThe€maximum€allowable€fee€in€the€Public€Defender€Panel€Program€is€$1000€per€case€with€an€hourlyÐ `'°"% Ðrate€of€$35€in€court€and€$30€out€of€court.€€These€limits€are€set€by€Ô_ÔCOMARÔ_Ô€14.06.02.08.€€Bills€areÐ P( #& Ðsent€to€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€from€the€attorney€and€are€not€scrutinized€by€the€court.€€The€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€is€in€the€processÐ @)$' Ðof€standardizing€its€methods€of€handling€cases,€but€at€this€time€there€are€no€specific€criteria€for€whatÐ 0*€%( Ðthe€attorneys€should€be€doing€in€these€cases.Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* Ðò òòòRecommendation€3.8€„€Compensation€of€Attorneys€in€CINA€casesÐ ° Ðóóó óÌò òCurrent€levels€of€compensation€€are€too€low€and€should€be€increased.€€Compensation€practicesÐ à Ðcurrently€utilized€for€attorneys€representing€parents€and€children€should€allow€for€adjustmentÐ €Ð Ðof€compensation€to€reflect€the€length€and€complexity€of€the€proceedings.€€Of€€primary€concernÐ pÀ Ðis€the€amount€of€time€required€by€counsel€to€represent€properly€parties€in€contested€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases.€Ð ` ° ÐSpecial€attention€should€be€paid€to€the€need€for€expenditure€of€funds€to€conduct€in„depthÐ P   Ðindependent€investigations€and€contract€for€the€services€of€expert€witnesses.ó óÐ @  Ðò òÓ  ÓÌQUALITY€OF€REPRESENTATIONÐ  p  ÐÓ  ÓòòÌÌóóòòTraining€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€Casesó ó€Ð ð@  ÐóóÌAttorneys€were€asked€questions€about€their€training€prior€to€representing€parties€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases,€theÐ Ð  Ðlength€of€time€they€had€worked€in€their€agency€before€trying€their€first€case,€opportunities€to€secondÐ À Ðchair€their€first€case€and€by€Ô_ÔmentoringÔ_Ô€another€attorney€when€they€first€practiced€in€this€area.€Ð ° ÐSeventy„eight€attorneys€responded€to€questions€regarding€their€training€and€experience.€€Just€underÐ  ð Ðone„half€of€the€attorneys€said€they€had€received€training€on€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€issues€prior€to€handling€their€firstÐ à Ðcase,€with€67%€of€Baltimore€City€attorneys€having€done€so.€€A€high€of€80%€of€attorneys€in€PrinceÐ €Ð ÐGeorge's€County€stated€that€they€receive€ongoing€training€while€a€low€of€18%€in€Ô_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô€CountyÐ pÀ Ðanswered€yes€to€this€question.€€Sixty„six€percent€of€all€attorneys€responded€that€they€were€employedÐ `° Ðin€their€current€position€for€at€least€nine€months€before€they€handled€a€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€case.€€A€small€numberÐ P  Ðof€attorneys€in€Baltimore€City,€and€Baltimore,€Cecil€and€Prince€George's€Counties€indicated€they€hadÐ @ Ð0„2€months€experience€before€handling€their€first€case.€€Only€27%€of€the€attorneys€had€a€mentor€andÐ 0€ Ðonly€9%€had€a€second„chair€opportunity.Ð  p Ðò òÌòòQuality€of€Representation€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€CasesóóÐ P ÐÌó óThere€was€limited€ability€to€observe€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€trials€and€make€observations€about€quality€ofÐ à0 Ðrepresentation.€€The€judges,€however,€were€asked€to€comment€on€the€skills,€preparation€and€concernÐ Ð  Ðshown€by€DSS€attorneys,€parent's€attorneys€and€children's€attorneys€for€their€clients.€€Results€areÐ À! Ðshown€by€the€percentage€of€judges€throughout€the€eight€sample€sites€that€gave€each€response:Ð °"  ÐòòÌÌÌDSS€AttorneysÐ p&À!$ ÐóóÌÓ-°X$Å •Â’°œX-Óà $ àSkillsà Å à46%€Excellentà • à42%€Goodà  à8%€Averageà ’ à4%PoorÐ P( #& Ðà $ àPreparationà Å à79%€Wellà • à21%€Somewhatà  à0%€UnpreparedÐ @)$' Ðà $ àConcern€for€Clientà Å à79%€Concernedà • à21%€Somewhatà  à0%€UnconcernedÐ 0*€%( Ѐà $ à€à Å àà • àÐ   +p&) ÐÌòòParent's€AttorneysÐ  ð ÐóóÌÓ<°X$Å •Â’°X$Å •ÂÐ<Óà $ àSkillsà Å à44%€Excellentà • à33%€Goodà  à19%€Averageà ’ à7%PoorÐ €Ð Ðà $ àPreparationà Å à70%€Wellà • à30%€Somewhatà  à0%€UnpreparedÐ pÀ Ðà $ àConcern€for€Clientà Å à74%€Concernedà • à26%€Somewhatà  à0%€UnconcernedÐ ` ° ÐÌòòChildren's€AttorneysÐ @  ÐóóÌÓ<°X$Å •Â’°X$Å •ÂÐ<Óà $ àSkillsà Å à63%€Excellentà • à33%€Goodà  à4%€Averageà ’ à0%PoorÐ  p  Ðà $ àPreparationà Å à85%€Wellà • à15%€Somewhatà  à0%€UnpreparedÐ `  Ðà $ àConcern€for€Clientà Å à89%€Concernedà • à11%€Somewhatà  à0%€UnconcernedÐ P  ÐÌThese€responses€indicate€judges€are€pleased€with€the€overall€performance€and€preparedness€ofÐ à0  Ðattorneys.€Attorneys€for€children€received€favorable€responses.€There€were€some€isolated€problemsÐ Ð  Ðwith€the€skills€of€a€small€number€of€€the€parent€attorneys.Ð À Ðò òòòÌCINA€CasesóóòòÐ  ð ÐÌóóó óQuestionnaires€were€distributed€to€approximately€150€attorneys€identified€through€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€(attorneysÐ €Ð Ðrepresenting€DSS,€vendors€and€Ô_ÔCAAPÔ_Ô)€and€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€(staff€and€panel).€€Just€over€one€hundred€surveysÐ pÀ Ðwere€returned.€€Thirty„one€percent€(N=35)€of€the€responses€were€from€attorneys€representing€DSS,Ð `° Ð42%€(N=48)€represent€children€and€27%€(N=31)€represent€parents.€€Thirty„four€percent€(N=39)€ofÐ P  Ðthe€responses€were€from€Baltimore€City€and€13%€(N=15)€were€from€Prince€George's€County.€€OtherÐ @ Ðcounties€had€from€one€to€seven€responses.€€At€least€one€response€was€received€from€every€countyÐ 0€ Ðin€the€state€except€for€Dorchester€County.Ð  p ÐÌò òTraining:€€ó óA€significant€number€of€respondents€lacked€training€prior€to€beginning€to€representÐ P Ðparties€in€child€welfare€cases.€€More€than€half€of€the€attorneys€had€no€clinical€experience,Ð ð@ ÐÔ_ÔmentorshipÔ_Ô,€or€second€chair€opportunities.€€Forty€percent€of€respondents€reported€that€they€appearedÐ à0 Ðin€court€within€one€day€of€beginning€their€current€job.€€Almost€half€of€the€attorneys€had€no€priorÐ Ð  Ðexperience€in€the€child€welfare€area€at€all.€€There€do€appear€to€be€some€ongoing€trainingÐ À! Ðopportunities,€however.€€Fifty„five€attorneys€reported€that€they€had€attended€training€at€least€onceÐ °"  Ðper€year,€with€a€few€attending€as€many€as€4„8€Ô_ÔtrainingsÔ_Ô€per€year.€€An€overwhelming€number€ofÐ  #ð! Ðattorneys€reported€that€they€would€benefit€from€additional€training.€€Thirty„four€distinct€topics€wereÐ $à" Ðmentioned.€€Specific€areas€for€training€often€cited€were:€updates€on€new€legislation€(federal€andÐ €%Ð # Ðstate)€and€case€law,€special€education€issues,€welfare€reform,€and€interdisciplinary€training€offeredÐ p&À!$ Ðto€groups€of€attorneys€who€are€normally€on€opposing€sides.€Ð `'°"% ÐÌò òQuality€of€Representation:€€ó óJudges€and€masters€also€expressed€concern€over€a€ò òlack€of€advanceÐ @)$' Ðpreparation€by€counseló ó.€The€docket€often€was€delayed€due€to€attorneys€meeting€with€their€clientsÐ 0*€%( Ðfor€the€first€time€at€the€start€of€the€hearing€and€the€subsequent€need€for€negotiation€between€theÐ  +p&) Ðparties€once€everyone€had€a€position€in€the€case.€€Montgomery€and€Washington€Counties€wereÐ ,`'* Ðexceptions€to€this€problem.€€The€Montgomery€County€judges€begin€their€docket€promptly€at€8:30Ð ° Ðam€and€the€DSS€Attorney€in€Washington€County€holds€a€pre„trial€conference€on€all€cases€prior€toÐ  ð Ðthe€hearing€date€and€all€cases€are€set€for€specific€periods€of€time€throughout€the€day€based€on€hisÐ à Ðestimate€of€the€time€needed.€€Other€concerns€included:€DSS€failure€to€submit€€reports€to€the€courtÐ €Ð Ðand€other€counsel€in€advance,€and€lack€of€clarity€as€to€the€proper€role€of€child's€counsel.ò òÐ pÀ ÐÌó óInterviews€with€the€Judiciary€revealed€a€number€of€judicial€officers€were€concerned€with€the€qualityÐ P   Ðof€representation€being€provided€by€attorneys€who€were€under€contract€with€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô.€€Many€judgesÐ @  Ðfelt€that€these€attorneys€are€the€least€experienced€and€are€inadequately€trained€for€the€demands€of€theÐ 0 € Ðjuvenile€court€process.€€Responses€to€the€attorney€questionnaire€revealed€the€attorneys€representingÐ  p  Ðparents€were€least€likely€to€have€second€chair€and€Ô_ÔmentoringÔ_Ô€experience€and€less€likely€to€receiveÐ `  Ðongoing€training€in€CINA€issues€than€any€other€group€overall.Ð P  ÐÌò òCaseloads:€€ó óAttorneys€were€asked€questions€concerning€the€number€of€cases€they€got€each€year€andÐ à0  Ðthe€number€of€cases€they€handled€on€a€typical€day.€€It€became€clear€that,€in€the€large€urbanÐ Ð  Ðjurisdictions,€caseloads€are€quite€high€(the€6th,€7th€and€8th€Circuits€reported€the€highest€caseloads).€Ð À ÐAttorneys€for€DSS€were€found€to€carry€the€highest€caseloads,€with€as€many€as€500€cases€per€year.€Ð ° ÐCaseloads€of€over€300€per€year€were€reported€by€agency€attorneys€in€Baltimore,€Montgomery,€andÐ  ð ÐPrince€George's€Counties,€as€well€as€Baltimore€City.€€The€average€agency€attorney€caseload€per€dayÐ à Ðwas€eight€cases€with€22%€having€20€or€more€cases€per€day.€€High€daily€caseloads€were€most€oftenÐ €Ð Ðnoted€by€agency€attorneys€from€Cecil,€Prince€George's€and€Washington€Counties€and€BaltimoreÐ pÀ ÐCity.€Attorneys€for€children€also€reported€caseloads€of€€as€many€as€400€cases€per€year.€The€issue€ofÐ `° Ðappropriate€caseloads€is€difficult€to€examine€while€the€statistics€on€open€and€closed€cases€providedÐ P  Ðby€Judicial€Information€Systems,€as€explained€elsewhere€in€this€report,€are€deficient.€€The€AmericanÐ @ ÐBar€Association€has€proposed€a€methodology€for€calculating€appropriate€caseloads€and€the€Ô_ÔNCJFCJÔ_ÔÐ 0€ ÐResource€Guidelines€have€proposed€sample€minimum€time€requirements€for€various€stages€of€aÐ  p ÐCINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€proceeding€and€attorney€responsibilities€in€preparing€for€those€hearings.€€TheseÐ ` Ðcalculations€would€be€impossible€to€complete€with€the€scant€information€on€the€current€system.€€ItÐ P Ðoften€has€been€stated€that€in€these€types€of€cases,€€attorneys€should€never€spend€more€than€a€third€ofÐ ð@ Ðtheir€time€in€court€if€they€are€providing€appropriate€services€to€their€clients,€such€as€conducting€homeÐ à0 Ðvisits,€attending€special€education€hearings,€and€generally€monitoring€their€caseloads.Ð Ð  ÐÌThe€issue€of€attorney€caseloads€is€further€affected€by€the€passage€of€the€new€permanency€planningÐ °"  Ðlegislation,€which€now€mandates€court€review€every€six€months€after€the€10„month€review.€€In€aÐ  #ð! Ðnumber€of€jurisdictions,€hearings€were€being€conducted€only€once€every€eighteen€months.€€In€thoseÐ $à" Ðjurisdictions,€nearly€triple€the€number€of€court€hearings€will€be€held€without€any€proportionalÐ €%Ð # Ðincrease€in€attorney€staff,€court€personnel€or€judicial€officers.€€In€an€effort€to€address€this€issue€theÐ p&À!$ ÐCircuit€Court€for€€Baltimore€City€received€funding€for€two€additional€contractual€masters€for€a€oneÐ `'°"% Ðyear€period€to€give€some€assistance€€with€the€increased€number€of€hearings.€€The€intent€of€theÐ P( #& Ðlegislation€is€to€reduce€the€backlog€of€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€and,€thus,€to€promote€permanence.€€This€will€meanÐ @)$' Ða€greater€number€of€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€hearings.€Ð 0*€%( ÐÌThe€American€Bar€Association€Standards€stress€the€court's€role€in€ensuring€reasonable€lawyerÐ ,`'* Ðcaseloads.€€Standard€L„1€states€"trial€court€judges€should€control€the€size€of€court„appointedÐ ° Ðcaseloads€of€individual€lawyers€representing€children,€the€caseloads€of€government€agency„fundedÐ  ð Ðlawyers€for€children,€or€court€contracts/agreements€with€lawyers€for€such€representation.ðð× ƒ’ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€StandardÐ à ÐL„2€€lists€steps€that€judges€or€court€administrators€should€take€if€they€are€aware€these€caseload€limitsÐ €Ð Ðare€close€to€being€exceeded.Ð pÀ ЀÌThe€issue€of€agency€attorney€representation€was€addressed€by€an€ABA€project€entitled€òòEvaluatingÐ P   Ðand€Improving€Child€Welfare€Agency€Legal€Representationóó.× ƒ” ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€This€report€states€"ExcessiveÐ @  Ðlitigation€caseloads€may€lead€to€inadequate€preparation€for€hearings€or€trials,€as€well€as€burnout€andÐ 0 € Ðturnover€of€legal€staff.€€A€caseload€of€40€to€50€active€child€welfare€cases€appears€to€be€a€reasonableÐ  p  Ðsize,€fewer€than€40€is€preferable,€and€an€average€of€over€60€active€cases€seems€to€be€unmanageable.ððÐ `  Ѐ€à $ àÐ P  ÐCourts€can€set€prerequisites€for€appointments,€including€some€requirements€for€experience€andÐ ð@  Ðtraining.€€They€also€urge€juvenile€and€family€court€judges€to€advocate€in€State€legislatures€and€localÐ à0  Ðgoverning€bodies€to€provide€sufficient€funding€for€attorney€compensation.€€The€court€can€also€playÐ Ð  Ðan€important€role€in€educating€attorneys€including€volunteering€to€provide€training€and€publicationsÐ À Ðfor€continuing€legal€education€seminars.€The€Guidelines€go€on€to€list€those€areas€in€which€attorneysÐ ° Ðshould€be€trained€prior€to€becoming€involved€in€and€after€being€assigned€or€retained€in€child€abuseÐ  ð Ðand€neglect€cases.€(See€Guidelines...p.€23)× ƒ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð à ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€3.9€„€The€Role€of€the€Judiciary€in€Ensuring€Quality€RepresentationÐ pÀ Ðóóó óÌò òThe€Judiciary€should€exercise€its€authority€to€foster€the€appointment€of€adequately€trainedÐ P  Ðattorneys€in€CINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases.€€Funding€for€training€and€payment€of€fees€must€be€obtainedÐ @ Ðthrough€joint€efforts€of€the€advocacy€community€and€the€Judiciary€to€persuade€the€GovernorÐ 0€ Ðand€the€General€Assembly.€€Mandatory€participation€in€training€for€attorneys€representingÐ  p Ðall€parties€and€Ô_ÔmentorshipÔ_Ô€requirements€for€new€attorneys€with€initial€oversight€of€theirÐ ` Ðpractice€and€access€to€the€expertise€necessary€to€handle€complicated€cases€should€be€required.€Ð P ÐCompliance€with€the€minimum€standards€outlined€in€the€Resource€Guidelines€should€beÐ ð@ Ðencouraged.€Ð à0 ÐÌòòRecommendation€3.10€„€Mandatory€Caseload€LevelsÐ À! ÐóóÌOnce€minimum€standards€for€competent€representation€are€established€and€accurate€statisticalÐ  #ð! Ðdata€are€available,€maximum€caseload€levels€can€be€determined€and€limits€can€be€set€on€theÐ $à" Ðamount€of€cases€that€can€be€handled€by€each€individual€attorney,€for€all€parties.€€SpecialÐ €%Ð # Ðattention€must€be€paid€to€the€increased€frequency€with€which€an€attorney€must€appear€in€courtÐ p&À!$ Ðfor€six€month€review€hearings€and€the€increased€number€of€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€filings.Ð `'°"% Ðó óÐ  P( #& ÐÑ8€]XXdðYXXdð8Ñò òà@ÏÏ$ìàCHAPTER€FOURˆÐ ° ÐÌà@#ìàHearing€ContentˆÐ à Ðó óÌTable€of€Contentsà‚."."H(#.H H à€39ˆÐ pÀ Ðò òÌó óà $ àSUMMARY€OF€SITE€VISITSà‚$!$!E(#.ØØ#à€40„55ˆÐ P   ÐÌò ò4.1ó óà $ àòòò òRecommendations€„€Creation€of€a€New€CINA€Statuteóóó óà‚."."H(#.22=à€56ˆÐ 0 € ÐÌà $ àTREATMENT€OF€PARTIES€&€FACILITIESà‚V!V!F(#.˜˜.à56„61ˆÐ `  ÐÌò ò4.2à $ àòòRecommendation€„€Quality€and€Depth€of€Hearingsóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.nn;à58ˆÐ ð@  ÐÌò ò4.3à $ àòòRecommendation€„€Judicial€Involvement€in€the€Systems€Reform€Initiativesóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.Tà59ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌò ò4.4à $ àòòRecommendation€„€Development€of€a€Facilities€Review€Committee€to€Study€and€Ð ° Ðà $ àDevelop€a€Model€Court€Facilities€Planóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.ŠŠ2à60ˆÐ  ð ÐÌà $ àREASONABLE€EFFORTSà‚V!V!F(#.ÚÚà61„62ˆÐ €Ð ÐÌò ò4.5à $ àòòRecommendation€„€Specific€Reasonable€Efforts€Findings€by€Judiciaryóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.¨¨Oà62ˆÐ `° ÐÌò ò4.6à $ àòòRecommendation€„€Development€of€New€Statewide€Reasonable€Efforts€Formsóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.Sà62ò òˆÐ @ ÐÓ  ÓòòÐ  0€ ÐóóÑ€%F,Ñ€SUMMARY€OF€SITE€VISITSÐ ° ÐÓ  Óó óÌÌThe€one€thing€that€was€clear€from€the€site€visits€was€that€no€two€jurisdictions€in€Maryland€handleÐ €Ð ÐCINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€the€same€way.€€The€federal€and€state€laws€are€placing€increasing€demands€onÐ pÀ Ðthe€juvenile€court€with€each€court€interpreting€the€requirements€imposed€by€these€laws€differently.Ð ` ° ЀÌThe€quality€of€hearings€and€the€thoroughness€of€the€process€are€correlated€to€the€priority€given€inÐ @  Ðeach€individual€jurisdiction€to€the€issues€concerning€child€abuse€and€neglect€cases€and€theÐ 0 € Ðimportance€each€court€feels€that€these€cases€merit.€€In€many€counties€the€DSS€attorney€"runs€theÐ  p  Ðshow.ðð€€The€attorney€schedules€the€hearings,€notifies€and€essentially€appoints€other€counsel,€andÐ `  Ðcontrols€the€flow€of€the€docket.€€In€many€of€these€jurisdictions€the€normal€CINA€case€proceeds€byÐ P  Ðthe€presentation€of€a€court€report,€a€brief€proffer€from€the€attorneys€and€the€approval€of€the€reportÐ ð@  Ðfrom€the€judge.€€In€these€counties€it€is€often€rare€to€hear€a€judge€question€where€missing€parents€are,Ð à0  Ðwhat€efforts€have€been€made€to€reunite€families,€or€whether€there€is€progress€with€the€permanencyÐ Ð  Ðplan.€It€is€equally€rare€to€set€a€definitive€time€when€the€plan€must€be€achieved€or€changed.€€SomeÐ À Ðjurisdictions€require€the€parties€to€appear€in€court€or€at€DSS€for€a€pre„trial€conference€to€sort€out€theÐ ° Ðcontested€issues.€Others€argue€any€and€all€points€on€the€day€of€the€hearing€and€end€up€seeking€aÐ  ð Ðcontinuance€at€the€end€of€a€long€day€with€no€progress.€€In€certain€jurisdictions€where€the€court€takesÐ à Ða€proactive€role,€there€are€regular€meetings€between€the€court€and€the€parties;€applications€for€grantsÐ €Ð Ðto€help€improve€the€process€are€requested;€and€judges€actively€question€the€parties€about€progressÐ pÀ Ðin€cases€and€order€specific€services.€€There€are€courts€in€which€the€parties€spend€all€day€out€in€theÐ `° Ðhall€and€then€walk€in€the€courtroom€and€are€told€the€case€has€been€concluded€without€their€presence.Ð P  ÐChildren€may€wait€all€day€for€their€case€to€be€concluded€only€to€be€told€they€have€to€come€backÐ @ Ðanother€day.€€Ð 0€ ÐÌDuring€site€visits,€observations€were€made€concerning€the€hearing€procedures,€the€role€of€the€judicialÐ ` Ðofficer,€the€conduct€of€the€attorneys€and€their€relationships€with€their€clients,€the€physicalÐ P Ðsurroundings€and€the€number€of€hearings€being€conducted€during€the€court€session.€€The€ClerkððsÐ ð@ ÐOffice€was€visited€and€files€reviewed.€Interviews€with€judges€and€attorneys€were€conducted€orÐ à0 Ðspecific€questions€were€asked€if€there€was€not€sufficient€time€for€formal€interviews.€€In€WorcesterÐ Ð  ÐCounty€there€were€no€hearings€on€the€day€of€the€site€visit€and€in€Caroline€County€there€was€only€oneÐ À! Ðhearing€observed.€€Therefore€data€is€limited€in€those€sites.€€A€comparison€of€observations€at€theÐ °"  Ðâ âdifferent€sites€is€included€in€the€following€chart:Ð  #ð! ÐÔ&  Ôâ âÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÓÿ¿ÓÔ*…ƒ;< dd( dd ( ( dd ( ( dd ( )*°(#°(#…ÔÔ,‘ˆX ÔÔ,£hX ÔÔ,îhX ÔÔ,£hX ÔÔ,îhX ÔÔ,XhX ÔÔ,îhX ÔÔ,£hX ÔÔ,XhX ÔÔ,„hˆ ÔÔ+  ÔÐ >€'''+°° € €‚„‚ƒƒ„„… …>Ðà@ÆÆàObservations€in€Sample€CINA€SitesˆÐ M€''>&4„ „  '''  € €‚„‚ƒxƒ„„MÐSiteÐ 2€'#l¼'' „„2ÐÔ_ÔCalvertÔ_ÔÐ ;€',!l¼' „„;ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ°?#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔCarolineÐ ;€',!l¼' „„;ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæøB#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_ÔÐ ;€',!l¼' „„;ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ}C#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔHowardÐ ;€',!l¼' „„;ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ!D#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔMontgÐ l¼ ÐomeryÐ ;€',!òB' „„;ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ¤D#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔPrince€Ð l¼  ÐGeorgeððsÐ 2€'#òB ' „„2ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ@E#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔWashinÐ l¼  ÐgtonÐ 2€'#òB ' „„2ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæÛE#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÔ_ÔWicoÐ l¼  ÐmicoÔ_ÔÐ 6€''#òB' „„6ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂænF#ÔÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔBaltimoreÐ l¼ ÐCityÐ J€'';#òB „x  '' €–€‚„‚ƒƒ„„JÐCourt€holds€pre„Ð ¢ò Ðadj.€conferenceÐ 2€'#( x'' „„2Ðà@š š š àˆÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2Ðà@==càxˆÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2ÐÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2ÐÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2ÐÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2ÐÐ 2€'#¢ò' „„2ÐÐ 6€''#¢ò' „„6ÐÐ F€'7#¢ò „ – '' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐCourt€schedulesÐ @  Ðhearing€to€appointÐ Æ  ÐcounselÐ 2€#L œ' „„2ÐÐ 2€#@  „„2ÐÐ 2€#@   „„2ÐÐ 2€#@ ! „„2ÐÐ 2€#@ " „„2ÐÐ 2€#@ # „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#@ $ „„2ÐÐ 2€#@ % „„2ÐÐ 6€'#@ & „„6Ðà@0!0!GV!àxˆÐ F€'7#@ ' d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐParties€meet€priorÐ d ´( Ðto€hearing€date€Ð 2€#ê :)' „„2ÐÐ 2€#d ´* „„2ÐÐ 2€#d ´+ „„2ÐÐ 2€#d ´, „„2ÐÐ 2€#d ´- „„2ÐÐ 2€#d ´. „„2ÐÐ 2€#d ´/ „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#d ´0 „„2ÐÐ 6€'#d ´1 „„6ÐÐ F€'7#d ´2 d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐDSS€represented€byÐ R 3 Ðagency€or€countyÐ ˆØ 4 ÐattorneyÐ 2€#^ 5' „„2ÐÐ 2€#R 6 „„2ÐÐ 2€#R 7 „„2ÐÐ 2€#R 8 „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#R 9 „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€#R : „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#R ; „„2ÐÐ 2€#R < „„2ÐÐ 6€'#R = „„6Ðà@0!0!GV!àxˆÐ F€'7#R > d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐChild€representedÐ &v ? Ðat€all€stagesÐ 2€#¬ü @' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€#&v A „„2Ðà@==càxˆÐ 2€#&v B „„2Ðà@$+àxˆÐ 2€#&v C „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#&v D „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€#&v E „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#&v F „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#&v G „„2Ðà@ZZA€àxˆÐ 6€'#&v H „„6Ðà@0!0!GV!àxˆÐ F€'7#&v I d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐMajority€ofÐ Ä J Ðchildren€excusedÐ Jš K Ðfrom€courtÐ Ð L ÐproceedingsÐ 2€#V¦M' „„2Ðà@š š š àˆÐ 2€#Ä N „„2Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 2€#Ä O „„2ÐÐ 2€#Ä P „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#Ä Q „„2ÐÐ 2€#Ä R „„2ÐÐ 2€#Ä S „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#Ä T „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#Ä U „„6ÐÐ F€'7#Ä V d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐMajority€of€parentsÐ n¾W Ðnot€presentÐ 2€#ôDX' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€#n¾Y „„2Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 2€#n¾Z „„2Ðà@$+àxˆÐ 2€#n¾[ „„2ÐÐ 2€#n¾\ „„2ÐÐ 2€#n¾] „„2ÐÐ 2€#n¾^ „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#n¾_ „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#n¾` „„6ÐÐ F€'7#n¾a d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐMajority€ofÐ  \b Ðcustodial€parentsÐ ’âc Ðpresent€areÐ hd ÐrepresentedÐ 2€#žîe' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€# \f „„2Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 2€# \g „„2ÐÐ 2€# \h „„2ÐÐ 2€# \i „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€# \j „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€# \k „„2ÐÐ 2€# \l „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'# \m „„6Ðà@0!0!GV!àxˆÐ F€'7# \n d v ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐDSS€AttorneyÐ ¶o Ðcontrols€docketÐ 2€#<Œp' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€#¶q „„2Ðà@==càxˆÐ 2€#¶r „„2ÐÐ 2€#¶s „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#¶t „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€#¶u „„2ÐÐ 2€#¶v „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#¶w „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#¶x „„6ÐÐ F€'7#¶y d v ' €í€ƒƒ„„FÐSW€sits€withÐ T¤z ÐattorneyÐ 2€#Ú*{' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€#T¤| „„2Ðà@==càxˆÐ 2€#T¤} „„2Ðà@$+àxˆÐ 2€#T¤~ „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#T¤ „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€#T¤€ „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#T¤ „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#T¤‚ „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#T¤ƒ „„6ÐÐ F€'7#T¤„ d í ' €í€ƒƒ„„FÐChild€sits€withÐ òB… ÐattorneyÐ 2€#xȆ' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€#òB‡ „„2Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 2€#òBˆ „„2Ðà@$+àxˆÐ 2€#òB‰ „„2ÐÐ 2€#òBŠ „„2ÐÐ 2€#òB‹ „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#òBŒ „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#òB „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#òBŽ „„6ÐÐ F€'7#òB d í ' €í€ƒƒ„„FÐParent€sits€withÐ à ÐattorneyÐ 2€#f‘' „„2Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 2€#à’ „„2Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 2€#à“ „„2ÐÐ 2€#à” „„2ÐÐ 2€#à• „„2ÐÐ 2€#à– „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#à— „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#à˜ „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#à™ „„6ÐÐ F€'7#àš d í ' €v€ƒƒ„„FÐCases€called€intoÐ .~› Ðcourtroom€one€at€aÐ ´œ Ðtimeà ¬ àÐ 2€#: Š' „„2ÐÐ 2€#.~ž „„2Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 2€#.~Ÿ „„2ÐÐ 2€#.~  „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#.~¡ „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€#.~¢ „„2Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 2€#.~£ „„2Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 2€#.~¤ „„2Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€'#.~¥ „„6Ðà@0!0!GV!àxÔ'°š?ԈРF€'7#.~¦ d v ' €í€ƒƒ„„FÐCASA€participatedÐ R!¢§ Ðin€hearingÐ 2€#Ø!(¨' „„2ÐÐ 2€#R!¢© „„2ÐÐ 2€#R!¢ª „„2Ðà@$+àxˆÐ 2€#R!¢« „„2Ðà@ÎÎ*ôàxˆÐ 2€#R!¢¬ „„2Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 2€#R!¢­ „„2ÐÐ 2€#R!¢® „„2ÐÐ 2€#R!¢¯ „„2ÐÐ 6€'#R!¢° „„6ÐÐ D€''3#R!¢± d í ' €¦€„„DÐCase€conductedÐ ð"@² Ðprimarily€byÐ v#Ƴ Ðconsidering€courtÐ ü#L´ Ðreport€Ð 4€'#‚$Òµ'' „„4Ðà@t t š àxˆÐ 4€'#ð"@¶' „„4Ðà@â â càN/AˆÐ 4€'#ð"@·' „„4Ðà@$+àxˆÐ 4€'#ð"@¸' „„4ÐÐ 4€'#ð"@¹' „„4Ðà@qq0—àxˆÐ 4€'#ð"@º' „„4Ðà@5:àxˆÐ 4€'#ð"@»' „„4Ðà@ÜÜ;àxˆÐ 4€'#ð"@¼' „„4Ðà@ÿÿ@€àN/AˆÐ 6€''#ð"@½' „„6ÐÐ-#!ð"@¾ ¦  '' -ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ#G#Ô**N/A€„€Insufficient€sample€of€cases€to€make€findings€in€these€areas.Ð f%¶ ¾ ÐÌÓÿ¿ÓThe€following€is€a€brief€summary€of€the€positive€aspects,€as€well€as€areas€of€possible€improvementÐ Ì&"À Ðin€each€sample€site.Ð ¼' #Á ÐÌò òÔ_ÔCalvertÔ_Ô€County:€€òòó óHearing€Proceduresó󀄀The€hearings€began€promptly.€€The€DSS€attorney€took€theÐ œ)ì$à Ðlead.€The€majority€of€cases€proceeded€by€submission€of€the€court€report€with€brief€comment€by€theÐ Œ*Ü%Ä Ðother€attorneys.€At€the€time€of€the€site€visit,€the€requirements€of€the€statute€relating€to€reasonableÐ |+Ì&Å Ðefforts,€stating€the€reason€for€removal€from€the€home€and€notifying€the€parents€of€their€obligationÐ ° Ðto€keep€the€court€informed€of€their€whereabouts,€were€not€addressed€by€the€court€or€put€in€any€formalÐ  ð Ðlanguage€in€the€court€order.€€Most€parents€were€represented€by€a€staff€attorney€from€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€and€mostÐ à Ðchildren€by€Legal€Aid.€€There€were€a€number€of€cases€with€4„5€attorneys€at€the€trial€table.€€There€wasÐ €Ð Ða€stenographer,€security€officer€and€bailiff€in€the€courtroom.€€The€juvenile€clerk€performs€courtroomÐ pÀ Ðclerk€€duties€and€is€present€in€the€courtroom€during€the€hearings.€à  àÐ ` ° ÐòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Filesó󀄀The€petitions€contained€a€good€deal€of€information€about€theÐ P   Ðchildren€and€the€allegations.€€Orders€are€submitted€by€the€DSS€after€the€hearing€and€are€frequentlyÐ @  Ðfiled€late.€€Statistically,€a€number€of€files€were€closed€with€the€wrong€disposition€designation.€Ð 0 € ÐAlmost€all€shelter€care€cases€were€heard€on€the€same€day€the€child€was€placed€in€shelter€care.€Ð  p  ÐReasonable€efforts€language€was€not€found€in€many€of€the€cases.€€There€were€cases€in€which€theÐ `  Ðpetition€was€not€pursued,€but€a€notice€of€dismissal€was€not€filed€by€DSS€for€8„9€months€and€the€fileÐ P  Ðjust€remained€open€and€unattended.€€Docket€entries€are€made€manually€and€little€information€isÐ ð@  Ðrecorded€in€the€dockets.€€Ð à0  ÐÌòòFacilities€óó„€This€courthouse€has€been€remodeled€inside.€€There€are€private€lawyer€conference€roomsÐ À Ðright€outside€the€courtroom.€€The€court€schedules€CINA€cases€two€days€a€month€and€only€hearsÐ ° Ðemergency€matters€in€between€CINA€cases.€€There€was,€however,€significant€traffic€in€and€out€of€theÐ  ð Ðcourtroom€as€attorneys€who€were€working€on€more€than€one€case€went€in€and€out€to€confer€withÐ à Ðattorneys€on€other€cases.€€The€parties€in€all€the€cases€were€free€to€come€in€and€out€of€the€courtroomÐ €Ð Ðas€well.€€The€judiciary€in€Ô_ÔCalvertÔ_Ô€County€has€chosen€not€to€use€masters€to€hear€CINA€cases.€€Ð pÀ Ðà $ àà Å àò ò€€€€€Ð `° ÐCaroline€County:ó ó€€òòHearing€Proceduresó󀄀€The€court€recently€has€begun€holding€"arraignmentÐ P  Ðhearings"€in€CINA€cases.€€This€is€a€dry€run€for€the€lawyers€and€the€parents€to€appear€and€work€outÐ @ Ðissues.€€When€witnesses€are€summoned€everyone€is€supposed€to€be€ready€to€proceed.€€Juvenile€casesÐ 0€ Ðare€scheduled€every€other€Friday,€but€some€may€be€specially€set€and€shelter€care€can€be€any€day.€InÐ  p Ðthe€hearing€that€was€observed,€neither€parent€was€questioned€about€their€desire€for€a€lawyer€althoughÐ ` Ðthe€mother€had€been€told€to€go€to€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€at€the€prior€hearing€by€DSS.€€The€parents€also€were€notÐ P Ðinformed€by€the€court€or€the€Department€of€their€responsibility€to€keep€the€court€informed€of€theirÐ ð@ Ðwhereabouts.€€The€hearing€was€conducted€mostly€by€proffer€and€the€admittance€of€reports.€€TheÐ à0 Ðworker€sits€with€the€agency€attorney€and€is€questioned€by€the€parties€and€the€court.€€Orders€are€notÐ Ð  Ðprepared€at€the€hearing,€but€at€a€later€date€by€an€attorney€(usually€the€agency).€No€one€is€served€forÐ À! Ðfuture€hearings€at€the€close€of€the€case.€€Personnel€in€the€courtroom€include:€the€judge,€the€reporterÐ °"  Ð(who€uses€stenography),€the€juvenile€clerk€(who€is€responsible€for€swearing€in€the€witnesses€andÐ  #ð! Ðtaking€notes€of€the€proceedings€which€are€kept€as€a€permanent€record€but€done€mostly€in€shorthand)Ð $à" Ðand€security€personnel.€€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Filesó󀄀There€is€one€clerk€who€is€in€charge€of€all€juvenile€cases.€€SheÐ `'°"% Ðattends€all€hearings€and€dockets€the€information€in€a€juvenile€log€book.€€It€was€easy€to€determine€theÐ P( #& Ðexact€number€of€CINA€cases€by€reviewing€the€log€book€for€the€last€three€years.€€There€are€very€fewÐ @)$' ÐCINA€cases.€€The€JIS€printout€listed€only€4€CINA€cases€(2€families)€terminated€in€FY'95.€€By€goingÐ 0*€%( Ðthrough€the€docket€book€12€cases€were€foundÐ  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* Ð(seven€families)€terminated€(or€should€have€been€terminated)€during€that€time.€€Discussions€with€theÐ ° Ðjuvenile€clerk€revealed€that€she€does€not€close€cases€at€one€specific€time€in€the€case,€but€that€it€isÐ  ð Ðdone€arbitrarily.€€For€instance,€one€case€was€closed€after€it€was€dismissed€prior€to€adjudication,€butÐ à Ðanother€case€in€which€the€shelter€care€was€filed€back€in€September€1994€and€never€adjudicated,€hadÐ €Ð Ðnever€been€closed.€€Once€a€shelter€care€petition€is€filed,€no€one€checks€to€see€if€a€CINA€petition€isÐ pÀ Ðever€filed.€Separate€petitions€are€filed€for€shelter€care€and€CINA,€but€the€same€number€is€used.€€ThereÐ ` ° Ðis€little€information€contained€in€the€shelter€care€petition.€€While€the€CINA€petition€goes€into€detailsÐ P   Ðabout€the€facts,€little€identifying€information€such€as€race€and€sex€are€included.€€Some€cases€had€noÐ @  Ðmention€of€the€identity€or€whereabouts€of€the€parents.€€It€was€almost€impossible€to€tell€who€wasÐ 0 € Ðserved€or€present€at€any€hearings.€€Two€separate€cases€involved€children€placed€in€shelter€care€forÐ  p  Ðseven€days€prior€to€a€hearing€and€one€involved€a€child€placed€voluntarily€for€five€months€prior€to€aÐ `  Ðpetition€being€filed.Ð P  ÐÌòòFacilitiesó󀄀Since€this€is€a€one€judge€courthouse€there€are€a€number€of€other€offices€within€theÐ à0  Ðcourthouse.€€There€is€a€waiting€area€outside€the€courtroom€where€it€appeared€most€of€the€negotiationsÐ Ð  Ðtook€place€and€where€the€parties€wait.€€There€are,€however,€many€people€going€in€and€out€of€that€areaÐ À Ðto€get€to€the€State's€Attorneys'€Office€and€other€places.€€On€this€particular€occasion€this€was€the€onlyÐ ° Ðcase€on€the€docket.€The€judge€had€seated€a€grand€jury€prior€to€the€beginning€of€the€case,€which€wasÐ  ð Ðdocketed€for€10:00€but€started€at€almost€11:00.à • àÐ à ÐÌThe€judge€appeared€to€take€a€strong€interest€in€these€cases,€but€did€not€want€to€put€himself€in€aÐ pÀ Ðposition€of€micro„managing€DSS.€€The€judge€chooses€not€to€use€masters€to€hear€CINA€cases.Ð `° ÐÌò òÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_Ô€County:€€ó óòòHearing€Procedures€óó„€€CINA€cases€are€heard€almost€exclusively€by€a€master.Ð @ ÐExceptions€are€quite€rare.€Two€afternoons€a€week€and€one€full€day€per€month€are€reserved€for€CINAÐ 0€ Ðhearings.€€All€different€types€of€CINA€matters€can€be€heard€on€these€two€afternoons,€and€once€aÐ  p Ðmonth€the€day€is€set€aside€for€uncontested€reviews.€€DSS€files€a€report€prior€to€each€hearing;Ð ` Ðhowever,€the€report€usually€is€not€received€until€the€day€of€the€hearings€and€much€of€the€negotiationÐ P Ðoccurs€in€the€hallway€prior€to€the€hearing.€€Most€of€the€hearings€observed€proceeded€by€proffer,€withÐ ð@ Ðlimited€testimony€on€areas€where€there€was€not€agreement.€€No€attorneys€for€parents€appearedÐ à0 Ðalthough€one€parent€was€represented€but€waived€the€attorneyððs€appearance.€€At€the€time€of€the€siteÐ Ð  Ðvisit,€neither€the€Court€or€the€parties€addressed€where€the€missing€parents€were€or€the€obligation€ofÐ À! Ðthe€parents€to€keep€the€court€advised€of€their€whereabouts.€€The€next€hearing€date€is€set€at€the€closeÐ °"  Ðof€the€hearing,€but€no€one€is€served€at€that€time.€€The€master€was€actively€involved€in€the€cases,Ð  #ð! Ðasking€questions€and€commenting€on€plans.€€He€spoke€directly€to€the€parties€and€often€tried€to€makeÐ $à" Ðthem€understand€his€decision.€€Most€of€the€children€were€present€in€court€and€they€were€allÐ €%Ð # Ðrepresented€by€counsel.Ð p&À!$ ÐÌAlthough€there€is€little€direct€involvement€of€the€judges€in€CINA€cases,€the€Administrative€JudgeÐ P( #& Ðof€the€Court€holds€meetings€on€a€monthly€basis€with€DSS€and€the€attorneys€involved€in€terminationÐ @)$' Ðof€parental€rights€cases.€€Approximately€every€other€month€he€schedules€a€Guardianship€Pre„trialÐ 0*€%( ÐConference€and€Post€Guardianship€Review€day.€€DSS€files€a€written€report€every€month€on€the€statusÐ  +p&) Ðof€each€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€case€and€these€cases€are€given€priority€on€the€docket.Ð ,`'* ЇòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Filesó󀄀The€most€striking€thing€about€these€files€was€how€disorganizedÐ ° Ðthey€were.€€The€documents€were€not€fastened€into€the€files.€€They€were€haphazardly€placed€in€theÐ  ð Ðfile€in€no€apparent€chronological€order.€€Some€documents€were€rubber€banded€together€andÐ à Ðdocuments€such€as€Ô_ÔFCRBÔ_Ô€reports€and€DSS€reports€were€included.€€There€are€no€docket€entries€in€theÐ €Ð Ðfile.€€The€clerk€makes€all€the€entries€in€a€large€docket€book.€€The€juvenile€clerk€serves€as€theÐ pÀ Ðcourtroom€clerk,€assignment€clerk,€court€reporter,€juvenile€clerk€and€bailiff.€€She€can€tell€you€aboutÐ ` ° Ðmany€of€the€cases€off€the€top€of€her€head€because€she€is€virtually€the€only€one€who€sees€them.€€OneÐ P   Ðof€the€reasons€the€files€are€in€such€a€disarray€and€the€docket€entries€are€not€up€to€date€is€because€sheÐ @  Ðreceives€little€or€no€assistance.€€The€master€is€calling€the€next€case€while€she€is€still€talking€notes€orÐ 0 € Ðfilling€out€form€orders€on€the€last€one,€etc.€€The€proceedings€are€all€Ô_ÔaudiotapedÔ_Ô€by€the€clerk.€€Ð  p  ÐÌThe€cases€are€filed€by€family€rather€than€by€child.€€Therefore€it€is€difficult€to€make€caseloadÐ P  Ðcomparisons€with€other€jurisdictions€around€the€state.€€There€were€a€number€of€cases€in€which€anÐ ð@  Ðadjudicatory€hearing€was€held€and€disposition€was€set€for€a€later€date,€but€then€the€next€hearing€wasÐ à0  Ðcalled€a€review.€€The€term€ð ðcommitmentðð€was€used€inappropriately€in€this€county€as€well,€with€kidsÐ Ð  Ðbeing€committed€who€were€not€intended€to€be€in€the€legal€custody€of€DSS.€€Court€reports€were€doneÐ À Ðfor€every€hearing€and€they€were€in€the€file.€€They€were€helpful€in€determining€the€status€of€manyÐ ° Ðcases€which€would€otherwise€been€impossible€based€on€the€docket€entries€and€court€orders.€€SomeÐ  ð Ðof€the€files€in€our€sample€turned€out€to€be€delinquency€cases€not€CINA€cases.€€The€race€and€sex€ofÐ à Ðthe€child€were€contained€in€the€petition€in€about€half€of€the€cases.€€Ð €Ð Ðò òÌó óShelter€care€hearings€were€held€on€the€next€day€after€removal€in€about€half€the€cases€with€some€casesÐ `° Ðbeing€as€many€as€six€days€later.€€In€cases€with€siblings€sheltered€at€different€times,€the€cases€wereÐ P  Ðstill€filed€under€one€petition€number.€€Adjudication€and€disposition€was€frequently€consolidated.€Ð @ ÐReviews€were€scheduled€as€frequently€as€three€to€six€months€after€disposition€and€were€scheduledÐ 0€ Ðin€cases€in€which€the€children€were€at€home.€€This€may€have€been€due€in€part€to€kids€beingÐ  p Ðcommitted€but€placed€at€home.€€In€some€instances,€the€judge's€order€was€filed€well€after€the€case€hadÐ ` Ðbeen€heard€by€the€master.€€Reasonable€efforts€findings€were€usually€made€by€form€entry€at€shelterÐ P Ðcare€hearings.€€After€shelter€care€the€findings€were€less€consistent€and€were€never€made€at€times€theÐ ð@ Ðcase€was€postponed€or€continued.€€Ð à0 ÐÌòòFacilitiesó󀄀€The€master€uses€the€County€Council€hearing€room€in€the€basement€of€the€courthouse€toÐ À! Ðconduct€the€hearings.€€There€is€a€tiny€office€across€the€hall€where€the€master€can€use€a€desk€andÐ °"  Ðtelephone€between€hearings.€All€cases€are€scheduled€at€the€same€time.€€There€is€no€place€for€theÐ  #ð! Ðparties€to€wait€or€to€negotiate€cases,€except€the€hallway.€€There€is€a€security€officer€in€the€courtroomÐ $à" Ðas€well€as€the€juvenile€clerk.€€No€other€court€personnel€ever€appeared.€€Everyone€involved€in€theÐ €%Ð # Ðcases€that€day€is€usually€coming€in€and€out€of€the€large€hearing€room€while€the€cases€are€going€on.€Ð p&À!$ ÐThe€worker€and€the€child€sit€at€trial€table€with€their€lawyers,€and€the€parents€and€their€attorneys€sitÐ `'°"% Ðat€the€trial€table€as€well.€€Ð P( #& Ðò òHoward€County:€€ó óòòHearing€Proceduresó󀄀Historically,€juvenile€cases€are€heard€on€Tuesday€andÐ @)$' ÐThursday€afternoons.€However,€the€delinquency€docket€was€increasing€so€dramatically€that€the€DSSÐ 0*€%( Ðasked€for€and€was€granted€one€Monday€afternoon€a€week€for€their€cases.€€The€cases€are€scheduledÐ  +p&) Ðon€every€Monday€and€are€alternated€between€two€masters,€whose€duties€include€juvenile€court€andÐ ,`'* Ðdomestic€relations.€€Shelter€care€cases€are€heard€on€juvenile€days,€which€means€Tuesday€andÐ ° ÐThursday€afternoon€and€now€Monday€as€well.€€The€court€interprets€the€shelter€care€statute,€Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„Ð  ð Ð815(d)(2),€as€the€next€òòjuvenile€courtóó€day.€€There€are€very€few€exceptions€and€the€judges€do€not€hearÐ à Ðany€CINA€cases€de€novo.€€Temporary€emergency€orders€are€issued€from€the€bench€but€the€majorityÐ €Ð Ðof€orders€are€prepared€by€DSS€and€all€orders€are€done€by€the€parties.€€Although€the€docket€isÐ pÀ Ðscheduled€to€begin€at€2:00€p.m.,€there€has€been€a€problem€beginning€some€cases€promptly€due€in€partÐ ` ° Ðto€children€being€represented€by€attorneys€based€in€Baltimore€City.€At€the€time€of€the€site€visit,€theÐ P   Ðmasters€reported€that€these€attorneys€often€were€not€prepared€for€cases€in€advance€and,€at€times,€didÐ @  Ðnot€talk€with€clients€before€arriving€at€2:00€p.m.€€As€a€result,€appropriate€Standards€of€RepresentationÐ 0 € Ðfor€children€became€an€issue€between€the€masters€and€the€attorneys.Ð  p  ÐÌThe€only€staff€in€the€room€was€a€sheriff€who€went€in€and€out€and€a€court€reporter€who€uses€a€tapeÐ P  Ðrecorder.€€There€was€never€a€clerk€anywhere€during€the€observed€proceedings.€€Future€hearing€datesÐ ð@  Ðare€scheduled€by€the€master€if€they€are€a€follow„up€of€the€current€hearing€i.e.,€postponements,€butÐ à0  Ðreview€hearings€are€not€scheduled€in€court.€€No€one€is€served€in€court.€€During€several€of€theÐ Ð  Ðhearings,€it€was€noted€that€parents€were€not€notified€of€their€obligation€to€keep€the€court€informedÐ À Ðof€their€whereabouts.€Also,€several€of€the€files€reviewed€lacked€a€memorandum€from€the€master.€InÐ ° Ðthose€cases,€Ô_ÔthererforeÔ_Ô,€it€is€unclear€what€information€the€judge€has€before€him€when€he€mustÐ  ð Ðexamine€and€sign€the€order.€€Ð à ÐÌCases€were€called€in€one€at€a€time,€but€CASA€workers€and€other€attorneys€came€in€and€out.€€EachÐ pÀ Ðcase€observed€that€day€happened€to€have€a€CASA€worker€and€therefore€a€CASA€report€was€preparedÐ `° Ðin€each€case.€€DSS€does€not€prepare€a€court€report.€€No€reasonable€efforts€findings€were€made€by€theÐ P  Ðmaster,€but€DSS€incorporates€the€findings€into€all€of€the€orders€regardless€of€that€fact.€€The€cases€allÐ @ Ðproceeded€by€offers€of€proof€from€the€attorneys.€€The€parties€sat€at€the€trial€table€with€their€attorneys.€Ð 0€ ÐIn€one€case€with€a€òòpro€seóó€parent,€he€sat€in€the€back€and€spoke€from€there.€€CASA€workers€and€otherÐ  p Ðinterested€parties€also€spoke€from€their€seats.€€In€one€case€the€children€were€left€under€an€indefiniteÐ ` Ðcommitment€to€the€department,€although€they€were€placed€at€home€with€their€mother.€€Some€childrenÐ P Ðwere€excused€from€court€and€others€waited€outside€during€the€proceedings.€€Six€of€the€seven€casesÐ ð@ Ðtook€between€five€and€fifteen€minutes€to€conclude.€€The€last€case€took€an€hour.€€This€case€was€aÐ à0 Ðcontested€adjudication€that€had€already€been€postponed€five€times€because€the€parties€could€not€reachÐ Ð  Ðan€agreement.€€The€attorneys€held€a€chambers€conference€with€the€master€and€then€reset€the€hearingÐ À! Ðagain€for€a€"full€trial.ððÐ °"  Ðò òÌó óòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€the€Filesó󀄀All€papers€relating€to€the€case€are€in€the€file€including€Ô_ÔFCRBÔ_ÔÐ $à" Ðreports,€health€reports,€etc.€€There€is€no€indication€anywhere€in€the€file€about€what€occurred€at€eachÐ €%Ð # Ðhearing.€The€jacket€of€the€file€lists€some€of€the€hearing€dates€and€types.€€A€number€of€files€did€notÐ p&À!$ Ðcontain€the€court€orders€and€this€has€apparently€been€a€long€standing€problem.€€DSS€is€not€given€aÐ `'°"% Ðdate€certain€by€which€to€prepare€the€order.€€No€indication€is€made€of€future€hearing€dates.€€ServiceÐ P( #& Ðis€made€through€use€of€the€sheriff€after€DSS€notifies€the€court€of€the€need€for€a€hearing.€€€€TheÐ @)$' Ðmasters€differ€in€their€practices€about€retaining€files€in€their€chambers€versus€returning€them€to€theÐ 0*€%( Ðclerk's€office.€€€The€files€were€not€well€organized.€The€Howard€County€clerks€office€has€reorganized€Ð  +p&) Ðrecently€and€the€supervisor€of€juvenile€has€no€previous€juvenile€experienceò ò.€€ó óWhen€a€shelter€care€isÐ ,`'* Ðheld€the€court€then€sets€a€òòreturn€hearingóó€date€which€may€or€may€not€turn€into€an€adjudication€hearing.€Ð ° ÐIf€the€DSS€does€not€end€up€filing€a€petition€then€that€date€just€passes;€if€they€file€a€petition€than€theÐ  ð Ðdate€is€sometimes,€but€not€always,€the€adjudication.€The€court€uses€the€ð ðcontinued€with/without€aÐ à Ðfindingðð€designation€when€there€is€no€disposition€but€the€clerk€decides€to€close€the€case.€€The€casesÐ €Ð Ðare€often€set€in€for€pre„disposition€hearings€that€appear€to€be€no€different€than€disposition€hearings.€Ð pÀ ÐThe€file€review€revealed€an€average€of€over€12€months€until€the€first€review€hearing,€with€9€of€19Ð ` ° Ðcases€taking€13€months€or€longer.€€One€case€involved€an€exception€to€disposition€that€was€eventuallyÐ P   Ðmooted€by€the€emancipation€of€the€child€but€which€had€not€been€reviewed€in€over€two€years.Ð @  ÐÌThe€clerk€is€responsible€for€notifying€the€Ô_ÔOPDÔ_Ô€about€the€need€for€parent€representation.€€The€Ô_ÔOPDsÔ_ÔÐ  p  Ðunder€contract€do€not€tend€to€be€local€and€this€sometimes€delays€or€prohibits€parents€from€beingÐ `  Ðrepresented.€€€Ð P  ÐÌòòFacilitiesó󀄀The€courthouse€and€courtroom€have€been€renovated€and€the€master€sits€atop€an€elevatedÐ à0  Ðbench€and€wears€a€black€robe.€€He€is€far€away€from€the€litigants.€€The€parties€wait€outside€in€the€mainÐ Ð  Ðhallway€with€all€other€litigants,€but€there€is€a€little€meeting€room€right€outside€the€master's€courtroomÐ À Ðwhere€conferences€take€place.Ð ° ÐÌò òMontgomery€County:€€ó óòòHearing€Proceduresó󀄀This€Court€is€considerably€different€than€any€otherÐ à Ðjuvenile€court€in€Maryland.€€The€Court€is€physically€located€in€the€District€Court.€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€are€thenÐ €Ð Ðfiled€separately€in€the€Circuit€Court€(although,€effective€10/1/97,€legislation€was€passed€to€moveÐ pÀ ÐÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô's€to€the€juvenile€court,€thereby€the€District€Court).€€Montgomery€County€will€be€the€only€countyÐ `° Ðconducting€cases€in€the€District€Court,€but€consistent€with€legislation€passed€in€1996,€all€Ô_ÔTPRsÔ_ÔÐ P  Ðstatewide€will€now€be€heard€in€the€juvenile€court.€€There€are€three€District€Court€judges€specificallyÐ @ Ðdesignated€to€hear€juvenile€cases.€€Therefore,€CINA€cases€can€be€scheduled€on€any€day€and€beforeÐ 0€ Ðany€of€the€three€judges€(recently,€the€number€of€judges€assigned€full€time€to€the€juvenile€court€hasÐ  p Ðbeen€reduced€to€two,€with€two€other€judges€serving€part€time).€Ð ` ÐÌThe€docket€begins€promptly€at€8:30€a.m.€and€proceeds€quickly.€€The€Ô_ÔMCDSSÔ_Ô€attorney€is€preparedÐ ð@ Ðto€proceed€on€at€least€one€case€and€usually€all€cases€by€the€time€the€docket€is€called.€€€The€docket€isÐ à0 Ðusually€reviewed€and€then€each€case€is€called€in€one€at€a€time.€€The€parties€rely€heavily€on€a€statusÐ Ð  Ðreport€issued€by€the€social€worker.€€This€is€a€lengthy€document€listing€the€children€and€the€parentsÐ À! Ðand€their€whereabouts,€the€status€of€the€case,€the€services€provided,€the€progress€made€and€theÐ °"  Ðrecommendations.€€Although€the€Public€Defender€is€concerned€that€too€much€hearsay€gets€in€throughÐ  #ð! Ðthese€reports,€it€appeared€all€parties€stipulated€to€their€being€admitted€and€then€parties€raised€theirÐ $à" Ðconcerns€or€submitted€verbal€amendments.€€These€reports€give€the€judges€an€opportunity€toÐ €%Ð # ÐÔ_ÔrefamiliarizeÔ_Ô€themselves€with€the€basic€facts€in€the€case.€€The€Ô_ÔMCDSSÔ_Ô€attorney€calls€the€socialÐ p&À!$ Ðworker€as€a€witness.€€The€worker€testifies€as€to€the€basic€status€of€the€case€and€is€subject€to€crossÐ `'°"% Ðexamination.€€Numerous€CASA€workers€and€foster€parents€were€in€the€courtroom€and€usually€spokeÐ P( #& Ðfrom€their€seat€in€the€courtroom.€€If€the€case€was€not€in€dispute€the€judge€would€render€a€decisionÐ @)$' Ðat€the€close€of€the€Ô_ÔMCDSSÔ_Ô€case.€€If€any€party€had€other€witnesses€they€would€take€the€witness€standÐ 0*€%( Ðor€testify€from€their€seats€and€then€be€subject€to€cross„examination.€€The€bailiffs€would€call€each€caseÐ  +p&) Ðin€and€keep€order€in€the€courtroom.€€The€file€reviews€and€hearing€observations€revealed€that€virtuallyÐ ,`'* ÐÔ_Ôall€known€parents€were€represented,€usually€by€the€OPD,€and€many€children€were€represented€by€theÐ ° ÐOPD€as€well.€The€court€recently€has€instituted€a€pre„trial€hearing€system€which€involves€setting€aÐ  ð Ðdate€halfway€between€shelter€care/emergency€hearing€and€adjudication€to€try€to€discuss€and€narrowÐ à Ðthe€issues.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌThe€Montgomery€County€Juvenile€Court€is€automated,€€although€a€new€system€is€currently€beingÐ ` ° Ðimplemented.€€The€parties€were€able€to€receive€court€orders,€be€served€for€the€next€hearing€and€beÐ P   Ðinformed€of€their€obligations€prior€to€leaving€the€courthouse.Ð @  ÐÌReasonable€efforts€findings€were€lacking€in€most€cases.€€When€they€were€included€they€appeared€toÐ  p  Ðbe€boiler€plate€language.€€Most€cases€used€the€term€"commitment€to€MCDSS"€even€though€there€wasÐ `  Ðno€intention€to€transfer€legal€custody,€therefore€it€was€difficult€to€determine€when€and€if€reasonableÐ P  Ðefforts€were€required.€€Cases€which€were€past€disposition€were€not€reviewed€in€light€of€the€recentÐ ð@  Ðchanges€in€the€permanency€planning€statute.€€During€the€hearing€observations€the€permanency€planÐ à0  Ðwas€only€occasionally€mentioned€and€when€it€was€the€judge€did€not€go€into€the€required€newÐ Ð  Ðfindings€concerning€the€priorities€in€case€planning.€€In€one€case€when€the€judge€did€ask€theÐ À Ðpermanency€plan,€she€was€told€"reunification€but€we€don't€know€when."€€All€future€hearings€wereÐ ° Ðbeing€set€in€six€months€or€less,€although€the€file€reviews€indicated€most€cases€were€already€beingÐ  ð Ðreviewed€frequently.Ð à ÐÌòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Filesó󀄀There€is€a€separate€juvenile€court€clerk's€office€in€MontgomeryÐ pÀ ÐCounty.€€The€clerks€only€work€on€juvenile€cases.€€There€was€concern€mentioned€by€clerk's€officeÐ `° Ðstaff€about€a€lack€of€training,€as€was€evidenced€by€inconsistencies€in€the€way€clerks€docketed€casesÐ P  Ðand€the€categories€they€used€in€closing€cases,€typing€orders,€etc.€€It€should€be€noted€that€one€of€theÐ @ Ðclerk's€responsibilities€is€to€prepare€the€court€orders.€€The€orders€are€now€computer€generated€withÐ 0€ Ðcheck€off€boxes€and€fill€in€the€blanks.€€After€the€clerk€prepares€the€order€the€judge€signs€it€in€theÐ  p Ðcourtroom€and€the€parties€wait€at€a€window€outside€the€clerk's€office€for€their€copy.€€At€that€time€theÐ ` Ðparents€also€are€served€for€the€next€hearing€and€they€sign€a€purple€form€advising€them€of€theirÐ P Ðresponsibilities€under€CJ€3„827.€€The€clerks€communicate€with€parties€and€attorneys€through€a€largeÐ ð@ Ðwindow€in€their€office.€€Someone€is€always€available€to€answer€questions.Ð à0 ÐÌThere€was€a€great€deal€of€detail€and€specificity€in€the€court€orders€in€these€cases.€€The€judges€inÐ À! ÐMontgomery€County€are€ordering€children€to€be€placed€in€specific€placements€and€detailing€manyÐ °"  Ðspecific€services€to€be€provided€by€the€Department.€€The€Court€also€places€stringent€demands€on€theÐ  #ð! Ðparents€and€the€children.€€The€file€reviews€and€hearing€observations€detailed€a€plethora€of€programsÐ $à" Ðand€services€within€the€county€for€the€evaluation€and€treatment€of€problems.€€This€is€in€stark€contrastÐ €%Ð # Ðto€information€gathered€in€other€counties.€€Frequent€referrals€for€parent„aide€services,€drug€andÐ p&À!$ Ðalcohol€assessments€and€family€therapy€were€noted.€€Ð `'°"% ÐÌVery€few€cases€were€resolved€within€60€days€of€the€filing.€€Court€files€did€not€contain€informationÐ @)$' Ðregarding€the€reason€why€cases€were€being€postponed€€The€court€uses€the€word€ð ðcontinuanceðð€inÐ 0*€%( Ðvirtually€every€case€regardless€of€whether€the€case€was€postponed,€continued€to€another€day€for€moreÐ  +p&) Ðtestimony,€or€set€for€further€review.€€Cases€which€the€parties€knew€were€complicated€were€often€Ô_ÔsetÐ ,`'* Ðfor€half€days€or€whole€days€on€the€docket,€but€cases€needing€additional€time€were€rarely€heard€onÐ ° Ðconsecutive€court€days.Ð  ð ÐÌOf€the€71€cases€randomly€selected€for€our€sample,€five€cases€did€not€exist,€at€least€five€were€countedÐ €Ð Ðtwice€because€they€had€multiple€petition€numbers,€and€many€cases€were€coded€with€the€wrongÐ pÀ Ðdisposition.€€These€mistakes€included€cases€coded€with€a€disposition€of€ð ðprobationðð€which€is€notÐ ` ° Ðused€for€CINA€cases€and€ð ðÔ_ÔstetsÔ_Ôðð€which€also€should€not€be€used€for€a€CINA€case.€€Additionally€casesÐ P   Ðcoded€as€dismissals€were€commitments€and€vice€versa.Ð @  ÐÌEfforts€to€obtain€accurate€numbers€were€further€hampered€by€the€practice€in€Montgomery€CountyÐ  p  Ðof€filing€a€petition€for€shelter€care€under€one€petition€number€and€then€refiling€the€CINA€petitionÐ `  Ðunder€a€different€number.€€Therefore€every€case€that€begins€as€a€shelter€care€is€counted€twice€and€theÐ P  Ðshelter€petition€is€treated€as€a€dismissal€at€some€point€down€the€line.€€This€skews€the€data€to€showÐ ð@  Ða€disproportionate€number€of€dismissals€in€Montgomery€County€as€well€as€an€inflated€number€ofÐ à0  Ðoriginal€filings.€Ð Ð  ÐÌMontgomery€County€also€uses€a€term€"County€Attorney€to€Consider"€for€cases€where€the€court€orÐ ° Ðthe€parties€want€to€wait€to€act€until€they€get€the€results€of€a€report€or€see€if€the€situation€is€resolved.€Ð  ð ÐThese€cases€were€often€pre„adjudication€or€pre„disposition€and€the€parties€did€not€have€to€appear€atÐ à Ðthe€next€hearing.€€These€cases€sometimes€were€left€open€for€six€months€or€longer€without€a€findingÐ €Ð Ðof€any€kind.€€Montgomery€County€also€finds€the€child€CINA€at€the€end€of€the€adjudication€ratherÐ pÀ Ðthan€at€the€disposition.€€There€is€a€difference€in€terminology€€across€the€state€regarding€€when€aÐ `° Ðfinding€of€CINA€should€be€€made.€€A€number€of€cases€were€heard€for€adjudication€and€"temporaryÐ P  Ðdisposition"€that€were€later€reviewed€without€ever€actually€having€a€disposition.€Ð @ ÐÌThe€petitions€filed€by€the€Department€were€lacking€in€background€information€about€the€family.€Ð  p ÐRace€and€sex€are€not€mentioned.€€Information€often€was€€not€available€about€the€father;€even€whenÐ ` Ðthere€was€no€information,€this€fact€€was€not€stated.€€Cross€references€to€siblings€who€were€includedÐ P Ðin€this€case€or€who€had€been€before€the€court€previously€were€not€available.€€This€information€isÐ ð@ Ðneeded€for€statistical€purposes,€if€for€no€other€reason.€€There€are€no€docket€entries€in€the€file.€€ThereÐ à0 Ðis€a€sheet€with€the€case€name,€judge,€attorneys€present€and€the€type€of€hearing€scheduled.€€If€the€caseÐ Ð  Ðgoes€to€trial,€the€sheet€tracks€the€witnesses€who€testified€for€the€purposes€of€transcribing€theÐ À! Ðaudiotape.€€It€is€impossible€to€determine€whether€the€parents€or€child€appeared€at€the€hearing€or€whoÐ °"  Ðelse€may€have€been€present,€how€(in€most€cases)€the€case€proceeded,€or€what€findings€of€facts€wereÐ  #ð! Ðmade€by€the€judge.€€€€€Ð $à" ÐÌThe€file€review€process€also€noted€a€much€higher€frequency€for€the€need€to€obtain€foreign€languageÐ p&À!$ Ðinterpreters€than€elsewhere€around€the€State.€€Difficulties€in€obtaining€an€interpreter€who€spoke€theÐ `'°"% Ðspecific€language€€of€the€parties,€caused€a€delay€in€several€cases.€€The€juvenile€court€in€€MontgomeryÐ P( #& ÐCounty€also€experienced€a€much€higher€frequency€of€cases€involving€sexual€abuse€than€anywhereÐ @)$' Ðelse€in€the€State.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌòòFacilitiesó󀄀The€District€Court€occupies€a€building€vacated€by€the€Circuit€Court€when€new€facilitiesÐ ,`'* ÐÔ_Ôwere€built.€€Rather€than€redesign€the€entire€building,€a€series€of€internal€walls€were€built,€creatingÐ ° Ða€maze€of€hallways.€€It€appeared€many€people€who€were€not€court€employees€had€the€access€codeÐ  ð Ðnumbers€to€enter€the€interior€portion€of€the€courthouse.€€In€the€last€few€months,€access€to€the€buildingÐ à Ðwas€limited,€as€security€scanners€have€just€been€installed€through€which€the€public€must€enter€toÐ €Ð Ðobtain€entrance€into€the€building.€The€juvenile€court€area€of€the€courthouse€is€somewhat€separatedÐ pÀ Ðfrom€the€rest€of€the€district€court.€€There€is€a€separate€waiting€area,€complete€with€a€play€area€forÐ ` ° Ðchildren.€€There€appears€to€be€ample€opportunity€for€the€€judges€to€interact€and€consult.€€In€fact,€itÐ P   Ðwas€noted€that€there€appeared€to€be€a€good€amount€of€information€sharing€and€cohesiveness€amongÐ @  Ðthe€judges.€€They€appeared€to€function€as€a€team€and€were€somewhat€isolated€from€the€rest€of€theÐ 0 € Ðcourthouse.€€The€Clerk's€Office€is€also€separate€from€the€rest€of€the€District€Court.€€The€juvenileÐ  p  Ðjudges€showed€a€commitment€to€make€changes€to€improve€the€workings€of€their€court.Ð `  ÐÌò òPrince€George's€County:€€òòó óHearing€Proceduresó󀄀€€€CINA€cases€are€heard€almost€exclusively€by€oneÐ ð@  Ðmaster€and€very€few€exceptions€are€filed.€€CINA€cases€are€heard€on€Mondays€and€Tuesdays€and€onceÐ à0  Ða€month€Foster€Care€Review€Board€hearings€are€held.€€Shelter€care€cases€are€heard€on€any€day.€€TheÐ Ð  Ðproceedings€are€audiotaped.€€There€is€a€bailiff,€security€officer€and€clerk€present€at€most€times.€TheÐ À Ðdaily€docket€is€heavy.€€On€the€day€hearings€were€observed€there€were€16€cases/24€children€on€theÐ ° Ðdocket.€€All€the€cases€were€reviews.€€They€were€all€scheduled€to€begin€at€9:30€a.m.€and€the€entireÐ  ð Ðdocket€was€completed€at€1:15€a.m.€by€not€taking€a€lunch€break.€€Theò ò€ó ópresiding€master€has€been€activeÐ à Ðin€€juvenile€court€issues€for€many€years.ò òÐ €Ð ÐÌó óThe€DSS€submits€a€report€to€the€court€which€the€master€reads€at€the€start€of€the€proceeding.€€TheÐ `° Ðparties€proffer€any€amendments€and€their€position€to€the€court.€€The€master€then€prepares€a€memoÐ P  Ðwhich€is€basically€a€check€off€form€where€she€can€insert€particular€additions.€€The€form€is€then€givenÐ @ Ðto€the€bailiff€who€makes€copies€and€gives€them€to€the€parties€who€are€waiting€in€the€courtroom€orÐ 0€ Ðin€the€hall.€€The€date€of€the€next€hearing€is€included€in€the€memo€as€well€as€information€on€who€wasÐ  p Ðpresent€in€court.€€The€memo€is€then€sent€to€the€judge€and€copies€of€the€signed€order€are€mailed€to€theÐ ` Ðparties.€€Parents€are€given€the€form€about€keeping€the€court€informed€of€their€whereabouts€only€atÐ P Ðarraignment.€€The€DSS€has€a€staff€person€assigned€as€an€absent€parent€locator€and€this€informationÐ ð@ Ðis€usually€contained€in€the€file€jacket.€Cases€which€had€no€differences€in€opinion€lasted€about€fiveÐ à0 Ðminutes€each.€€Cases€with€a€permanent€plan€of€adoption€were€scheduled€for€a€TPR/Review€hearingÐ Ð  Ðbefore€a€specific€judge€in€six€months.€€Contested€cases€proceeded€by€proffer€and€the€master€renderedÐ À! Ða€decision€at€the€close€of€every€case.€€Contested€cases€were€30€minutes€to€an€hour€long.€€ReasonableÐ °"  Ðeffort€was€mentioned€on€the€record€most€of€the€time,€and€a€finding€is€included€in€the€master's€memo.Ð  #ð! ÐÌIn€this€county,€Legal€Aid€still€represents€most€children€and€the€OPD€has€attorneys€assignedÐ €%Ð # Ðspecifically€to€represent€parents€(although€they€do€travel€to€Southern€Maryland€€and€Anne€ArundelÐ p&À!$ ÐCounty€as€well).€€Therefore,€everyone€is€familiar€with€each€other€and€cooperation€is€apparent.€€ThereÐ `'°"% Ðwere€two€cases€in€which€the€siblings€in€each€case€were€represented€by€different€attorneys€due€to€aÐ P( #& Ðconflict€of€interest€in€their€positions.€€The€child's€appearance€was€waived€in€some€cases.€Ð @)$' ÐÌòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Filesó󀄀There€is€a€separate€juvenile€court€clerk's€office.€€All€the€socialÐ  +p&) Ðservice€information€(i.e.,€FCRB€reports,€evaluations,€medical€records)€is€contained€in€a€separate€file,Ð ,`'* Ðthe€computerized€docket€entries€were€clear,€and€the€use€of€preliminary€hearings€and€the€master'sÐ ° Ðmemos€gave€insight€as€to€what€occurred.€€Difficulties€with€terminology€were€noted€again,€casesÐ  ð Ðbeing€closed€under€the€wrong€statistical€category€and€lack€of€demographic€information€concerningÐ à Ðchildren€were€noted.€€CINA€cases€are€coded€with€a€different€prefix€than€delinquency€cases.Ð €Ð Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòÐ pÀ ÐFacilitiesó󀄀Most€of€the€key€players€in€this€process€have€an€office€at€the€courthouse€and€they€are€ableÐ ` ° Ðto€work€on€cases€while€they€wait€and€investigate€information€from€their€facilities.€€There€is€a€pagingÐ P   Ðsystem€located€throughout€the€facility.€€There€is€a€large€waiting€area€for€the€whole€juvenile€area€andÐ @  Ða€small€conference€room€right€outside€the€master's€courtroom.€€The€courthouse€is€newly€expandedÐ 0 € Ðand€juvenile€hearings€take€place€in€a€large,€clean,€modern€facility.€€The€master€sits€on€an€elevatedÐ  p  Ðplatform€and€wears€a€black€robe.€€She€has€access€to€many€facets€of€these€cases€through€the€abilityÐ `  Ðto€interact€with€paternity,€child€support€and€the€criminal€docket€from€a€computer€on€her€desk.Ð P  ÐÌPrince€Georgeððs€County€has€a€number€of€procedures€in€place€for€hearing€cases,€such€as€settingÐ à0  Ðnoncontested€TPRs€before€one€specific€judge€and€€holding€FCRB€days.€€There€is€however,€veryÐ Ð  Ðlimited€involvement€of€the€judges€in€CINA€cases.€€No€additional€resources€are€in€place€to€deal€withÐ À Ðthe€increase€in€review€hearings€required€by€the€permanency€planning€legislation.€Ð ° ÐÌò òWashington€County:€€ó óòòHearing€Proceduresó󀄀€CINA€cases€(including€TPR)€are€scheduled€one€dayÐ à Ðper€week€and€usually€are€rotated€between€two€different€judges.€€The€most€unique€difference€in€thisÐ €Ð Ðcounty€is€that€each€case€is€scheduled€for€an€individual€time€on€the€docket€by€the€DSS€attorney.€Ð pÀ ÐThere€were€17€cases€(25€children)€on€the€docket.€€The€Judiciary€gives€the€DSS€attorney€significantÐ `° Ðautonomy€in€caseflow€management€in€exchange€for€the€attorney€resolving€many€issues€without€theÐ P  Ðneed€to€involve€the€judges.€€The€DSS€attorney€sends€notice€to€the€clerk,€court€reporter€and€otherÐ @ Ðattorneys.€€This€notice€was€sent€six€days€prior€to€the€hearing.€Few€parents€were€represented€atÐ 0€ Ðhearings€observe.€€The€other€parties€claim€it€is€difficult€to€find€attorneys€who€live€or€work€in€theÐ  p Ðgeneral€area€who€are€willing€to€do€OPD€panel€cases.€€Parents€are€not€provided€OPD€counsel€atÐ ` Ðreview€hearings€as€a€matter€of€course.€€A€vendor€under€contract€with€DHR€represents€children€in€allÐ P Ðcases€except€for€a€few€that€Legal€Aid€has€kept.€€Very€few€children€were€present€in€court€as€were€veryÐ ð@ Ðfew€parents.€€Another€procedure€unique€to€this€county€is€that€the€DSS€attorney€holds€a€pre„trialÐ à0 Ðconference€at€DSS€about€two€weeks€before€the€date€of€all€court€hearings.€This€is€supposedly€whereÐ Ð  Ðall€the€negotiations€take€place€and€the€amount€of€court€time€needed€is€determined.€€The€docketÐ À! Ðconsisted€of€just€about€every€conceivable€CINA€case€type.Ð °"  ÐÌThe€judge€took€an€activist€role€in€virtually€every€case.€€He€questioned€the€workers€and€parentsÐ $à" Ðbeyond€what€was€asked€by€counsel€and€contained€in€the€reports.€€He€questioned€the€permanencyÐ €%Ð # Ðplans€and€in€one€case€told€the€Department€they€were€premature€in€a€plan€of€adoption€in€just€aboutÐ p&À!$ Ðthe€only€case€where€the€parents€were€present.€€He€made€reasonable€efforts€findings€on€the€record€inÐ `'°"% Ðsome€cases.€€All€the€cases€except€for€one€proceeded€by€proffer,€although€the€parties€spoke€directlyÐ P( #& Ðto€the€court€in€almost€every€case€as€well.€€The€worker€sat€with€counsel€and€most€of€the€few€childrenÐ @)$' Ðwho€were€there€sat€with€counsel€as€well.€The€judge€announced€all€his€decisions€in€open€court€andÐ 0*€%( Ðthe€orders€were€prepared€by€the€clerk€in€the€courtroom.€€No€one€was€served€for€future€hearings€andÐ  +p&) Ðthe€court€merely€set€a€certain€time€frame€for€the€next€hearing.€€Ð ,`'* ЇòòClerk's€Office/€Condition€of€Filesó󀄀Each€case€had€a€computer€printout€of€docket€entries.€€AÐ ° Ðdiscrepancy€was€found€in€the€dates€of€filings€as€compared€to€the€dates€of€hearings€or€docket€entries.€Ð  ð ÐIt€was€explained€that€when€papers€are€filed€in€the€courtroom€€they€may€sit€for€a€few€days€until€theÐ à Ðclerk€gets€to€stamp€them€in€back€at€the€clerk's€office.€€€€Ð €Ð ÐÌA€common€practice€appears€to€be€to€place€a€child€in€shelter€care€and€hold€the€hearing€later€than€theÐ ` ° Ðnext€court€day.€€The€ððnext€dayðð€is€avoided€by€DSS€through€the€filing€of€a€motion€to€postpone€theÐ P   Ðhearing€and€having€the€judge€grant€that€motion€on€the€day€they€actually€hear€the€shelter€care.€€TheÐ @  ÐDSS€attorney€stated€that€this€was€often€necessary€to€ensure€that€everyone€is€in€attendance,€but€thisÐ 0 € Ðclearly€violated€the€intent€of€the€statute.€€As€in€many€of€the€other€counties€visited,€children€wereÐ  p  Ðfound€CINA€at€adjudication€and€disposition€type€decisions€were€being€made€at€that€time.€€This€wasÐ `  Ðsimilar€to€the€adjudication€with€temporary€disposition€used€in€Montgomery€County.€€As€in€mostÐ P  Ðother€jurisdictions,€a€number€of€cases€were€closed€with€the€wrong€disposition€code.€€The€file€reviewsÐ ð@  Ðindicated€most€cases€were€heard€by€more€than€one€judge€between€shelter€and€disposition.€Ð à0  ÐÌA€number€of€cases€were€coded€as€ð ðcare€and€custody€DSSðð€but€the€children€were€not€removed€or€wentÐ À Ðhome€under€an€Order€of€Protective€Supervision(OPS).€€Again€terminology€is€a€problem.€€Often€theÐ ° Ðfile€indicated€a€commitment€to€DSS€when€the€child€was€not€in€either€shelter€care€or€foster€care.€Ð  ð ÐLittle€identifying€information€such€as€race€and€sex€is€contained€in€the€petition.€€Separate€petitionsÐ à Ðare€filed€for€the€shelter€care€proceeding€and€the€CINA€proceeding,€but€the€same€number€is€used.€€AÐ €Ð Ðlarge€number€of€the€cases€listed€as€"other€disposition"€were€single€appearance€cases€that€resulted€inÐ pÀ Ðan€OPS.€Ð `° ÐÌòòFacilitiesó󀄀The€judges€are€not€assigned€to€a€particular€courtroom.€€They€rotate€depending€on€the€typeÐ @ Ðof€hearing.€€For€CINA€cases,€they€use€a€small€courtroom€without€a€jury€box.€€The€parties€wait€onÐ 0€ Ðbenches€out€in€the€hall€and€a€bailiff€calls€the€cases€in€one€at€a€time.€€Because€the€cases€were€set€atÐ  p Ðspecific€times,€there€were€times€when€the€docket€was€ahead€of€schedule€and€the€parties€were€not€yetÐ ` Ðpresent€and€times€when€they€fell€behind€and€got€backed€up.€€Overall,€however,€there€were€not€a€lotÐ P Ðof€people€waiting€at€any€given€time.€€Three€of€the€scheduled€cases€were€taken€off€the€docket€forÐ ð@ Ðunknown€reasons.€€The€juvenile€clerk€was€present€at€every€hearing€and€took€care€of€swearing€inÐ à0 Ðwitnesses€and€filling€out€check„off€orders.€€The€court€reporter€used€an€audiotape,€but€she€also€doesÐ Ð  Ða€transcript€of€òòeveryóó€case€which€is€then€put€in€the€file.€€This€was€the€only€court€visited€where€it€wasÐ À! Ðpossible€to€tell€who€was€present€and€whether€€testimony€was€taken.€€In€some€cases€a€security€officerÐ °"  Ðwas€in€the€courtroom,€but€most€of€the€time€the€bailiff€was€the€one€calling€the€cases€and€keepingÐ  #ð! Ðanyone€not€involved€in€the€case€out€of€the€courtroom.€€Ð $à" ÐÌò òWorcester€County:ó ó€òòHearing€Proceduresó󀄀There€are€two€judges€in€this€county€and€it€appears€theÐ p&À!$ ÐCINA€workload€is€evenly€split€between€both€of€them.€€At€the€time€of€the€site€visits€the€judges€hadÐ `'°"% Ðchosen€€not€to€use€a€master€to€hear€CINA€cases.€€No€hearings€were€observed€in€Worcester€County.€Ð P( #& ÐAccording€to€the€Court,€most€cases€proceed€by€proffer€as€the€parties€have€all€talked€extensively€inÐ @)$' Ðadvance€of€the€hearing€date€and€DSS€is€required€to€submit€case€summaries€in€advance.€€The€judgeÐ 0*€%( Ðinterviews€most€children€in€chambers.Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* ÐòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Court€Filesó󀄀The€cases€were€mostly€initiated€through€shelter€careÐ ° Ðpetitions€which€contained€virtually€no€information€except€that€the€shelter€care€was€needed.€It€wasÐ  ð Ðfollowed€by€a€CINA€petition€that€used€boiler€plate€language€without€talking€about€the€specific€factsÐ à Ðin€the€case€or€providing€information€about€race,€sex,€age,€parents,€etc.€€The€CINA€petition€was€filedÐ €Ð Ðas€much€as€a€month€after€the€shelter€care€petition.€€Children€were€sheltered€for€five€days€or€moreÐ pÀ Ðwithout€a€hearing€in€10€of€14€cases.€€Interestingly,€however,€11€of€14€cases€were€completed€in€threeÐ ` ° Ðor€fewer€hearings€with€the€longest€being€6€hearings.€€Only€three€cases€took€longer€than€two€monthsÐ P   Ðto€reach€disposition.€€The€status€of€parents€was€infrequently€discussed€within€the€court€files.€€ParentsÐ @  Ðwho€did€appear€in€court,€though,€€were€often€represented..€€Reasonable€efforts€findings€were€oftenÐ 0 € Ðmissing,€especially€at€hearings€held€after€the€shelter€care€hearing.Ð  p  Ðò òÌó óWith€regard€to€commitment,€it€was€difficult€to€determine€the€court's€intent€in€some€cases.€€WhenÐ P  Ðchildren€are€returned€home,€without€a€commitment,€€the€Department€almost€uniformly€files€a€motionÐ ð@  Ðto€terminate€the€court's€jurisdiction€and€the€files€are€then€sealed.€€There€was€a€case€which€went€fromÐ à0  Ðshelter€care€through€termination€of€parental€rights€in€less€than€one€year.Ð Ð  ÐÌThe€Court€monitors€all€the€children€in€foster€care€through€a€monthly€report€sent€by€€DSS.€€There€areÐ ° Ðvery€few€children€in€foster€care€in€this€county.€€The€Court€also€knows€all€the€players€in€the€agenciesÐ  ð Ð(i.e.€social€workers,€lawyers,€etc.)€and€can€make€decisions€in€the€cases€based€in€part€on€past€historyÐ à Ðand€trust€in€the€people€appearing€before€them.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌòòFacilitiesó󀄀No€review€of€the€facilities€was€conducted.à  àÐ `° ÐÌò òBaltimore€City:€€ó óòòHearing€Proceduresó󀄀There€are€two€judges€and€seven€masters€(recently€twoÐ @ Ðcontractual€masters€were€added)€assigned€to€the€juvenile€court.€€One€master€is€assigned€to€the€CINAÐ 0€ Ðadjudicatory/disposition€docket€and€one€is€assigned€to€the€CINA€review€docket.€€One€judge€hearsÐ  p ÐCINA€contested€cases€and€exceptions€at€any€given€time.€€The€docket€is€divided€into€a€morning€andÐ ` Ðafternoon€session€every€day.€€On€a€typical€day€each€judicial€officer€hears€upwards€of€30€individualÐ P Ðchildren's€cases€in€a€session.€€Each€judicial€officer€varies€somewhat€in€their€practice€for€how€toÐ ð@ Ðconduct€the€hearings.€€Most€do€a€docket€call€early€in€the€session€to€get€a€status€report€on€each€case.€Ð à0 ÐThe€status€of€many€cases€are€unable€to€be€determined€at€that€time€because€key€witnesses€or€partiesÐ Ð  Ðhave€not€yet€appeared.€€Cases€rarely€begin€to€be€presented€to€the€court€until€one€to€two€hours€afterÐ À! Ðthe€session€begins.€€Most€of€the€negotiation€takes€place€in€the€hallways€and€tiny€cramped€waitingÐ °"  Ðareas€within€the€first€floor€of€the€courthouse.€€Ð  #ð! ÐÌThe€automated€system€in€place€in€Baltimore€requires€groups€of€attorneys€to€huddle€around€computerÐ €%Ð # Ðwork€stations€and€attempt€to€reach€agreements€on€these€cases.€€Most€attorneys€are€working€on€5„10Ð p&À!$ Ðcases€at€one€time€and€have€to€go€back€and€forth€between€their€clients€and€opposing€counsel.€€OnceÐ `'°"% Ðthe€case€reaches€the€courtroom,€the€majority€proceed€by€introduction€of€a€computer€generatedÐ P( #& Ðstipulation.€€The€attorneys€identify€themselves€on€the€record€and€introduce€their€client,€if€present.€Ð @)$' ÐMost€judicial€officers€inquire€as€to€the€whereabouts€of€the€parents€and€some€judicial€officers€takeÐ 0*€%( Ðsteps€themselves€to€locate€missing€parents.€€If€a€case€is€contested€it€is€most€likely€pushed€to€the€endÐ  +p&) Ðof€the€docket€or€immediately€postponed€to€a€future€date€before€the€master€or€set€on€the€judgeððsÐ ,`'* Ðdocket.€€It€is€often€difficult€to€get€the€next€date€in€less€than€30€days.€€Although€the€stipulationsÐ ° Ðsignificantly€decrease€the€time€necessary€to€conduct€the€hearing€the€actual€processing€of€theÐ  ð Ðstipulation€and€generating€the€accompanying€court€order€takes€longer€than€it€took€to€put€the€case€onÐ à Ðthe€record.€€If€mistakes€are€in€the€order€it€takes€even€longer€to€fix.€€The€positive€aspect€of€this€is€allÐ €Ð Ðparties€leave€with€a€signed€order€(if€the€exception€period€is€waived)€which€contains€the€date€of€theÐ pÀ Ðnext€hearing€and€the€parent's€notice€to€keep€the€court€informed€of€their€whereabouts.Ð ` ° ÐÌShelter€care€cases€are€rotated€before€different€judicial€officers€each€week.€€An€average€daily€shelterÐ @  Ðcare€docket€contains€about€ten€cases€€and€is€split€between€two€masters.€€Children€are€alwaysÐ 0 € Ðrepresented€by€counsel,€but€the€standards€of€representation€vary€because€three€different€law€firmsÐ  p  Ðare€under€contract€to€represent€children€as€are€some€Court„Appointed€Attorneys€in€Baltimore,€andÐ `  Ðeach€office€has€different€approaches€among€their€attorney€staff.€€The€custodial€parents€have€accessÐ P  Ðto€counsel€through€the€Public€Defender's€Office,€if€they€apply€and€are€accepted,€at€all€stages€of€theÐ ð@  Ðproceeding.€€The€DSS€is€represented€by€in„house€counsel.€Most€children€are€present€in€court€and€inÐ à0  Ðthe€courtroom€and€many€parents€and€other€family€members€and€witnesses€appear€at€each€hearing.€Ð Ð  ÐThere€are€sometimes€as€many€as€eight€attorneys€involved€in€a€single€CINA€case:€€with€multipleÐ À Ðattorneys€for€siblings€who€have€different€positions,€attorneys€for€different€fathers,€an€attorney€for€theÐ ° Ðmother,€DSS€and€persons€who€have€intervened.€€Very€few€cases€actually€proceed€to€trial€as€they€areÐ  ð Ðeither€resolved€during€the€course€of€the€day€or€the€efficiency€of€numerous€postponements€tend€toÐ à Ðwear€the€contesting€party€down.€Ð €Ð ÐÌòòClerk's€Office/Condition€of€Filesó󀄀There€is€a€separate€juvenile€court€clerk's€office€in€Baltimore€City.€Ð `° ÐThere€are€a€number€of€different€clerks€performing€a€variety€of€roles€such€as€courtroom€clerk,Ð P  Ðassignment€clerk,€hearing€section,€etc.€€Files€are€maintained€in€a€separate€room€from€the€rest€of€theÐ @ Ðcourt.€€All€juvenile€cases€are€filed€by€a€unique€identifying€number€for€each€child.€€If€a€child€has€aÐ 0€ Ðdelinquency€and€a€CINA€case€or€multiple€CINA€cases,€all€information€is€maintained€in€one€file.€Ð  p ÐFoster€Care€Review€Board€Reports€and€other€ancillary€documents€are€not€included€in€the€file€nor€areÐ ` Ðthey€placed€in€a€separate€file€as€in€Prince€George's€County.€€The€automated€system€is€paperless.€€AllÐ P Ðdocket€entries,€stipulations,€motions,€petitions,€orders,€etc.€are€generated€on€the€QUEST€system.€€Ð ð@ ÐBaltimore€City€has€not€been€closing€cases€when€children€enter€foster€care€and€therefore€the€casesÐ à0 Ðremained€statistically€open€indefinitely.€Ð Ð  ÐÌòòFacilities€ó󀄀The€Baltimore€City€Courthouse€is€a€massive€old€building€in€need€of€constant€repair.€€TheÐ °"  Ðjuvenile€court€occupies€the€first€floor,€which€used€to€be€the€basement.€€There€are€nine€hearing€rooms,Ð  #ð! Ðsheriff's€office,€waiting€rooms,€offices€for€the€Public€Defender,€Clerkððs€Office,€juvenile€detentionÐ $à" Ðarea,€and€the€court€medical€offices.€€An€attorney€may€need€€to€be€in€any€of€these€rooms€at€any€givenÐ €%Ð # Ðtime,€as€well€as€in€one€of€the€judgeððs€courtrooms€which€can€be€located€on€any€floor€of€the€buildingÐ p&À!$ Ðor€another€building€across€the€street.€€A€good€part€of€the€day€is€often€spent€tracking€other€peopleÐ `'°"% Ðdown.€€The€juvenile€court€waiting€area€is€always€bustling€with€activity.€€The€CINA€and€delinquentÐ P( #& Ðchildren€wait€in€the€same€area€along€with€the€defendants€and€perpetrators€of€acts€that€brought€aboutÐ @)$' Ðthe€proceedings.€€A€number€of€projects€were€initiated€to€attempt€to€renovate€and€enhance€the€waitingÐ 0*€%( Ðarea€to€make€it€more€inviting€for€children.€€Attempts€to€renovate€the€facility€by€creating€a€playroomÐ  +p&) Ðequipped€with€toys€for€children€has€resulted€in€the€disappearance€and€destruction€of€the€toys€Ô_ÔlimitingÐ ,`'* Ðthe€effectiveness€of€the€area.€€There€is€now€a€"reading€room"€staffed€by€volunteers€where€childrenÐ ° Ðcan€come€and€read€stories€while€waiting.€€There€is€quite€a€bit€of€waiting€around€as€children€andÐ  ð Ðfamilies€wait€to€be€interviewed,€negotiate,€hopefully€have€their€case€called,€and€wait€for€their€orders.€Ð à ÐAlthough€recently€security€officers€were€placed€in€all€courtrooms,€fights€frequently€break€out€in€theÐ €Ð Ðhallways€and€in€the€courtroom€as€tempers€flare.€As€stated€earlier,€the€computers€now€used€by€theÐ pÀ Ðattorneys€to€generate€stipulations€are€all€crowded€into€a€tiny€5€by€10€room€filled€with€attorneys,Ð ` ° Ðsocial€workers€and€witnesses.€€A€few€phone€lines€were€installed€by€DSS€to€assist€in€communicatingÐ P   Ðwith€absent€witnesses,€€supervisors,€and€parties.€€There€is€virtually€nowhere€except€stairwells€forÐ @  Ðattorneys€to€have€private€conversations€with€their€clients€and€children€are€forced€to€discuss€seriousÐ 0 € Ðissues€like€sexual€abuse€and€suicide€attempts€with€little€privacy.€€Ð  p  ÐÌAfter€many€years€of€searching€for€an€appropriate€site,€a€new€juvenile€justice€centerÐ P  Ðis€now€being€built€with€funding€provided€by€the€Department€of€Juvenile€Justice.€€The€€plannedÐ ð@  Ðoccupancy€date€is€late€in€the€year€2000.€€It€will€house€a€juvenile€detention€facility€as€well€as€courtÐ à0  Ðfacilities€for€CINA€and€delinquency€cases€and€offices€for€the€various€involved€agencies.€The€plansÐ Ð  Ðfor€the€€center€include€13€courtrooms,€three€of€which€will€be€large,€ceremonial€courtrooms.€Ð À ÐCourtrooms€will€have€up„to„date€security€features€such€as€closed€circuit€televisions€monitors€andÐ ° Ðpanic€buttons,€as€well€as€a€separate€entrance€for€detained€youth.€€The€center€will€have€two€conferenceÐ  ð Ðrooms,€one€with€a€capacity€of€20.€€There€will€be€four€waiting€areas:€for€the€visitors€of€judges,€for€theÐ à Ðvisitors€of€masters,€for€attorneys€and€a€large€general€waiting€area.€€State€witnesses€and€victims,€CINAÐ €Ð Ðclients,€and€Office€of€the€Public€Defender€clients€will€have€waiting€areas€near€the€offices€which€theyÐ pÀ Ðare€associated.€€In€addition,€there€will€be€two€children€play€areas.Ð `° ÐÌSimilar€observations€of€€divergent€practices€of€€judges,€masters,€clerk's€offices,€attorneys€and€socialÐ @ Ðservice€agencies€were€made€in€the€other€Ð 0€ Ðthirteen€jurisdictions€that€were€visited€briefly€during€the€assessment€phase€of€the€project.€€TheÐ  p Ðfollowing€chart€illustrates€the€diverse€practices€Statewide€concerning€which€judicial€officers€areÐ ` Ðdesignated€to€hear€CINA€cases.Ð P ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓf¦ÓÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÔ* ƒ:= d d‘ˆX ‘£hX £îhX î£hX £îhX îXhX XîhX î£hX £XhX X„hˆ „;<°(#°(# ÔÔ,ø ”d ÔÔ,4td ÔÔ,`td ÔÔ,ìt” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''€%Ð #€%Ð  €[€‚m‚ƒƒ„„6ÐWhich€Judicial€Officers€are€Primarily€responsibleÐ í%=!$ Ðfor€Hearing€CINA€CasesÐ 2€'#a&±!%'' „„2ÐJUDGEÐ 2€'#í%=!&' „„2ÐCOURTÐ 6€''#í%=!'' „„6ÐMASTER/CourtÐ J€';#í%=!( m [ '' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔAlleganyÔ_ÔÐ 2€#b'²")' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€#b'²"* „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'#b'²"+ „„6ÐÐ J€';#b'²", M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐAnne€Ô_ÔArundelÔ_ÔÐ 2€#c(³#-' „„2ÐÐ 2€#c(³#. „„2ÐÐ 6€'#c(³#/ „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#c(³#0 M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐBaltimore€CityÐ 2€#d)´$1' „„2ÐÐ 2€#d)´$2 „„2ÐÐ 6€'#d)´$3 „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#d)´$4 M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐBaltimore€CountyÐ 2€#e*µ%5' „„2ÐÐ 2€#e*µ%6 „„2ÐÐ 6€'#e*µ%7 „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#e*µ%8 M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔCalvertÔ_ÔÐ 2€#f+¶&9' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€#f+¶&: „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'#f+¶&; „„6ÐÐ J€';#f+¶&< M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐCarolineÐ 2€#g,·'=' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€#g,·'> „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'#g,·'? „„6ÐÐ J€';#g,·'@ M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐCarrollÐ 2€#ýM' „„2ÐÐ 2€#ýM „„2ÐÐ 6€'#ýM „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#ýM M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐCecilÐ 2€#þN' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€#þN „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'#þN „„6ÐÐ J€';#þN M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐCharlesÐ 2€#ÿO ' „„2ÐÐ 2€#ÿO  „„2ÐÐ 6€'#ÿO  „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#ÿO  M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐDorchesterÐ 2€#P ' „„2ÐÐ 2€#P „„2ÐÐ 6€'#P „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#P M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐFrederickÐ 2€# Q' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€# Q „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'# Q „„6ÐÐ J€';# Q M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔGarrettÔ_ÔÐ 2€# R' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€# R „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'# R „„6ÐÐ J€';# R M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_ÔÐ 2€# S' „„2ÐÐ 2€# S „„2ÐÐ 6€'# S „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';# S M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐHowardÐ 2€# T' „„2ÐÐ 2€# T „„2ÐÐ 6€'# T „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';# T  M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐKentÐ 2€# U!' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€# U" „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'# U# „„6ÐÐ J€';# U$ M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐMontgomeryÐ 2€#V %' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€#V & „„2Ðò òDistrictó óÐ 6€'#V ' „„6ÐÐ J€';#V ( M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐPrince€George'sÐ 2€#W )' „„2ÐÐ 2€#W * „„2ÐÐ 6€'#W + „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';#W , M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐQueen€Anne'sÐ 2€#X -' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€#X . „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'#X / „„6ÐÐ J€';#X 0 M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐSt.€Mary'sÐ 2€# Y 1' „„2ÐÐ 2€# Y 2 „„2ÐÐ 6€'# Y 3 „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';# Y 4 M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐSomersetÐ 2€# Z 5' „„2ÐÐ 2€# Z 6 „„2ЀР6€'# Z 7 „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ J€';# Z 8 M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐTalbotÐ 2€# [9' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€# [: „„2Ðò òDistrictó óÐ 6€'# [; „„6ÐÐ J€';# [< M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐWashingtonÐ 2€# \=' „„2ÐJudgeÐ 2€# \> „„2ÐCircuitÐ 6€'# \? „„6ÐÐ J€';# \@ M Ä ' €Ä€‚M‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔWicomicoÔ_ÔÐ 2€# ]A' „„2ÐÐ 2€# ]B „„2ÐÐ 6€'# ]C „„6ÐMaster/CircuitÐ H€''7# ]D M Ä ' €ô€‚M‚„„HÐWorcesterÐ 4€'#^E'' „„4ÐJudgeÐ 4€'#^F' „„4ÐCircuitÐ 6€''#^G' „„6ÐÐ3)'^H M0 ô  '' 3ÐÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ@S#ÔÓf¦Óò òòòÌÌRecommendation€4.1€„€Creation€of€a€New€CINA€StatuteÐ Ò"J ÐÌóóCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€should€be€amended€to€create€a€new€CINA€statute€thatÐ ²L Ðrecognizes€the€distinct€needs€of€child€welfare€cases.€€Comments€regarding€the€construction€ofÐ ¢òM Ðthis€statute€should€be€elicited€from€all€affected€parties.€€Preparation€of€draft€legislation€shouldÐ ’âN Ðbe€completed€in€time€for€the€1999€session€of€the€General€Assembly.Ð ‚ÒO ÐÌó óòòAs€the€findings€demonstrate,€the€diversity€of€policies€and€procedures€and€the€different€interpretationsÐ b²Q Ðof€current€legal€requirements€in€CINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€between€the€various€jurisdictions€lead€toÐ R ¢R Ðdisparate€treatment€of€litigants,€difficulties€as€to€the€intent€of€the€court€order€when€cases€areÐ B!’S Ðtransferred€between€counties,€and€general€confusion€for€practitioners€and€agencies€around€the€stateÐ 2"‚T Ðthat€practice€in€more€than€one€jurisdiction.€€Uniform€terminology,€training,€and€accountability€isÐ "#rU Ðgreatly€needed.Ð $bV ÐÌWhile€the€Committee€on€Juvenile€Law€of€the€Maryland€Judicial€Conference€has,€in€the€past,Ð ò%B!X Ðexpressed€reservations€with€previous€efforts€to€design€and€implement€a€separate€CINA€statute,€thoseÐ â&2"Y Ðreservations€focused€upon€specific€elements€within€the€proposed€legislation.€€Members€of€theÐ Ò'"#Z ÐCommittee€on€Juvenile€Law,€have€stated,€in€principle,€that€they€are€not€Ô_ÔoppossedÔ_Ô€to€the€concept€ofÐ Â($[ Ða€separate€CINA€statute.óóÐ ²)%\ Ðò òÓ  ÓÐ  ¢*ò%] ÐÌTREATMENT€OF€PARTIES€&€FACILITIESÐ  ð Ðó óÓ  ÓÌÌAttorneys€were€asked€to€respond€to€questions€concerning€the€amount€of€time€they€spent€òòatóó€theÐ pÀ Ðcourthouse€and€the€amount€of€time€they€actually€spent€òòinóó€the€courtroom€at€each€stage€of€theÐ ` ° Ðproceeding.€Ð P   ÐÌThe€length€of€the€average€Ô_ÔnoncontestedÔ_Ô€shelter€care€hearing€ranged€from€two€minutes€to€three€hoursÐ 0 € Ðwith€an€average€of€15€minutes€statewide.€€The€average€contested€shelter€care€was€ten€minutes€to€fiveÐ  p  Ðhours€with€an€average€of€45€minutes.Ð `  ÐÌAttorneys€stated€they€spent€anywhere€from€two€minutes€to€five€hours€at€the€courthouse€for€aÐ ð@  ÐÔ_ÔnoncontestedÔ_Ô€adjudicatory€hearing,€with€the€average€time€being€two€hours€statewide.€€The€sameÐ à0  Ðrange€applied€to€the€time€spent€in€the€courtroom,€but€the€average€time€in€the€courtroom€was€less€thanÐ Ð  Ð20€minutes.€€For€contested€adjudicatory€hearings€the€range€was€30€minutes€to€32€hours€at€theÐ À Ðcourthouse€with€five€hours€being€the€average€and€courtroom€time€ranged€from€30€minutes€to€24Ð ° Ðhours€with€the€average€being€two€hours.€€When€compared€by€circuit€the€responses€€are€displayedÐ  ð ÐbelowÐ à ÐÌÌÌÔ*˜ƒ9> ddø ”d ø 4td 4`td `ìt” ì:=°(#°(#˜ÔÔ,´ˆX ÔÔ,è hX ÔÔ,Ü hˆ ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''P P  €r€‚„‚ƒƒ„„6ÐÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÓf¦ÓCircuitÐ 2€'#Ô$'' „„2ÐAverage€Adjudication€„€At€CourthouseÐ Ô$ ÐÔ_ÔNonContestedÔ_Ô/ContestedÐ 6€''#H˜' „„6ÐAverage€Adjudication€„€In€CourtroomÐ Ô$ ÐÔ_ÔNonContestedÔ_Ô/ContestedÐ F€'7#H˜ „ r '' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐFirstÐ 2€#`°' „„2Ð30„60€minutes/0„2€hoursÐ 6€'#`° „„6Ð0„15€minutes/0„1€hourÐ F€'7#`° d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐSecondÐ 2€#xÈ' „„2Ð15„30€minutes/2„4€hoursÐ 6€'#xÈ  „„6Ð0„15€minutes/2„4€hoursÐ F€'7#xÈ! d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐThirdÐ 2€#à"' „„2Ð30„60€minutes/2„4€hoursÐ 6€'#à# „„6Ð0„15€minutes/2€hoursÐ F€'7#à$ d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐFourthÐ 2€#¨ø%' „„2Ð0„15€minutes/0„2€hoursÐ 6€'#¨ø& „„6Ð0„15€minutes/1„2€hoursÐ F€'7#¨ø' d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐFifthÐ 2€#À(' „„2Ð2€hours/4„6€hoursÐ 6€'#À) „„6Ð15„30€minutes/2€hoursÐ F€'7#À* d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐSixthÐ 2€#Ø (+' „„2Ð2€hours/6€hoursÐ 6€'#Ø (, „„6Ð15„30€minutes/2€hoursÐ F€'7#Ø (- d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐSeventhÐ 2€#ð!@.' „„2Ð2€hours+€/6€hoursÐ 6€'#ð!@/ „„6Ð15„30€minutes/2„4€hoursÐ D€''3#ð!@0 d Û ' € €„„DÐEighthÐ 4€'##X1'' „„4Ð2€hours/2„4€hoursÐ 6€''##X2' „„6Ð15„30€minutes/1„2€hoursÐ-#!#X3   '' -ÐÌÌÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ_|#ÔÓf¦ÓAttorneys€stated€they€spent€anywhere€from€eight€minutes€to€75€hours€at€the€courthouse€for€aÐ Ô$$ 5 ÐÔ_ÔnoncontestedÔ_Ô€review€hearing,€with€the€average€time€being€two€hours€statewide.€€The€range€of€timeÐ Ä%!6 Ðspent€in€the€courtroom€was€eight€minutes€to€25€hours,€with€the€average€time€being€less€than€30Ð ´&"7 Ðminutes.€€For€contested€review€hearings,€the€€range€was€25€minutes€to€16€hours€at€the€courthouseÐ ¤'ô"8 Ðwith€3.5€hours€being€the€average.€In€court€time€ranged€from€33€minutes€to€16€hours€with€just€underÐ ”(ä#9 Ð2€hours€being€the€average.€€When€compared€by€circuit€the€responses€are€displayed€below.Ð „)Ô$: Ðâ âÐ t*Ä%; ÐÔ*…ƒ8? d d´ˆX ´è hX è Ü hˆ Ü 9>°(#°(#…ÔÔ,¤ˆX ÔÔ,ê hX ÔÔ,ê hˆ ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''°° €r€‚„‚ƒƒ„„6Ðâ âÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔÓf¦ÓCircuitÐ 2€'#4„'' „„2ÐAverage€Review€„€At€CourthouseÐ 4„ ÐÔ_ÔNonContestedÔ_Ô/ContestedÐ 6€''#¨ø' „„6ÐAverage€Review€„€In€CourtroomÐ 4„ ÐÔ_ÔNonContestedÔ_Ô/ContestedÐ F€'7#¨ø „ r '' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐFirstÐ 2€#À' „„2Ð0„1€hour/1„2€hoursÐ 6€'#À „„6Ð10„15€minutes/30€minutesÐ F€'7#À d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐSecondÐ 2€#Ø( ' „„2Ð0„1€hour/2„3€hoursÐ 6€'#Ø(  „„6Ð30€minutes/2€hoursÐ F€'7#Ø(  d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐThirdÐ 2€#ð@ ' „„2Ð0„1€hour/3€hoursÐ 6€'#ð@  „„6Ð10€minutes/1„2€hoursÐ F€'7#ð@ d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐFourthÐ 2€# X' „„2Ð0„1€hour/2€hoursÐ 6€'# X „„6Ð10€minutes/1€hourÐ F€'7# X d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐFifthÐ 2€# p' „„2Ð1„2€hours/3„4€hoursÐ 6€'# p „„6Ð15„30€minutes/2„4€hoursÐ F€'7# p d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐSixthÐ 2€#8 ˆ' „„2Ð2€hours/3„4€hoursÐ 6€'#8 ˆ „„6Ð15€minutes/2„4€hoursÐ F€'7#8 ˆ d Û ' €Û€ƒƒ„„FÐSeventhÐ 2€#P  ' „„2Ð1„2€hours/3€hoursÐ 6€'#P   „„6Ð15€minutes/1€hourÐ D€''3#P   d Û ' € €„„DÐEighthÐ 4€'#h¸ '' „„4Ð2€hours/3„4€hoursÐ 6€''#h¸ ' „„6Ð15„30€minutes/1„2€hoursÐ-#!h¸    '' -ÐÌÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ6‰#ÔÓf¦ÓÌThe€following€chart€examines€the€estimated€amount€of€time€per€year€allotted€in€each€sample€site€forÐ °  Ðthe€hearing€of€CINA€cases€based€on€the€number€of€filings€in€each€jurisdiction€and€the€amount€of€timeÐ  ð  Ðallotted€by€the€court€for€the€hearing€of€CINA€cases€or€TOTAL€juvenile€cases€(if€the€court€does€notÐ à ! Ðseparate€hearing€times€for€delinquency€and€CINA€cases).Ð €Ð" ÐÌÌÌÔ*…ƒ7@ d d¤ˆX ¤ê hX ê ê hˆ ê 8?°(#°(#…ÔÔ,Z”d ÔÔ,ótd ÔÔ,ótd ÔÔ,ªtd ÔÔ,ªtd ÔÔ,ät” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''@&@ € €‚¨‚ƒƒ„„6ÐÐ 2€'#è8''' „„2ÐÔ‡I XIX]ÔÓÿ¿Óò òAverage€judicialÐ è8( Ðhrs./weekÐ 2€'#_¯)' „„2ÐTotal€juvenile€orÐ è8* ÐCINA€onlyÐ 2€'#_¯+' „„2ÐYearly€hoursÐ è8, Ð(x€48€weeks)Ð 2€'#_¯-' „„2ÐNumber€ofÐ è8. ÐfilingsÐ 6€''#_¯/' „„6ÐTotal€time€perÐ è80 Ðcase/per€yearó óÐ J€';#_¯1 ¨   '' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐCarolineÐ 2€#‡×2' „„2Ðà@i i ‹ à3ˆÐ 2€#‡×3 „„2Ðò òJuvenileó óÐ 2€#‡×4 „„2Ðà@çç0Mà144ˆÐ 2€#‡×5 „„2Ðà@‘‘:÷à163ˆÐ 6€'#‡×6 „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.88€hrsˆÐ J€';#‡×7 ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔCalvertÔ_ÔÐ 2€#¯ÿ8' „„2Ðà@i i ‹ à3ˆÐ 2€#¯ÿ9 „„2ÐCINAÐ 2€#¯ÿ: „„2Ðà@çç0Mà144ˆÐ 2€#¯ÿ; „„2Ðà@‘‘:÷à153ˆÐ 6€'#¯ÿ< „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.97€hrsˆÐ J€';#¯ÿ= ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_ÔÐ 2€#×'>' „„2Ðà@6 6 ‹ à7.5ˆÐ 2€#×'? „„2ÐCINAÐ 2€#×'@ „„2Ðà@çç0Mà360ˆÐ 2€#×'A „„2Ðà@MM9÷à261**ˆÐ 6€'#×'B „„6Ðà@ÌÌA¦ à1.38€hrsˆÐ J€';#×'C ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐHowardÐ 2€#ÿOD' „„2Ðà@i i ‹ à3ˆÐ 2€#ÿOE „„2ÐCINAÐ 2€#ÿOF „„2Ðà@çç0Mà144ˆÐ 2€#ÿOG „„2Ðà@‘‘:÷à146ˆÐ 6€'#ÿOH „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.99€hrsˆÐ J€';#ÿOI ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐMontgomeryÐ 2€#'wJ' „„2Ðà@G G ‹ à90ˆÐ 2€#'wK „„2Ðò òJuvenileó óÐ 2€#'wL „„2Ðà@ÅÅ/Mà4320ˆÐ 2€#'wM „„2Ðà@oo9÷à6915ˆÐ 6€'#'wN „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.62€hrsˆÐ J€';#'wO ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐPrince€George'sÐ 2€#OŸP' „„2Ðà@G G ‹ à14ˆÐ 2€#OŸQ „„2ÐCINAÐ 2€#OŸR „„2Ðà@çç0Mà672ˆÐ 2€#OŸS „„2Ðà@oo9÷à1743ˆÐ 6€'#OŸT „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.38€hrsˆÐ J€';#OŸU ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐWashingtonÐ 2€#w ÇV' „„2Ðà@6 6 ‹ à4.5ˆÐ 2€#w ÇW „„2ÐCINAÐ 2€#w ÇX „„2Ðà@çç0Mà216ˆÐ 2€#w ÇY „„2Ðà@‘‘:÷à363ˆÐ 6€'#w ÇZ „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.60€hrsˆÐ J€';#w Ç[ ˆ  ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐWorcesterÐ 2€#Ÿ!ï\' „„2Ðà@i i ‹ à3ˆÐ 2€#Ÿ!ï] „„2Ðò òJuvenileó óÐ 2€#Ÿ!ï^ „„2Ðà@çç0Mà144ˆÐ 2€#Ÿ!ï_ „„2Ðà@MM9÷à316**ˆÐ 6€'#Ÿ!ï` „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.46€hrsˆÐ H€''7#Ÿ!ïa ˆ  ' €4€‚ˆ‚„„HÐBaltimore€CityÐ 4€'#Ç"b'' „„4Ðà@G G ‹ à90ˆÐ 4€'#Ç"c' „„4ÐCINAÐ 4€'#Ç"d' „„4Ðà@ÅÅ/Mà4320ˆÐ 4€'#Ç"e' „„4Ðà@MM9÷à5399*ˆÐ 6€''#Ç"f' „„6Ðà@îîB¦ à.80€hrsˆÐ3)'Ç"g ˆ0 4 '' 3ÐÔ#†IX]X I$•#ÔÌThese€figures€are€for€comparison€purposes€only.€€The€hours€per€week€are€based€on€the€number€ofÐ J$šh Ðjudicial€officers,€multiplied€by€a€six€hour€day,€divided€by€the€number€of€days€per€month€dedicatedÐ ý$M i Ðto€these€cases.€€This€was€then€multiplied€by€48€weeks.€€The€number€of€cases€was€based€on€figuresÐ °%!j Ðon€number€of€original€and€reopened€filings€in€Table€CC„8€of€the€1995„1996€Annual€Report€of€theÐ c&³!k ÐMaryland€Judiciary.Ð 'f"l ÐÌ*€€The€number€of€filings€in€Baltimore€City€was€not€derived€from€the€Annual€Report€because€theÐ |(Ì#n ÐQUEST€system€did€not€report€the€majority€of€reopened€cases€in€that€jurisdiction.€€The€numbers€areÐ /)$o Ðbased€on€estimates€provided€by€a€variety€of€different€sources.Ð â)2%p ÐÌ**€These€courts€file€cases€by€family,€not€òòindividualóó€child.€Ð H+˜&r Ðò òÓÿ¿ÓòòÐ û+K's ÐRecommendation€4.2€„€Quality€and€Depth€of€HearingsóóÐ ° ÐÌThe€Judiciary€must€consider€some€minimum€standards€of€properly€conducted€court€hearings,Ð à Ðhow€court€calendars€can€efficiently€be€managed,€the€minimum€amount€of€time€that€should€beÐ €Ð Ðdedicated€to€each€case,€and€determine€the€court€staffing€and€organization€necessary€to€makeÐ pÀ Ðthe€judicial€process€run€smoothly.€€The€joint€committee,€comprised€of€members€of€theÐ ` ° ÐCommittee€on€Juvenile€Law€and€the€Committee€on€Family€and€Domestic€Relations€Law,€inÐ P   Ðcooperation€with€affected€agencies,€should€develop€these€standards.ó óÐ @  ÐÌòòThe€task€force€should€convene€before€the€end€of€€1997€and€the€findings€should€be€presented€no€laterÐ  p  Ðthan€January€1999.€€Consideration€should€be€given€to€utilizing€the€Standards€set€forth€in€theÐ `  ÐNational€Council€of€Juvenile€and€Family€Court€Judges€(Ô_ÔNCJFCJÔ_Ô)óó€òòResource€Guidelines.Ð P  ÐóóÌò òResources:Ð à0  Ðó óIf€there€was€one€issue€that€was€universally€agreed€upon€by€every€participant€in€this€assessmentÐ Ð  Ðprocess,€it€was€that€regardless€of€what€goes€on€in€court,€the€key€issue€facing€child€welfare€is€the€lackÐ À Ðof€appropriate€and€affordable€resources€for€the€treatment€of€children€and€families€who€are€involvedÐ ° Ðin€the€system.€€Whether€it€be€drug€treatment€for€parents,€foster€care€treatment€facilities€for€children,Ð  ð Ðsufficient€staffing€ratios€of€social€workers€to€families€at€the€local€DSS€offices,€appropriate€caseloadsÐ à Ðfor€lawyers€or€sufficient€numbers€of€judicial€officers€and€clerk€personnel€to€hear€the€cases,€there€isÐ €Ð Ða€€need€for€more€financial€resources€at€all€levels€and€for€all€agencies.Ð pÀ ÐÌTwo€exhaustive€studies€of€the€service€delivery€program€in€Maryland€have€just€been€completed.€€OneÐ P  Ðwas€the€òòReview€of€the€Maryland€Child€Welfare€Systemóó€conducted€by€the€Child€Welfare€League€ofÐ @ ÐAmerica.× ƒ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€This€assessment€was€conducted€over€a€nine€month€period€in€1996€and€involved€extensiveÐ 0€ Ðfield€interviews,€review€of€case€files€and€analysis€of€programs,€policies€and€administrative€structure.€Ð  p ÐThe€role€of€the€legal€system,€staff€training€and€development€and€information€management€was€alsoÐ ` Ðaddressed.€€Over€100€specific€recommendations€were€made€in€this€study€including€six€for€the€legalÐ P Ðsystem.€€These€included€increased€funding€for€legal€services€for€the€local€departments€and€childrenÐ ð@ Ðand€parents€to€address€the€large€increase€in€court€reviews,€implementation€of€the€new€permanencyÐ à0 Ðplanning€legislation,€changes€in€the€process€of€contracting€for€legal€services€for€children€inÐ Ð  ÐMontgomery€County,€continuity€of€representation€for€all€parties,€permanency€planning€for€childrenÐ À! Ðin€kinship€care,€and€cross„discipline€training.Ð °"  ÐÌA€task€force€chaired€by€Lieutenant€Governor€Ð $à" ÐKathleen€Kennedy€Townsend€also€did€a€long„term€study€of€the€Systems€Reform€Initiative,Ð €%Ð # ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ,`'* ЇÌÌÌÌwhich€has€made€numerous€recommendations€about€the€service€delivery€system€in€Maryland.× ƒƒ ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€TheÐ pÀ Ðmajor€recommendations€are€to€enact€a€results„based€system,€expand€local€authority€to€determineÐ ` ° Ðneeds,€and€create€a€€State€Commission€on€Children,€Youth,€and€Families.Ð P   ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€4.3€„€Judicial€Involvement€in€the€Systems€Reform€InitiativeóóÐ 0 € ÐÌJudicial€Representation€on€the€transition€team€that€will€continue€the€work€of€the€LieutenantÐ `  ÐGovernor's€Task€Force,€and€the€Implementation€Committee€of€the€Ô_ÔCWLAÔ_Ô€RecommendationsÐ P  Ðneeds€to€be€encouraged.€€A€coordinated€effort€of€all€relevant€participants€in€the€child€welfareÐ ð@  Ðprocess€needs€to€be€focused€on€developing€a€coordinated€and€integrated€system€that€channelsÐ à0  Ðthe€appropriate€resources€to€the€direct€services€needed€for€Maryland's€children.ó óÐ Ð  ÐÌò òPhysical€Facilities:Ð ° Ðó óòòResults€of€Surveysó󀄀The€Administrative€Judge€in€each€county€responded€to€a€survey€concerning€courtÐ  ð Ðfacilities.€€The€results€are€as€follows:Ð à ÐÌÌÔ*¾ƒ6A d dZ”d Zótd óótd óªtd ªªtd ªät” ä7@°(#°(#¾ÔÔ,Ü”d ÔÔ,œtd ÔÔ,œtd ÔÔ,út” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''`°`° €:€‚¨‚ƒƒ„„6ÐÓÌÌÓÔ‡IÂæÂXIX]ÔFacilitiesÐ 2€'#X'' „„2Ðà@ÔÔ0bàYESˆÐ 2€'#X' „„2Ðà@’’8þàNOˆÐ 6€''#X' „„6Ðà@õõ?±àNO€ANSWERˆÐ J€';#X ¨ : '' €¬€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐIs€there€an€area€of€the€courthouse€set€aside€for€the€hearing€ofÐ D” Ðjuvenile€cases?Ð 2€#Ó#' „„2Ðà@0bà12ˆÐ 2€#D” „„2Ðà@²²8þà10ˆÐ 6€'#D” „„6Ðà@‹‹C±à2ˆÐ J€';#D” ˆ ¬ ' €€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐAre€there€special€areas€for€children€to€wait€for€their€cases?Ð 2€#_' „„2Ðà@<<1bà6ˆÐ 2€#_  „„2Ðà@²²8þà17ˆÐ 6€'#_! „„6Ðà@‹‹C±à1ˆÐ J€';#_" ˆ  ' €¬€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐDo€you€provide€private€meeting€rooms€for€attorneys€and€theirÐ K›# Ðclients€when€they€are€waiting€for€their€court€hearing?Ð 2€#Ú*$' „„2Ðà@bb1bàˆÌà@0bà14ˆÐ 2€#Ú*& „„2ÐÌà@ØØ9þà9ˆÐ 6€'#Ú*( „„6ÐÌà@‹‹C±à1ˆÐ J€';#Ú** ˆ ¬ ' €¬€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐDo€you€provide€work€rooms€for€social€workers€when€they€areÐ f+ Ðwaiting€for€court€hearings?Ð 2€#¥õ,' „„2Ðà@0bà11ˆÐ 2€#f- „„2Ðà@²²8þà12ˆÐ 6€'#f. „„6Ðà@‹‹C±à1ˆÐ J€';#f/ ˆ ¬ ' €¬€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐAre€there€telephones€available€for€social€workers€when€that€areÐ á 10 Ðwaiting€for€court€hearings?Ð 2€#p!À1' „„2Ðà@0bà20ˆÐ 2€#á 12 „„2Ðà@ØØ9þà3ˆÐ 6€'#á 13 „„6Ðà@‹‹C±à1ˆÐ H€''7#á 14 ˆ ¬ ' €Ü€‚ˆ‚„„HÐDo€you€have€a€security€officer€present€at€all€times€during€CINAÐ ¬"ü5 Ðproceedings?Ð 4€'#;#‹6'' „„4Ðà@0bà20ˆÐ 4€'#¬"ü7' „„4Ðà@ØØ9þà3ˆÐ 6€''#¬"ü8' „„6Ðà@‹‹C±à1ˆÐ3)'¬"ü9 ˆ0 Ü  '' 3ÐÓÌÌÓÔ#†IX]XÂIÂæ¿#ÔÌòòSite€Visitsó󀄀A€facilities€review€was€conducted€in€each€courthouse€that€was€visited€during€theÐ %_ : Ðassessment.€No€courthouse€contained€a€facility€where€children€could€wait€for€their€cases€to€be€calledÐ ÿ%O!; Ðor€for€the€parties€to€negotiate€in€private,€with€a€few€exceptions.€€In€many€ways,€the€majority€ofÐ ï&?"< Ðchildren€waiting€to€appear€in€Maryland€courts€are€treated€no€different€than€a€criminal€defendant€andÐ ß'/#= Ðgiven€no€special€consideration.€€Multiple€respondents€and€multiple€witnesses€wait€in€the€halls€andÐ Ï($> Ðnegotiate€in€stairwells,€just€like€everyone€else.€€Little€children€who€have€been€abused€by€an€adult€sitÐ ¿)%? Ðin€the€room€with€that€adult€and€wait.€€Children€who€have€been€in€foster€care€and€who€have€not€seenÐ ¯*ÿ%@ Ðtheir€families€for€months€at€a€time,€have€nowhere€to€go€to€have€some€private€time.€€Children€whoÐ Ÿ+ï&A Ðneed€foster€care€placements€wait€around€the€courthouse€until€someone€else€decides€their€fate€and€tellsÐ ° Ðthem€where€they€are€going€to€live.Ð  ð ÐÌòòò òRecommendation€€4.4€„€Development€of€a€Facilities€Review€Committee€to€study€and€developÐ €Ð Ða€Model€Court€Facilities€PlanÐ pÀ Ðó óóóÌò òThose€jurisdictions€that€house€a€separate€juvenile€court€such€as€Baltimore€City,€BaltimoreÐ P   ÐCounty,€Anne€Ô_ÔArundelÔ_Ô€County,€Prince€George's€County€and€Montgomery€County€shouldÐ @  Ðensure€that€there€is€a€separate€child€friendly€waiting€room.€Ð 0 € ÐÌAll€court€facilities€should€have€a€private€area€where€case€discussions€can€occur.€€This€spaceÐ `  Ðshould€provide€access€to€a€telephone€so€that€persons€such€as€foster€parents,€teachers€andÐ P  Ðtreatment€providers€can€be€contacted,€if€necessary.Ð ð@  ÐÌó óòòIf€you€are€looking€for€the€juvenile€court€in€many€jurisdictions€in€Maryland,€the€best€place€to€startÐ Ð  Ðis€the€basement.€€If€you€are€looking€for€the€"staff"€you€are€often€looking€for€one€person€performingÐ À Ðmany€different€functions.€Masters€may€be€located€in€different€buildings,€in€borrowed€offices€ratherÐ ° Ðthan€courtrooms,€etc.€€There€were€very€few€jurisdictions€that€had€a€place€for€children€to€waitÐ  ð Ðseparate€from€the€vast€array€of€criminal€defendants€and€other€litigants.€€Some€judges€called€one€caseÐ à Ðat€a€time€into€the€courtroom€while€in€other€jurisdictions€any€and€all€persons€in€the€courthouse€couldÐ €Ð Ðcome€and€go€as€they€pleased.€€The€juvenile€court€frequently€operates€as€the€"step„child"€in€the€localÐ pÀ Ðcourt€system.€€Facilities,€particularly€in€urban€areas,€are€often€grossly€inadequate€and€not€designedÐ `° Ðto€meet€the€needs€of€the€court€and€the€participants.€€(See€Riley,€M.€Corridors€of€Agony:€A€review€ofÐ P  ÐBaltimore€City€Juvenile€Court€by€Time€magazine€in€1992).× ƒx ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð @ ÐÌóóà@SS!ìàò òREASONABLE€EFFORTSó óˆÐ  p ÐÌÌTitle€IV„E€of€the€Social€Security€Act€(1983)× ƒz ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€requires€that€for€each€child€entering€foster€care€to€beÐ ð@ Ðeligible€for€federal€matching€funds€there€must€be€a€judicial€determination€that€continuation€in€theÐ à0 Ðhome€is€contrary€to€the€child's€welfare€and€that€the€agency€has€made€reasonable€efforts€to€preventÐ Ð  Ðremoval€or€to€alleviate€the€need€for€removal€and€make€safe€return€possible.€€This€law€requires€thatÐ À! Ðcourts€help€assure€that€children€will€not€be€needlessly€placed€in€foster€care€or€left€in€foster€care€forÐ °"  Ðlong€periods€of€time.€€The€purpose€of€requiring€a€ò òjudicial€determinationó ó€of€reasonable€efforts€is€toÐ  #ð! Ðhelp€ensure€the€agency€actually€provides€services€to€try€to€preserve€families.€€The€assumption€is€thatÐ $à" Ðthe€judge€will€not€make€a€positive€finding€unless€services€are€really€provided.€€The€federal€law€fails,Ð €%Ð # Ðhowever,€to€define€what€"reasonable€efforts"€means.€Ð p&À!$ ÐÌAlthough€Maryland€also€does€not€define€what€constitutes€reasonable€efforts,€Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„815€states€thatÐ P( #& Ð"shelter€care€may€only€be€continued€beyond€emergency€shelter€care€if€the€court€has€found€thatÐ @)$' Ðcontinuation€of€the€child€in€the€child's€home€is€contrary€to€the€welfare€of€the€child€and€whether€theÐ 0*€%( Ðremoval€of€the€child€from€the€child's€home€is€necessary€due€to€an€alleged€emergency€situation€andÐ  +p&) Ðin€order€to€provide€for€the€safety€of€the€child€or€òòreasonable,€but€unsuccessful€effortsóó€were€made€toÐ ,`'* Ðprevent€or€eliminate€the€need€for€removal€of€the€child€from€the€home."Ð ° ЀÌIf€the€court€continues€shelter€care€on€the€basis€of€€an€alleged€emergency,€the€court€shall€assessÐ à Ðwhether€the€absence€of€efforts€to€prevent€removal€was€reasonable.€If€the€court€finds€that€the€absenceÐ €Ð Ðof€efforts€to€prevent€removal€was€not€reasonable,€the€court€shall€make€a€written€determination€soÐ pÀ Ðstating.€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„815€(f)(3)]€The€court€shall€make€a€determination€as€to€whether€reasonable€efforts€areÐ ` ° Ðbeing€made€to€make€it€possible€to€return€the€child€to€the€child's€home€or€whether€the€absence€of€suchÐ P   Ðefforts€is€reasonable.€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„815€(f)(4)]Ð @  ÐÌAt€the€disposition€hearing,€the€court€shall€"make€specific€findings€of€fact€as€to€the€circumstances€thatÐ  p  Ðcaused€the€need€for€removal"€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ô€3„820(k)]€.Ð `  ÐÌTherefore,€although€not€explicitly€stated,€reasonable€efforts€determinations€should€be€made€at€allÐ ð@  Ðhearings€where€a€decision€regarding€permanency€planning€is€being€made.€€The€Permanency€PlanningÐ à0  Ðfor€Children€Project€Advisory€Committee€of€the€National€Council€of€Juvenile€and€Family€CourtÐ Ð  ÐJudges€has€recently€issued€a€òòStatement€of€Good€Practice€Principles,óó€which€states€"federal€reasonableÐ À Ðefforts€language€should€be€clarified...and€new€standards€developed€which€would€require€that€whenÐ ° Ðreunification€is€no€longer€the€goal€that€the€agency€is€expected€to€make€reasonable€efforts€to€secureÐ  ð Ða€safe€and€permanent€placement€in€a€timely€manner.ðð× ƒ… ×Ý ƒ5$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð à ÐÌSurvey€responses€from€both€the€Judiciary€and€the€advocacy€community€support€the€finding€thatÐ pÀ Ðjudges€never€or€rarely€made€written€findings€about€reasonable€efforts€rather€than€simply€checkingÐ `° Ðoff€boxes€on€a€form.€€Hearing€observations€supported€this€conclusion€as€well.€€File€reviewsÐ P  Ðconducted€around€the€state€revealed€the€majority€of€jurisdictions€used€form€orders€to€satisfy€theÐ @ Ðreasonable€efforts€requirements.€€Ð 0€ ÐÌThe€language€of€those€orders€differed€as€some€counties€had€a€check„off€that€reasonable€efforts€wereÐ ` Ðmade€while€other€jurisdictions€had€a€choice€of€options€such€as€reasonable€efforts€made,€not€made,Ð P Ðnot€made€because€of€the€emergency€nature€of€the€proceedings€or€no€determination€made.€€There€wasÐ ð@ Ðalmost€never€a€case€with€a€negative€reasonable€efforts€finding.€€€In€some€jurisdictions€these€formsÐ à0 Ðwere€only€used€at€shelter€care€and€in€a€minority€of€jurisdictions€they€were€non„existent.€€In€a€smallÐ Ð  Ðnumber€of€jurisdictions,€attorneys€included€a€reasonable€efforts€finding€in€orders€submitted€to€theÐ À! Ðcourt€after€a€hearing.€€What€was€abundantly€clear€however,€was€that€these€orders€are€signed€by€theÐ °"  Ðjudge€even€though€they€actually€heard€no€evidence€concerning€reasonable€efforts.€Ð  #ð! ÐÌBy€investing€only€a€few€more€minutes€in€each€hearing,€judges€could€seriously€inquire€about€theÐ €%Ð # ÐDepartment's€reasonable€efforts,€thus€laying€a€foundation€for€DSS€to€devise€and€review€theÐ p&À!$ Ðpermanency€plan.€€Furthermore,€by€carefully€reviewing€prior€efforts€to€help€the€family,€the€court€canÐ `'°"% Ðbetter€evaluate€both€the€danger€to€the€child€and€the€family's€ability€to€respond€to€services.ò òÐ P( #& ÐÌòòRecommendation€€4.5€„€Specific€Reasonable€Efforts€Findings€By€JudiciaryóóÐ 0*€%( ÐÌThe€Judiciary€should€seriously€inquire€at€every€hearing€about€reasonable€efforts€by€DSS€andÐ ,`'* Ðshould€find€specifically€that€the€state€did€or€did€not€make€reasonable€efforts.€In€certain€cases,Ð ° Ðthe€circumstances€surrounding€the€judicial€determination€should€be€clearly€delineated.Ð  ð ÐÌòòRecommendation€€4.6€„€Development€of€New€State„wide€Reasonable€Efforts€FormsÐ €Ð ÐóóÌThe€Judiciary€should€develop€a€new€statewide€reasonable€efforts€document€which€containsÐ ` ° Ðsections€that€allow€the€judge€to€make€written€findings€based€on€the€evidence€presented€to€themÐ P   Ðas€to€why€reasonable€efforts€were€or€were€not€made.€€This€form€should€be€developed€inÐ @  Ðconsultation€with€Ô_ÔDHRÔ_Ô€to€ensure€Federal€IV„E€funding€requirements€are€satisfied.€Ð 0 € Ðòòó óÌPeriodic€audits€of€these€forms€will€be€conducted€to€ensure€compliance€with€this€requirement.Ð `  ÐÌAs€of€this€writing€the€U.S.€House€of€Representatives€has€passed€H.R.€867,€which€includes€languageÐ ð@  Ðthat€states€need€not€make€reasonable€efforts€to€keep€or€reunify€children€with€their€biological€parentsÐ à0  Ðif€the€court€has€found€the€children€were€abandoned,€tortured€or€repeatedly€abused€and€that€ifÐ Ð  Ðreasonable€efforts€are€not€made€or€are€discontinued,€€reasonable€efforts€shall€be€made€to€make€aÐ À Ðpermanent€placement€for€the€child.Ð ° ÐÌò òóóÐ à ÐÑ%F,CÑâ %âÑ8€Y]YXXdðXXdð8Ñâ %âÑ  ÑÌÌÌó óà@ìì*ìàˆÌò òÓ  ÓÐ pÀ ÐCHAPTER€FIVEÐ ° ÐÌTimeliness€and€Case€ManagementÐ à ÐÌÓ  Óó óTable€of€Contentsà‚`"`"I(#.H H à63ˆÐ pÀ ÐÌà $ àINTRODUCTIONà‚`"`"I(#.  à64ˆÐ P   ÐÌà $ àTERMINATION€OF€PARENTAL€RIGHTS€CASESà‚`"`"I(#.¬¬1à64ˆÐ 0 € ÐÌà $ àCINA€CASESà‚`"`"I(#.® ® à65ˆÐ `  ÐÌò òòò5.1à $ àRecommendation€„€Early€Establishment€of€Paternityóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.>à66ˆÐ ð@  ÐÌò òòò5.2à $ àRecommendation€„€Collection€of€More€Detailed€Case€Statistics€„€Introduction€of€Case€Ð Ð  Ðà $ àSegmentsóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.: : à67ˆÐ À ÐÌòòò ò5.3à $ àRecommendation€„€Collection€of€More€Detailed€Case€Statistics€„€Uniform€Court€Ð  ð Ðà $ àSystemó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.ffà67ˆÐ à ÐÌòòò ò5.4à $ àRecommendation€„€Interim€Statisticsó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.òò0à67ˆÐ pÀ ÐÌà $ àDIFFERENTIATED€CASE€MANAGEMENT€AND€THE€DEVELOPMENTAL€NEEDS€OF€Ð P  Ðà $ àCHILDRENà‚V!V!F(#.  à68„69ˆÐ @ ÐÌò òòò5.5à $ àRecommendation€„€Differentiated€Case€Managementóóó óà‚`"`"I(#.((<à70ˆÐ  p ÐÌòòò ò5.6à $ àRecommendation€„€Differentiated€Case€Management€„€Information€ó óóóà‚`"`"I(#.ööKà70ˆÐ P Ðò òòòà $ àÌÌÌÓ  ÓóóÌÓsùÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ÌÌ$ìàINTRODUCTIONó óˆà  àÐ ,`'* ЇThe€jurisdiction€of€the€juvenile€court€is,€by€its€very€nature,€time€bound.€It€does€not€apply€beyond€aÐ ° Ðlegislatively€specified€age.€Consequently,€the€court's€total€involvement€with€a€youth€occurs€withinÐ  ð Ðthe€span€of€a€ticking€clock,€and€each€day€of€processing€time€takes€away€opportunity€for€potentialÐ à Ðtreatment.€Time€is€of€particular€importance€for€juveniles.€It€brings€almost€daily€changes€in€physical,Ð €Ð Ðemotional,€and€mental€development.€Juveniles€are€far€less€able€than€adults€to€anticipate€the€futureÐ pÀ Ðand€cope€with€delays.€Also,€the€application€of€appropriate€treatment€dissipates€over€time.Ð ` ° ÐÌIn€general,€states€have€created€shorter€time€limits€for€juveniles€than€for€adults€due€to€the€belief€thatÐ @  Ðjuveniles€have€an€even€greater€need€for€swift€resolution€of€their€cases.€€In€Maryland,€specific€timeÐ 0 € Ðframes€have€been€established€for€the€processing€of€Child€In€Need€of€Assistance€and€Termination€ofÐ  p  ÐParental€Rights€cases.ò òÐ `  Ðòòà@+ + ìàóóTERMINATION€OF€PARENTAL€RIGHTS€CASESòòˆÐ P  ÐÌÌÔ_Ôóóó óConcernÔ_Ô€has€been€expressed€regarding€the€extent€of€delay€in€the€adoption€of€children€in€foster€careÐ Ð  Ðand€the€extent€to€which€the€process€of€terminating€parental€rights€is€responsible.€Courts€in€MarylandÐ À Ðare€required€Ð ° Ðby€statute,€FLðð€€€€€€to€rule€upon€a€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€petition€within€180€days€after€filing.€€As€can€be€seen€from€theÐ  ð Ðfollowing€table,€Ô_Ôhowever,Ô_Ô€none€of€the€eight€surveyed€jurisdictions€in€Maryland€is€in€total€complianceÐ à Ðwith€this€requirement.Ô‡IôŽšòXIX]ÔÐ €Ð ÐÔ*˜ƒ3U ddÜ”d Üœtd œœtd œút” ú6A°(#°(#˜ÔÔ,( ”d ÔÔ,¬td ÔÔ,td ÔÔ,&t” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''pÀpÀ €c€‚¨‚ƒƒ„„6ÐJurisdictionÐ 2€'#h'' „„2ÐNumber€of€Cases€ClosedÐ h Ðin€the€Fiscal€YearÐ 2€'#à0' „„2ÐNumber€ofÐ h ÐCasesÐ à0 ÐReviewedÐ ¨ø ÐÐ 6€''#pÀ' „„6ÐPercentage€of€CasesÐ h ÐCompleted€Within€180Ð à0 ÐdaysÐ J€';#¨ø ¨ c '' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐAnne€Ô_ÔArundelÔ_ÔÐ 2€#À' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à12ˆÐ 2€#À  „„2Ðà@ÂÂ4à10ˆÐ 6€'#À! „„6Ѐ75%Ð J€';#À" ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐBaltimore€CountyÐ 2€#`#' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à46ˆÐ 2€#`$ „„2Ðà@ÂÂ4à29ˆÐ 6€'#`% „„6Ѐ28%Ð J€';#`& ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐCecilÐ 2€#`°'' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à10ˆÐ 2€#`°( „„2Ðà@ìì5à9ˆÐ 6€'#`°) „„6Ѐ30%Ð J€';#`°* ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_ÔÐ 2€#°+' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à28ˆÐ 2€#°, „„2Ðà@ÂÂ4à21ˆÐ 6€'#°- „„6Ѐ39%Ð J€';#°. ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐMontgomeryÐ 2€#!P/' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à54ˆÐ 2€#!P0 „„2Ðà@ÂÂ4à30ˆÐ 6€'#!P1 „„6Ѐ22%Ð J€';#!P2 ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐPrince€George'sÐ 2€#P" 3' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à84ˆÐ 2€#P" 4 „„2Ðà@ÂÂ4à42ˆÐ 6€'#P" 5 „„6Ѐ69%Ð J€';#P" 6 ˆ q ' €q€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐWashingtonÐ 2€# #ð7' „„2Ðà@bb&¶à14ˆÐ 2€# #ð8 „„2Ðà@ÂÂ4à12ˆÐ 6€'# #ð9 „„6Ѐ36%Ð H€''7# #ð: ˆ q ' €¡€‚ˆ‚„„HÐBaltimore€CityÐ 4€'#ð$@ ;'' „„4Ðà@88&¶à140ˆÐ 4€'#ð$@ <' „„4Ðà@ÂÂ4à47ˆÐ 6€''#ð$@ =' „„6Ѐ16%Ð3)'ð$@ > ˆ0 ¡  '' 3ÐÔ‡ ôŽšòòIôŽšÔÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌà@ìì*ìàò òÔ#† X]Xò ôŽš&#ÔˆÌà@‘‘%ìàCINA€CASESó óˆÐ h(¸#A ÐÌò òòòAdjudicatory€ProcessóóÐ H*˜%C Ðó óÌUnder€Maryland€law,€continued€shelter€care€pending€the€adjudicatory€hearing€may€not€be€orderedÐ (,x'E Ðfor€a€period€of€more€than€thirty€days.€[Rule€11„112.b.2].€If€the€child€is€in€shelter€care,€theÐ „ Ðadjudicatory€hearing€shall€be€held€within€thirty€days€from€the€date€upon€which€the€court€orderedÐ tð Ðshelter€care€[Rule€11„114.b.2].€Shelter€care€shall€not€be€ordered€for€a€period€of€more€than€thirty€daysÐ dà Ðunless€an€adjudicatory€hearing€is€held€with€extension€[Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ôðð3„815€(d)(5)][Ô_ÔCJÔ_Ôðð€3„815€(d)(4)].Ð TÐ ÐÌIf€the€child€is€not€in€shelter€care,€the€adjudicatory€hearing€shall€be€held€within€sixty€days€after€theÐ 4° Ðjuvenile€petition€is€served€[Rule€11„114(b)(1)].Ð $   ÐÌòòFederal€LawóóÐ  € ÐÌWhile€federal€law€requires€that€procedural€safeguards€be€provided€to€protect€parental€rights€in€theÐ ä `  Ðremoval€of€a€child€from€the€parentsðð€home,€it€is€not€specific€with€regard€to€exact€proceduralÐ Ô P  Ðsafeguards€€(42€U.S.C.€675€(5)(C),€627€(a)(2)(B),€672€(d)).Ð Ä@  ÐÌòòÔ_ÔNCFJCÔ_Ô€GuidelinesóóÐ ¤  ÐIf€shelter€care€is€continued,€a€full€adjudicatory€hearing€should€be€conducted€within€45€days€ofÐ ” Ðremoval€(Child€Dependency€Ô_ÔBenchbookÔ_Ô....p.€204).Ð „ ÐÌWhen€a€child€is€in€emergency€protective€care,€the€adjudication€should€be€completed€within€60€daysÐ dà Ðafter€the€removal€of€the€child,€whether€or€not€parties€are€willing€to€agree€to€extensions.€ExceptionsÐ TÐ Ðshould€be€allowed€only€in€cases€involving€newly€discovered€evidence,€unavoidable€delays€in€theÐ DÀ Ðnotification€of€parties€and€unforseen€personal€emergencies€(Improving€Court€Practice...p.47).Ð 4° ÐÌòòOther€StatesóóÐ  ÐÌExperience€in€many€jurisdictions€has€shown€that€it€is€possible€to€conduct€the€adjudication€within€60Ð ôp Ðdays€after€removal€of€the€child.€Some€jurisdictions€set€even€shorter€time€limits€€(Improving€CourtÐ ä` ÐPractice...p.47).Ð ÔP ÐÌÔ#†IX]XX X]‰ #ÔÑ„°ÑÑ„°ÑòòTo€illustrate€the€compliance€of€selected€Maryland€jurisdictions€with€statutory€requirements€andÐ ´0 Ðnational€standards,€the€following€table€includes€data€on€elapsed€time€from€filing€to€disposition.óóÔ‡IôŽšòXIX]ÔÐ ¤  ÐÌÔ*žƒSVd d( ”d ( ¬td ¬td &t” &3U°(#°(#žÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ \!Ø \!Ø ÐJurisdictionÐ  À!<! ÐNumber€of€CasesÐ  À!<" ÐMean€Number€ofÐ À!<# ÐDaysÐ  ˆ"$ ÐMaximum€NumberÐ À!<% Ðof€DaysÐ  ˆ"& ÐPercentageÐ À!<' ÐCompleted€WithinÐ ˆ"( Ð60€DaysÐ  P#Ì) ÐÔ_ÔCalvertÔ_ÔÐ 5+ ¬$(!*  8@24‰8@‰5Ð24Ð UK(¬$(!+  8@24 8@ ^@120‰^@‰UÐ120Ð VL)¬$(!, ^@120 ^@  v@354‰ v@‰VÐ354Ð 5+)¬$(!-  v@354  v@ 5Ð41.7%Ð  ¬$(!. ÐÔ_ÔHarfordÔ_ÔÐ 5+ &„"/  4@20‰4@‰5Ð20Ð VL(&„"0  4@20 4@ ÀM@59.5‰ÀM@‰VÐ59.5Ð WM*&„"1 ÀM@59.5 ÀM@ @i@202‰@i@‰WÐ202Ð 5+)&„"2 @i@202 @i@ 5Ð60%Ð  &„"3 ÐPrince€Georgeððs€Ð 5+ d'à#4  €S@78‰€S@‰5Ð78Ð VL(d'à#5  €S@78 €S@ 33333sN@60.9‰33333sN@‰VÐ60.9Ð WM*d'à#6 33333sN@60.9 33333sN@ àq@286‰àq@‰WÐ286Ð 5+)d'à#7 àq@286 àq@ 5Ð66.7%Ð  d'à#8 ÐWashingtonÐ 5+ À(<%9  A@34‰A@‰5Ð34Ð TJ(À(<%:  A@34 A@  €M@59‰€M@‰TÐ59Ð UK(À(<%;  €M@59 €M@ Pv@357‰Pv@‰UÐ357Ð 5+)À(<%< Pv@357 Pv@ 5Ð69.7%Ð  À(<%= ÐWorcesterÐ 5+ *˜&>  $@10‰$@‰5Ð10Ð UK(*˜&?  $@10 $@ Y@100‰Y@‰UÐ100Ð VL)*˜&@ Y@100 Y@ °t@331‰°t@‰VÐ331Ð 5+)*˜&A °t@331 °t@ 5Ð50%Ð *˜&B  ÐÔ‡ ôŽšòòIôŽšÔò òòòÌÔ#† X]Xò ôŽšj#ÔLocating€and€Serving€Parentsó óóóÐ Ü+X(C ÐÐ Ì,H)D ÐPersonnel€from€local€departments€of€social€services€have€expressed€concern€with€the€difficulty€theyÐ „ Ðencounter€in€locating€and€serving€parents,€especially€fathers.€All€parties€within€the€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€process€haveÐ tð Ðstated€that€such€difficulty€is€one€of€the€primary€reasons€for€delay€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases.€It€would€appear€thatÐ dà Ðthe€best€solution€would€be€to€establish€paternity€as€early€as€possible€in€court€proceedings.Ð TÐ ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€5.1€„€Early€Establishment€of€Paternityóóó óÐ 4° ÐÌò òCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€should€be€amended€to€include€a€provision€clearly€allowingÐ   Ða€finding€of€paternity€in€the€CINA€proceeding.ó óÐ  € ÐÌò òòòScheduling€of€Hearingsóóó óÐ ä `  ÐÌAt€present,€no€statutory€provision€exists€that€would€accord€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€a€higher€priority€in€theÐ Ä@  Ðscheduling€of€hearings€than€other€types€of€cases.€Given€the€priorities€presently€facing€our€courts,Ð ´0  Ðespecially€with€regard€to€criminal€cases,€it€is€unlikely€that€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases€would€be€accorded€greaterÐ ¤  Ðattention€unless€the€need€for€such€€priority€was€ably€demonstrated€to€the€Judiciary.€Ð ” ÐÌTo€meet€this€need,€the€Administrative€Office€of€the€Courts€and€the€Department€of€Human€ResourcesÐ tð Ðjointly€sponsored€a€two„day€training€conference€on€CINA,€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô,€and€adoption€cases.€A€primaryÐ dà Ðportion€of€this€conference€was€dedicated€to€illustrating€the€relationship€between€the€needs€ofÐ TÐ Ðchildren,€especially€those€of€an€adoptable€age,€and€the€€role€of€the€court€in€this€process.€As€previouslyÐ DÀ Ðdescribed€in€Chapter€Two,€such€conferences€and€increased€training€should€take€place€in€the€nearÐ 4° Ðfuture.Ð $  Ðòòò òÌCourt€InterventionÐ € ÐÌó óóóUnlike€criminal€cases€and€domestic€cases,€where€a€court€can€use€the€prospect€of€dismissal€to€enhanceÐ ä` Ðthe€progress€of€court€activity,€the€court€has€little€recourse€in€attempting€to€enforce€the€timeliness€ofÐ ÔP ÐÔ_ÔTPFÔ_Ô€and€CINA€cases.€Clearly,€dismissing€a€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€action€if€it€is€not€completed€within€180€days€wouldÐ Ä@ Ðserve€onlyÔ#†IX]XX X]“!#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€to€harm€the€child.€The€only€effective€option€available€to€the€court€development€ofÐ ´0 Ðmethods€to€monitor€case€progress€effectivelyÔ#†IX]XX X]/,#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€by€carefully€and€concisely€illustrating€ongoingÐ ¤  Ðproblems€in€case€activity,€thereby€placing€the€court€in€a€position€to€bring€shortcomings€to€theÐ ”  Ðattention€of€the€appropriate€parties.Ð „!  ÐÔ#†IX]XX X]-#ÔÐ t"ð! ÐÑTRY,3Ø'Xà3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôòòò òRecommendation€5.2€„€Collection€of€More€Detailed€Case€Statistics€„€Introduction€of€CaseÐ „ ÐSegmentsÐ tð ÐóóÌIn€order€to€more€closely€monitor€the€progress€of€children€under€jurisdiction€of€the€court,Ð TÐ Ðmethodology€should€be€developed€for€dividing€each€CINA€and€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€case€into€segments€ofÐ DÀ Ðactivity.€This€statistical€package€should€€provide€€administrative€personnel€with€the€capabilityÐ 4° Ðto€monitor€effectivelyÔ#†IX]XX X]£/#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ô€Ô#†IX]XX X]û1#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôthe€progress€of€children€Ô#†IX]XX X]>2#ÔÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôin€€CINA,€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô,€and€adoption€cases€and,€ifÐ $   Ðappropriate,€to€take€steps€necessary€to€ensure€that€processing€is€not€delayed€inordinatelyÔ#†IX]XX X]™2#Ô.€Ð   Ðó óÌòòIn€CINA€actions,€segments€should€include,€but€should€not€necessarily€be€limited€to,€emergencyÐ ô p  Ðshelter€care,€the€adjudicatory€process,€the€disposition€phase,€and€reviews.€In€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases,€segmentsÐ ä `  Ðshould€be€triggered€by€such€actions€as€the€filing€of€the€petition,€issuance€of€the€show€case€order,Ð Ô P  Ðfiling€of€a€notice€of€objection,€and€scheduling€of€the€trial€date.€In€addition,€in€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€cases,€activitiesÐ Ä@  Ðshould€be€separated€and€grouped€according€to€the€affected€parent.óóÐ ´0  ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€5.3€„€Collection€of€More€Detailed€Case€Statistics€„€Uniform€Court€Systemóóó óÐ ” ÐÌò òAt€the€direction€of€the€Maryland€General€Assembly,€the€Maryland€Judiciary€has€undertakenÐ tð Ðthe€process€of€developing€and€implementing€a€Statewide€automation€system.€This€system,Ð dà Ðcalled€the€Uniform€Court€System€(UCS),€is€presently€under€development€in€the€Juvenile€CourtÐ TÐ Ðof€Montgomery€County.€Due€to€and€in€anticipation€of€UCS€being€migrated€to€otherÐ DÀ Ðjurisdictions,€initial€attempts€to€collect€more€detailed€case€statistics€should€begin€with€UCS.ó óÐ 4° ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€5.4€„€Interim€StatisticsÐ  ÐÌóóPending€full€implementation€of€the€UCS,€alternative€methods€of€data€collection,€featuring€theÐ ôp Ðmethodology€and€possessing€the€technology€to€provide€more€detailed€case€statistics,€€should€beÐ ä` Ðconsidered€by€the€Judiciary.ó óÐ ÔP ÐÌFinally,€since€a€childððs€concept€of€time€varies€with€age,€there€is€a€need€to€consider€the€developmentalÐ ´0 Ðneeds€of€children,€including€the€effect€of€abuse€and€neglect,€in€determining€how€courts€shouldÐ ¤  Ðprocess€these€cases.€Consideration€should€be€given€to€utilizing€case€management€systems€thatÐ ”  Ðeffectively€differentiate€between€cases,€taking€into€consideration€the€nature€of€the€abuse€and€the€ageÐ „!  Ðof€the€child.Ð t"ð! ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ Ä,@), Їà@F F ìàò òDIFFERENTIATED€CASE€MANAGEMENT€AND€THE€ˆÐ „ Ðà@  ìàDEVELOPMENTAL€NEEDS€OF€CHILDRENó óˆÐ tð ÐÌIn€its€most€general€form,€differentiated€treatment€of€cases€has€been€applied€consistently€throughoutÐ TÐ Ðthe€development€of€the€judicial€system.€Civil€cases€are€processed€in€accordance€with€rules€andÐ DÀ Ðstatutory€procedures€that€are€clearly€distinct€from€criminal€cases.€Juvenile€cases€also€have€proceduresÐ 4° Ðwhich€are€unique.€Often,€case€types€are€segregated€administratively€by€department€or€division.Ð $   ÐUltimately,€however,€within€these€broad€case€types€and€even€within€individual€case€categories,€theÐ   Ðsame€procedures€and€time€frames€exist€for€every€litigant€regardless€of€their€unique€needs€for€differentÐ  € Ðresolutions.€Clearly,€€there€is€a€distinct€need€to€address€the€developmental€needs€of€children€withinÐ ô p  Ðthis€context.€Ð ä `  ÐÌThe€following€stages€of€development€are€based€upon€the€theories€of€Erik€Erickson.€Although€thereÐ Ä@  Ðare€many€other€theories€that€describe€the€central€tenets€of€child€development,€Ericksonððs€remainÐ ´0  Ðprominent€and€can€provide€a€broad€illustration€of€how€these€issues€interact€with€court€timeliness.Ð ¤  ÐÌòòInfancyóóÐ „ ÐÌThe€first€psychological€and€social€task€in€the€life€of€an€infant€is€to€become€attached€to€his€or€herÐ dà Ðparents€(or€other€care€givers).€From€this€attachment,€encouraged€by€parental€bonding€and€theÐ TÐ Ðnurturing€and€safety€it€provides,€the€child€learns€to€trust€his€or€her€environment.€The€ability€to€feelÐ DÀ Ðattachment€to€others€eventually€allows€the€child€to€internalize€a€sense€of€rules€established€by€thoseÐ 4° Ðcaring€adults,€and€the€consequent€sense€of€appropriate€guilt€when€those€rules€are€violated.€However,Ð $  Ðthe€infant€who€does€not€receive€a€reasonable€amount€of€physical€and€emotional€stimulation€may€notÐ  Ðgrow€adequately.€ð ðFailure€to€Thrive€Syndromeðð€may€develop€wherein€the€infant€may€becomeÐ € Ðwithdrawn€and€depressed.€As€the€child€ages,€intense€anger€may€take€over€his€or€her€€behavior€as€heÐ ôp Ðor€she€pushes€for€limit„setting€and€attention.€Ð ä` ÐÌYet€ð ðattachmentðð€does€not€necessarily€mean€ð ðloveðð€in€the€conventional€sense.€An€abused€orÐ Ä@ Ðneglected€child€may€become€attached€to€someone€he€or€she€dislikes€because€the€feared€sense€ofÐ ´0 Ðloneliness€is€greater€than€the€anger€and€pain€caused€by€the€abuse.€In€addition,€based€upon€what€theÐ ¤  Ðparent€tells€the€child,€€abuse€is€often€experienced€by€children€as€a€deserved€action€and,€in€time,€theÐ ”  Ðabuse€becomes€the€way€that€the€child€receives€attention€and€stimulation.€Finally,€it€is€rare€that€abuseÐ „!  Ðis€the€only€interaction€between€a€care€giver€and€a€child.€Positive€interactions€serve€to€reinforce€theÐ t"ð! Ðattachment,€and€once€internalized,€serve€to€establish€the€childððs€view€of€the€world.€Unless€decisionsÐ d#à" Ðregarding€permanent€placement€of€the€child€are€made€promptly,€such€a€pattern€is€extremely€difficultÐ T$Ð # Ðto€change.Ð D%À!$ ÐÌòòÔ_ÔToddlerhoodÔ_Ô€(ages€1„3)óóÐ $' #& ÐÌDuring€this€period,€the€child€begins€to€explore€the€world€and€develop€a€sense€of€self.€ClearÐ )€%( Ðboundaries€are€needed€with€rules€and€regulations,€serving€to€enforce€principles€of€right€and€wrong.Ð ô)p&) ÐAs€self„consciousness€develops,€the€child€will€begin€to€experience€shame.€As€children€typically€feelÐ ä*`'* Ðresponsible€for€the€abuse,€they€often€feel€exposed€and€shameful€upon€its€discovery.€Compelling€aÐ Ô+P(+ Ðchild,€during€this€period,€to€describe€repeatedly€the€incidents€of€abuse€in€a€succession€of€courtÐ Ä,@), Ðproceedings€serves€€only€€to€add€to€the€shame€of€the€child€and€promote€a€feeling€of€being€out€ofÐ „ Ðcontrol.€Ð tð ÐÌòòPre„school€(ages€3„6)óóÐ TÐ ÐÌPre„school€children€face€the€difficulty€of€balancing€the€issues€of€initiative€and€guilt.€Initiative€isÐ 4° Ðcharacterized€by€the€ability€to€develop€plans€and€take€appropriate€actions€toward€their€completion.Ð $   ÐInitiative€is€also€the€childððs€way€of€purposely€altering€his€or€her€environment.€However,€the€curiosityÐ   Ðrequired€to€undertake€initiative€may€be€severely€limited€by€a€sense€of€overwhelming€guilt€associatedÐ  € Ðwith€child€abuse.€Often,€too€much€guilt€forces€the€child€to€rely€almost€totally€upon€parents€and€otherÐ ô p  Ðauthorities€for€direction€and€the€child€loses€or€never€develops€a€sense€of€independence€or€self„Ð ä `  Ðreliance.€€Ð Ô P  ÐÌUsually,€the€perpetrator€of€the€abuse€explicitly€and€implicitly€informs€the€child€that€he€or€she€isÐ ´0  Ðresponsible€for€the€abuse.€In€addition,€the€perpetrator€and€possibly€other€family€members€accuse€theÐ ¤  Ðchild€of€destroying€the€family.€To€balance€the€development€of€initiative€and€guilt€effectively€duringÐ ” Ðthese€years,€the€court€should€ensure€that€the€child€sees€plans€as€possessing€validity.€This,€in€turn,Ð „ Ðallows€children€to€perceive€themselves€as€having€a€positive€effect€upon€the€world€around€them.€Ð tð ÐÌòòSchool„age€(ages€7„12)óóÐ TÐ ÐÌBalancing€the€feelings€of€industriousness€and€inferiority€is€the€primary€Ô_ÔpsychosocialÔ_Ô€task€of€theÐ 4° Ðschool€age€child.€The€childððs€completion€of€tasks€leads€to€a€sense€of€industriousness€and€competence.Ð $  ÐThis€allows€positive€self„esteem€to€grow.€Should€feelings€of€inadequacy€and€inferiority€develop,€asÐ  Ðoften€occurs€in€incidents€of€abuse,€a€child€will€experience€a€decreased€desire€to€work€cooperativelyÐ € Ðwith€others.€Later€in€life,€this€situation€can€inhibit€an€adultððs€ability€to€function€productively€in€theÐ ôp Ðgeneral€work€force.Ð ä` ÐÌWhen€children€enter€the€dependency€system,€it€is€easy€for€them€to€feel€overwhelmed.€The€greaterÐ Ä@ Ðthe€number€of€changes€they€confront,€the€greater€their€inability€to€complete€tasks€and€feelÐ ´0 Ðaccomplished.€Reducing€the€number€of€judicial€officers€encountered€during€this€period€in€their€livesÐ ¤  Ðand€clarifying€exactly€what€is€happening€to€them€and€why€it€is€occurring€will€increase€a€childððsÐ ”  Ðchances€for€achieving€and€maintaining€a€sense€of€industriousness€and€self„esteem.Ð „!  ÐÌòòAdolescence€(ages€12+)óóÐ d#à" ÐÌAs€an€adolescent€attempts€to€define€his€or€her€role€and€personal€identity,€he€or€she€tends€to€rely€uponÐ D%À!$ Ða€sense€of€loyalty,€often€to€external€groups.€The€groupððs€ideals€and€identity€are€important€in€creatingÐ 4&°"% Ða€context€for€the€child€to€grow.€If,€however,€the€adolescentððs€loyalty€to€the€external€group€interruptsÐ $' #& Ðthe€development€of€an€internal€independent€identity,€there€is€a€risk€for€imbalance€and€difficulty€inÐ ($' Ðforming€secure€intimate€relationships€in€adulthood.Ð )€%( ÐÌCourts€need€to€be€aware€of€the€these€needs€€for€loyalty.€Ensuring€a€sense€of€psychological€safety€inÐ ä*`'* Ðthe€courtroom€while€providing€consistent€nurturing€would€help€an€adolescent€to€overcome€anÐ Ô+P(+ Ðincreased€sense€of€alienation€and€rebelliousness.€Ð Ä,@), Ðò òòòÌÌÌÐ  TÐ ÐRecommendation€5.5€„€Differentiated€Case€ManagementóóÐ „ ÐÌThe€Maryland€Judiciary,€in€conjunction€with€the€Department€of€Human€Resources,€and,€ifÐ dà Ðnecessary,€the€Standing€Committee€on€Rules€of€Practice€and€Procedure,€should,€uponÐ TÐ Ðimplementation€of€Recommendations€5.2€through€5.4€develop€and€implement€a€DifferentiatedÐ DÀ ÐCase€Management€(DCM)€system€for€abused€and€neglected€children.€Initial€implementationÐ 4° Ðshould€occur€as€a€pilot.€€The€DCM€system€would€include€time€limits€on€processing€childrenÐ $   Ðunder€the€jurisdiction€of€the€court,€consistent€with€their€needs€as€determined€by€correlationsÐ   Ðof€their€age,€the€nature€of€the€allegations€in€the€CINA€action,€and€any€other€pertinentÐ  € Ðinformation.€€Inclusion€of€other€aspects€of€case€management€relating€to€effective€processing,Ð ô p  Ðsuch€as€alternative€dispute€resolution€and€drug€treatment€counseling,€within€the€proposedÐ ä `  ÐDCM€system,€should€be€consideredÐ Ô P  Ѐó óÐ Ä@  ÐòòSchedule€of€ImplementationÐ ´0  ÐÌóóDevelopmental€planning€for€the€DCM€system€should€occur€concurrently€with€the€planning€for€theÐ ” Ðimplementation€of€recommendations€pertaining€to€information€supplied€within€the€original€petitionÐ „ Ðand€enhancements€to€the€Uniform€Court€System.€Ð tð ÐÌòòBudgetóóÐ TÐ ÐÌAs€much€as€practicable,€financing€for€implementation€of€DCM€in€the€Uniform€Court€System€shouldÐ 4° Ðbe€provided€from€the€implementation€grant€funds€of€the€Foster€Care€Court€Improvement€Project.Ð $  ÐAdditional€avenues€for€funding€sources,€such€as€grants€from€private€foundations,€should€be€explored.€Ð  ÐÌFinally,€the€proposed€DCM€system€must€make€allowance€for€the€reaction€of€local€practitioners€toÐ ôp Ðproposed€changes.€A€failure€to€consider€the€key€variable€of€the€'local€legal€culture'€is€often€cited€byÐ ä` Ðnational€experts€as€a€€fundamental€problem€when€introducing€new€procedures€and€techniques€of€caseÐ ÔP Ðmanagement.€€As€such,€great€care€should€be€taken€to€consult€all€affected€parties.€RecommendationsÐ Ä@ Ðfor€improvements€to€the€system,€based€upon€the€strengths€of€case€processing€particular€to€individualÐ ´0 Ðjurisdictions,€should€be€encouraged€and€acted€upon.Ð ¤  ÐÌò òòòRecommendation€5.6€„€Differentiated€Case€Management€„€InformationÐ „!  ÐÌóóCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€should€be€amended€to€require€attorneys€representing€theÐ d#à" ÐDepartment€of€Social€Services€to€include€age,€sex,€and€race€within€both€the€Petition€forÐ T$Ð # ÐContinued€Shelter€Care€and€the€Petition€for€a€Child€In€Need€of€Assistance.€ó óÐ D%À!$ ÐÌò òCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€should€be€amended€to€require€the€attorneys€representing€theÐ $' #& ÐDepartment€of€Social€Services€to€include,€within€the€Petition€for€Guardianship€with€the€rightÐ ($' Ðto€Consent€to€Adoption€or€Long„Term€Care€Short€of€Adoption,€the€case€number€of€theÐ )€%( Ðprevious€Child€in€Need€of€Assistance€case.Ð ô)p&) ÐÌCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€should€be€amended€to€require€the€attorneys€representing€theÐ Ô+P(+ ÐDepartment€of€Social€Services€to€include,€within€the€Petition€for€Adoption,€the€case€numberÐ Ä,@), Ðof€the€previous€Termination€of€Parental€Rights€case.Ð „ ÐÌó óInformation€concerning€the€age,€sex,€and€race€of€the€child€presently€is€required€by€provisions€withinÐ dà ÐCourts€and€Judicial€Proceedings€to€be€included€within€the€Petition€for€Guardianship€with€the€RightÐ TÐ Ðto€Consent€to€Adoption€or€Long„Term€Care€Short€of€Adoption.€Inclusion€of€the€additionalÐ DÀ Ðinformation€recommended€would€allow€the€court€to€effectively€differentiate€between€childrenÐ 4° Ðaccording€to€developmental€needs€€and€to€enable€court€monitors€to€link€cases€involving€the€sameÐ $   Ðchild.Ð   ÐÌò òThe€Social€Services€Administration€of€the€Department€of€Human€Resources,€in€conjunctionÐ ô p  Ðwith€the€Maryland€Judiciary,€should€develop€and€implement€in€the€State€Automated€ChildÐ ä `  ÐWelfare€Information€System€€and€the€Uniform€Court€System€€a€Statewide€allegation€table.€ThisÐ Ô P  Ðtable€would€be€used€by€attorneys€representing€the€Department€of€Social€Services€in€theÐ Ä@  Ðcreation€of€Petitions€for€Continued€Shelter€Care€and€for€Child€In€Need€of€Assistance.€EachÐ ´0  Ðindividual€allegation€would€be€assigned€a€separate€identifying€code€within€the€computerÐ ¤  Ðsystems.Ð ” Ðó óÌò òThe€Maryland€Judiciary€and€the€Social€Services€Agency€of€the€Department€of€HumanÐ tð ÐResources€should€develop€and€implement€in€the€State€Automated€Child€Welfare€InformationÐ dà ÐSystem€and€the€Uniform€Court€System€a€method€of€uniquely€identifying€each€child€in€theÐ TÐ Ðrespective€automated€systems€and,€if€applicable,€a€method€of€administratively€grouping€theÐ DÀ Ðchildren€by€family.€ó óÐ 4° ÐÌò òòòProcessing€Children€Who€Are€In€Danger€of€Committing€Status€Offensesóóó óÐ  ÐÌò òThe€Judiciary€of€the€State€of€Maryland,€as€part€of€the€development€of€a€differentiated€caseÐ ôp Ðmanagement€system,€should€examineÐ ä` Ðthe€treatment€of€children€(primarily€older€children)€who€have€received€a€finding€ofÐ ÔP Ðdelinquency€but€have€been€abandoned€by€their€parents€or€caretakers€and€found€CINA€as€aÐ Ä@ Ðresult.€These€ð ðthrow€away€childrenðð€should€be€the€subject€of€revised€court€processes.ó óÐ ´0 Ðà $ àÌFocus€upon€these€CINA€children€may€require€a€reassessment€of€the€use€of€€or€Children€In€Need€ofÐ ”  ÐSupervision,€Ô_ÔCINSÔ_Ô,€cases.€Commonly€referred€to€as€status€offenders,€these€are€children€who€haveÐ „!  Ðcommitted€an€offense€which€would€not€be€a€crime€if€committed€by€an€adult.€€These€cases€usually€areÐ t"ð! Ðbrought€by€local€school€systems€for€children€who€are€habitually€truant.€Interviews€with€judicialÐ d#à" Ðpersonnel€reveal€that€very€few€of€these€cases€are€filed,€primarily,€it€would€appear,€because€the€courtÐ T$Ð # Ðdoes€not€possess€an€effective€enforcement€provision€and€the€affected€agencies€do€not€dedicateÐ D%À!$ Ðprograms€specifically€toward€these€children.€Ð 4&°"% Ðà $ àÌò òòòProcessing€Younger€CINA€ChildrenÐ ($' ÐóóÌThe€Judiciary€of€the€State€of€Maryland€and€the€Department€of€Human€Resources,€as€part€ofÐ ô)p&) Ðthe€development€of€a€Differentiated€Case€Management€system,€should€carefully€examine€theÐ ä*`'* Ðtreatment€of€young€children€€in€the€foster€care€process.€Time€periods€for€case€processingÐ Ô+P(+ Ðshould€be€sufficiently€shortened€to€ensure€timely€permanency€planning.€ó óÐ Ä,@), ЇÌà@ìì*ìàòòò òˆÌà@éé%ìàAppendix€AˆÐ dà Ðà@ÂÂìàImproperly€Coded€Casesó óóóˆÐ TÐ ÐÌÌ1.à $ àò òCase€#91078102ó ó€€The€date€listed€as€the€closing€date€(9/16/94)€is€actually€the€date€of€aÐ $   Ðguardianship€review€for€some€of€the€children€involved€in€the€proceeding.€€Those€children€wereÐ   Ðplaced€under€an€order€of€guardianship€on€9/15/93,€but€the€final€sibling's€case€was€not€concluded€untilÐ  € Ð4/27/95.€€ò òThis€case€can€still€be€included€in€the€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ ô p  ÐÌ2.à $ àò òCase€#92091056ó ó€€A€mandate€from€the€Court€of€Special€Appeals€closed€this€case€on€11/29/93Ð Ô P  Ðbut€the€file€was€not€closed€until€after€a€review€hearing€on€1/27/95.€€ò òThis€case€should€not€beÐ Ä@  Ðincluded€in€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ ´0  ÐÌ3.ò òà $ àCase€#92097064ó ó€€A€decree€of€guardianship€for€one€child€was€entered€on€3/10/94€and€it€wasÐ ” Ðreviewed€on€2/17/95.€€However€the€case€was€not€concluded€until€6/19/95€when€the€sibling's€case€wasÐ „ Ðconcluded.€€The€civil€case€report€lists€the€closing€date€as€2/17/95€but€it€should€be€6/19/95.€€ò òThis€caseÐ tð Ðcan€still€be€included€in€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ dà ÐÌ4.à $ àò òCase€#92135037€€ó óThe€wrong€year€is€entered€in€the€Civil€Case€Report.€€It€was€closed€on€5/11/94Ð DÀ Ðrather€than€5/11/95.€€ò òTherefore€it€should€not€be€included€in€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ 4° ÐÌ5.à $ àò òCase€#92147065€€ó óThe€judge€dismissed€the€case€on€9/20/93€and€denied€a€motion€to€amend€onÐ  Ð10/26/93.€€The€case€was€not€closed€until€6/30/95€without€comment.€€ò òThis€case€should€not€beÐ € Ðincluded€in€FY'95€statistics.Ð ôp ÐÌó ó6.à $ àò òCase€#92272067ó ó€€The€decree€of€guardianship€was€entered€on€7/19/93€but€the€file€was€not€closedÐ ÔP Ðuntil€after€a€review€hearing€on€8/26/94.€€ò òThis€case€should€not€be€included€in€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ Ä@ ÐÌ7.à $ àò òCase€#92318057ó ó€€An€appeal€was€noted€and€the€writ€of€certiorari€was€denied€on€4/18/95.€€TheÐ ¤  ÐCivil€Case€Report€lists€the€case€as€being€closed€on€12/16/94,€which€was€the€date€of€an€earlier€reviewÐ ”  Ðhearing.€€ò òThis€case€can€still€be€included€in€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ „!  ÐÌ8.à $ àò òCase€#93196071ó ó€€The€decree€was€entered€on€2/14/95€but€the€file€was€not€closed€until€after€aÐ d#à" Ðreview€hearing€on€1/13/95.€€ò òThis€case€should€not€be€included€in€FY'95€statistics.Ð T$Ð # ÐÌó ó9.à $ àò òCase€#94031003ó ó€€A€decree€of€guardianship€was€entered€on€7/13/94€for€one€child€but€theÐ 4&°"% Ðsibling's€case€was€not€closed€until€6/12/95.€€The€Civil€Case€Report€lists€the€earlier€date€of€7/13/94Ð $' #& Ðas€the€closing€date.€€ò òThis€case€can€still€be€included€in€FY'95€statistics.ó óÐ ($' ÐÌÌÌÌÐ Ä,@), ЇÌÌÑ…„ÑÑ…„ÑÒh°ÒÒ˜°ÒÓ  ÓÔ‡ X]XXIX]Ôò òAPPENDIX€Bó óÐ eà ÐEXTENT€OF€ASSESSMENT€INTERACTIONÐ UÐ ÐÔ*«ƒZ[ dddd dd dd dd dd SVh@&h@&«ÔÔ,­”d ÔÔ,td ÔÔ,çtd ÔÔ,™td ÔÔ,otd ÔÔ,Ôtd ÔÔ,$td ÔÔ,Utd ÔÔ,£td ÔÔ,otd ÔÔ,td ÔÔ,td ÔÔ,Ðtd ÔÔ,€t” ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 6€'''EÀEÀ €‘€‚¨‚ƒƒ„„6ÐJurisdictionÐ 6€''íh'' „„……6Ðà@¯ ¯ T àInterviewsˆÐ 9€'*íh' „„……9Ðà@{{+YàQuestionnaires€ReturnedˆÐ =€''*íh' „„……=ÐFile€ReviewsÐ M€'>&íh ¨ ‘ '' €­€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„MÐÐ 2€#e à ' „„2ÐÔ‡ ÂæÂX X]ÔJudgesÐ 2€#e à  „„2ÐMastersÐ 2€#e à  „„2ÐClerksÐ 2€#e à  „„2ÐAtty'sÐ 6€'e à  „„……6ÐÓ  ÓJudicial€OfficersÐ e à ÐÓ  Ó€€€€€€Ð  ” ÐÔ_ÔAJÔ_Ô€€€€€€€Ô_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€€€CINA€€€€€MasterÐ 5€&Í H „„5ÐClerksÐ e à ÐÌCINAÐ 6€'Í H „„……6ÐAttorneysÐ e à ÐÌÔ_ÔTPRÔ_Ô€€€€CINAÐ 5€&Í H „„5ÐÔ_ÔTPRÔ_ÔÐ 6€'#e à „„6ÐCINAÐ J€';#e à ˆ ­ ' €?€‚ˆ‚ƒƒ„„JÐÔ_ÔAlleganyÔ_ÔÐ 2€# „' „„2ÐÓ  Ó1Ð ;€,! „  „„;ÐÓ  ÓððÐ ;€,! „  „„;ÐÓ  Ó1Ð ;€,! „  „„;ÐÓ  Ó0Ð ;€,! „  „„;ÐÓ  Ó1Ð A€-,! „  „„AÐÓ  ÓÐ ;€,! „ - „„;ÐÓ  Ó2Ð ;€,! „   „„;ÐÓ  ÓððÐ ;€,! „!  „„;ÐÓ  Ó1Ð A€-,! „"  „„AÐÓ  ÓÐ ;€,! „# - „„;ÐÓ  Ó1Ð A€-,! „$  „„AÐÐ 8€'-# „%- „„8ÐÐ J€';# „& ˆ ? 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