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Resources for Juvenile and Family Court Judges

The Youth Justice Oversight Committee, the Family Law Taskforce, and the Court Improvement Program are actively working on initiatives and tools to help improve court processes for litigants and judges in juvenile delinquency and family law cases. Here are some of the resources available: 

Youth Justice Oversight Committee

The statewide Youth Justice Oversight Committee was established by the legislature in 2022 (See HEA 1359 or Ind. Code 2-5-36-9). 

  1. The 2023 YJOC Final Report: The combined work of the full committee and work groups including recommendations on best practices and next steps for enhancing Indiana’s youth justice system.
  2. Juvenile Mental Health: Assessment and Evaluation Tools: A reference for discerning what type of assessment and evaluation tool might be best suited in determining a juvenile’s mental health care and treatment. Also see the Judges’ Guide to Juvenile Mental Health Jargon.
  3. Recommended Juvenile Diagnostic Assessment and Intake Report Contents: Learn what should be included in an assessment and intake report; these suggestions do not override the clinical judgment of the evaluator.
  4. Diagnostic & Evaluation Benchcard and Guidance: For judicial officers and probation officers to assist in determining when to recommend a diagnostic and evaluation for youth and to assist judicial officers considering ordering a diagnostic and evaluation.
  5. Juvenile Diversion Resource Guide: For local jurisdictions that need practical guidance as they are developing new juvenile diversion options or are expanding existing ones; includes links to several online toolkits and practice guides for diversion program development, implementation, and best practices.
  6. YJOC Diversion Directory: A resource for counties to explore existing diversion programs around the state, allowing counties to learn from each other to identify diversion options that fit their local needs. If your county has a juvenile diversion program that you would like to include in the directory, please submit the program information using the Juvenile Diversion Program Submission Form.
  7. YJOC Grants Plan: For management of YJOC’s three grant programs: Juvenile Diversion, Community Alternatives to Detention, and Behavioral Health. More information on the purpose of each grant and how to apply is available on the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute website.

Family Law Taskforce

The following resources arose out of recommendations from the Family Law Taskforce Report.

  1. Legal Information Guide: Explains the difference between legal information and legal advice and provides guidelines and instructions to assist non-lawyer intermediaries in answering questions posed by members of the public about the judicial system.
  2. Text Message Hearing Reminders: Data shows that sending hearing reminders by text message helps increase appearance rates. In pilot counties, appearance rates almost doubled for litigants that were sent hearing reminder texts in DC, DN, and JP cases compared to before the counties started texting reminders. Contact [email protected] to learn how to sign up.
  3. GAL Guidelines: Effective January 1, 2025. A Guardian ad Litem is a qualified individual appointed by a court to represent and protect the best interests of a child in civil family law cases. Review the Guidelines and learn about training and the application process on the GAL for Family Law Cases website.
  4. Guide to Working with a GAL: For parents, family members, and others who work with GALs in family law cases.
  5. GAL Registry: A statewide list of qualified GALs for family law cases, searchable by county, city, or name.
  6. Financial Declaration Guided Interview Form: A tool designed to help identify the financial facts in a case, and it gives a party, their spouse, and the court information about income, expenses, assets, and debts.
  7. Trauma Resources Library: Located on the Indiana Judicial Branch Education Network, it contains resources for judicial officers, clerks, court staff, GAL/CASA, and other stakeholders working with families and children impacted by trauma. The catalog also includes several webinars on understanding trauma, including the impact of divorce and how to support families. You can request access through the Indiana Judicial Branch Education Network by emailing [email protected].

Court Improvement Program

The Court Improvement Program is funded by grants awarded to the Indiana Supreme Court from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the CIP is to improve safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for children and families in Children in Need of Services and Termination of Parental Rights proceedings. The CIP developed the following resources.

  1. Guidance for Incorporating Foster Parents and Other Caretakers in CHINS and TPR hearings
  2. Essential Questions to Ask at Each Hearing to Promote Permanency
  3. Strategies to Improve Time to Permanency