By Beverly Kraft
State of Mississippi Judiciary
JACKSON — January 20 will be Youth Court Day at the Mississippi Capitol, with public officials, service providers and others who champion the well-being of children available to discuss proposed reforms to the child welfare system from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the second-floor Rotunda.
Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula, chairman of the Senate Judiciary A Committee, will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Jan. 20 to discuss child welfare issues.
Throughout the day, representatives of about 20 entities and agencies that deal with children and families in Youth Courts will be at the Capitol to discuss proposed changes to better serve children and families. Those in attendance will include judges and staff from Youth Courts and Chancery Courts; representatives of Intervention Courts; representatives of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor; representatives of the Department of Child Protection Services, the Department of Human Services Division of Youth Services, the Office of State Public Defender, the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Education; representatives of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); mental health professionals; the Commission on Judicial Performance; the Access to Justice Commission; the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; private attorneys; and representatives of nonprofit organizations.
The Administrative Office of Courts’ Youth Court Division has worked with multiple consultants to provide detailed information to the Legislature, state agencies and Youth Courts to develop and implement a multi-year strategic plan that includes statewide reforms, funding strategies and evidence-based best practices to better serve children, youth and families.
Twelve recommendations proposed by consultants who worked with the Administrative Office of Courts include:
- A system of full-time Youth Court judges and court staff, which has been the subject of proposed legislation during past legislative sessions. Such a system is estimated to cost between $7.3 million and $9.8 million.
- A uniform intake system. Youth Court, Child Protection Services and the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Youth Services should employ a consistent set of research-based policies and practices governing intake, screening and assessment, court decision-making, and supervision and service. The Administrative Office of Courts is requesting a legislative appropriation of $2.5 million to continue paying Youth Court intake officers authorized by the 2025 Legislature and to train them on uniform protocols.
- High-quality independent legal representation for parents and all other parties in Youth Court proceedings. Some of the legal representation could be reimbursed through federal funding.
- Agency-directed assessment and determination of whether to pursue a matter in Youth Court.
- An agency representation model in which attorneys for the child welfare agency represent the agency as the petitioner in child welfare proceedings before the Youth Court.
- Statewide diversion. Youth who are at low risk of reoffending, as well as youth who commit first-time minor misdemeanors, should be diverted from court involvement. Youth at high risk of reoffending should be prioritized for more intensive services and support.
- Designate Youth Courts as the only courts to hear truancy matters.
- Expanded and dedicated prevention programs and services.
- A uniform crossover youth protocol to develop policies and procedures for collaboration to support the needs of “crossover” youth who have contact with both the child welfare system regarding abuse and neglect and the delinquency side of the Youth Court system.
- Replacement of an outdated records and case management system with modern technology. The Administrative Office of Courts is requesting $8 million to replace the records and case management system. Building the system is estimated to take 32 months.
- Provide all parties and their attorneys equal access to Youth Court records and greater access to Youth Court for attorneys interested in this area of law.
- Maximize funding. Interagency collaboration could help maximize the use of all federal and state funding streams.
