MINUTES
JUVENILE DRUG COURT PLANNING COMMITTEE
Radisson Inn, Fargo
March 10, 2000
| Members Present Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, Chair | Members Absent Judge Deb Kleven |
Staff
Alyson Schmidt
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. IT WAS MOVED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COMMITTEE THAT THE FEBRUARY 11, 2000, MINUTES BE APPROVED.
Justice Maring then directed the committee to review the program manual dated February 29, 2000. The committee made several revisions to the program narrative which will be reflected in the final draft of program manual. IT WAS MOVED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COMMITTEE THAT PAGES 1 - 14 OF THE JUVENILE DRUG COURT PROGRAM MANUAL BE APPROVED AS AMENDED.
The committee then reviewed the Consent for Release of Confidential Information. Birch Burdick told the committee the results of his research concerning JDC confidentiality. He said Susan Weinstein, National Drug Court Institute, and Caroline Cooper, American University, both told him that a uniform release of confidential information is a good idea. JDCs around the country hold JDC pre-hearing meetings to discuss sensitive information. The purpose of the pre-hearing meeting is for JDC team members to share important information, while making no decisions. Only people who are specifically released in the confidentiality agreement are able to attend the team meetings. Additional information which needs to be discussed could also be discussed in court in a sidebar.
Birch also recommended re-signing the confidentiality waiver every couple of months. He also said that he would research what business is transacted during the team meetings and distribute the information to the JDC committee. After further discussion of JDC confidentiality, the committee approved the Consent for Release of Confidential Information.
The committee then began reviewing the JDC forms in the Program Manual. The committee made several revisions to the forms which will be reflected in the final draft of program manual. IT WAS MOVED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COMMITTEE THAT PAGES 15 - 24 OF THE JUVENILE DRUG COURT PROGRAM MANUAL BE APPROVED AS AMENDED. The JDC Program Manual is a "living" document. A JDC Advisory Board will be established to revise the manual and deal with other drug court issues as they arise. The advisory board will consist of the JDC judge and two representatives from each pilot JDC site. Other team members are welcome to attend. The first meeting has been set for June 28, 2000, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Radisson. The second meeting has been set for September 8, 2000 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Radisson.
Justice Maring stated that the Edward Byrne Grant budget allows each JDC to spend $27,080 to operate the JDC. While discussing the JDC budget, committee members expressed the need for increased juvenile court secretarial assistance.
Alyson Schmidt distributed information regarding parental involvement in JDC. She found that most JDCs require parents attend review hearings and treatment programs. The degree to which parent attendance is enforced, varies from sending a reminder letter to holding the parent in contempt of court.
Justice Maring stated that payment of defense attorneys is an issue that will need to be addressed in the coming months.
The planning committee then determined its work was completed. The two pilot sites will be operational as of May 1, 2000. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.