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Getting Child Development Research to Legal Practitioners: Which Way to the Trenches? (From Reforming the Law: Impact of Child Development Research, P 146-176, 1987, Gary B Melton, ed. -See NCJ-113735)

NCJ Number
113741
Author(s)
T Grisso; G B Melton
Date Published
1987
Length
31 pages
Annotation
The results of psychological research on children must be disseminated in ways that will inform legal practitioners in the juvenile justice system. Social science researchers can provide information to court personnel who make discretionary decisions regarding State codes, to those who determine local policies beyond those demanded by State codes, and to those who decide best-interest issues on the basis of their personal understanding and beliefs.
Abstract
Information should be provided not only to judges, but also to prosecutors, defense attorneys, and guardians ad litem. Such information can be disseminated through direct communication or through publication in law journals and newsletters. Results of a 1985 questionnaire survey of 40 juvenile and family court judges and 78 probation officers indicate differences in the periodicals read by the two groups. Probation officers most frequently reported reading 'Crime and Delinquency,' other criminology journals, psychiatry/mental health journals, and 'Juvenile and Family Court Journal.' Judges most frequently read 'Juvenile and Family Court Journal,' State bar journals, 'ABA Journal,' and 'Family Law Quarterly.' Results suggest that researchers should publish in multiple journals outside their customary domain. An effort to disseminate information on juvenile understanding of the Miranda warnings that met with some success involved publication of a book and several journal articles, presentation of findings at conferences, and direct presentation of results to personnel involved in relevant cases. Researchers also should aim for publication in periodicals included in LEXIS and 'Index of Legal Periodicals.' 38 references.

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