The increasing number of children in courthouses is the result of several factors, including divorce, spouse abuse, criminal charges and child abuse and neglect related to parental drug abuse, court proceedings related to children in custody of the child welfare system, and children's and parents' experiences as victims and witnesses to violent crime. Many court-involved families lack the personal and financial resources to arrange for alternative care for their children while they are in court. The presence of children in courts poses two major problems. First, children can disrupt proceedings by behaving as expected under stressful circumstances: crying, shouting, running, arguing, complaining, and throwing things. Second, children may hear testimony or situations potentially disturbing or even damaging to them. The children who come to court are particularly vulnerable because they are likely to come from impoverished families. To address these problems, 23 courthouses in six States have developed court-based drop-in child care. The Department of Justice has funded National Court Care Demonstration Project, initiated by the Center for the Study of Social Policy as a way to improve the administration of justice, protect children from traumatizing experiences, and link needy families with other support services. 36 references