Many juveniles who come into contact with the juvenile justice system suffer from mental illness or substance abuse problems. Families need to fully participate in their child’s journey through the justice system in order to ensure that the juvenile receives the most appropriate care. Some of the benefits of family participation are enumerated as assistance with the child’s diagnosis and treatment history and the circumstances that affect the child’s well-being. Families are often confused and alarmed with their experiences in the juvenile justice system and, as such, it is imperative that family members are advised about the decisionmaking processes of the justice system and the steps involved. Families' participation in the justice system is dictated by the stage of the system; the article provides information about how to effectively facilitate family involvement at each stage including time of arrest, intake, detention considerations, preparation for adjudication, disposition, and during placement. In the end, families need to be provided with accurate and timely information in order to fully participate in their child’s journey through the juvenile justice system. References