THE ESSEX COUNTY JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT HANDLES ALL CHILD ABUSE, NON-SUPPORT, DESERTION, ABANDONMENT, NEGLECT, AND WELFARE FRAUD CASES IN NEWARK AND SURROUNDING ESSEX COUNTY, WHICH AMOUNT TO ABOUT ONE-FOURTH OF ALL COMPLAINTS FILED IN NEW JERSEY. DURING HIS THREE-DAY, ON-SITE VISIT IN JUNE 1976, THE CONSULTANT MET WITH A JUVENILE COURT JUDGE AND THE COUNTY TRIAL COURT'S CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR, AND INTERVIEWED SEVERAL OTHER JUDGES AND COURT PERSONNEL. THE FOCUS OF THOSE INTERVIEWS, AND THEREFORE OF THE REPORT, ARE THE METHODS BY WHICH CASES ARE HANDLED AND THE VARIOUS STAFF INVOLVED IN CASE PROCESSING. THE CONSULTANT IDENTIFIES CRITICAL PROBLEM AREAS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES. A MORE INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT REVIEW IS RECOMMENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)..EB