Judicial Institute on Adolescent Relationship Abuse

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, in partnership with Futures Without Violence, and with the support of the Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC), will offer a new three-day, highly interactive workshop that will help state court and tribal court judges enhance their skills and ability to respond to cases involving adolescents and relationship abuse.

A judge participating in this workshop will be better able to:

• Define adolescence and describe the impact of brain development and environmental factors on adolescent behaviors, particularly in cases of adolescent relationship abuse.
• Identify the dynamics of adolescent relationship abuse, and the short and long term impact on victims and perpetrators.
• Make distinctions between dynamics in violent adult relationships and adolescent relationships.
• Identify effective outcomes for youth in abusive relationships.
• Assess risk factors in the adolescent cases you see, including the presence and impact of trauma.
• Recognize protective factors that might enhance an individual youth’s resiliency, well-being, and safety.
• Evaluate the utility, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and efficacy of youth assessments.
• Select developmentally appropriate interventions and accountability mechanisms that recognize the circumstances unique to adolescent relationship abuse cases.
• Rule on evidentiary issues particular to cases that involve adolescent parties.
• Define the terms culture and cultural competence and enhance respect for the dynamics of difference in cases involving adolescent abuse.
• Identify a judge’s role in the court and the community to promote healthy relationships amongst adolescents.
• Initiate or enhance communication and collaboration amongst justice system and community partners to improve services for youth involved in adolescent abuse.

For more information and next conference dates, check The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.