The Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation has collaborated with local trial judges, attorneys, and court staff to pilot a court-based Self-Help Center in Douglas County (Omaha, Nebraska). The first of its kind in Nebraska, this self-help center is located in the courthouse and provides on-site access to computers, printers, and legal resources during regular courthouse hours. The self-help center is supported by trained court staff who assist self-represented litigants (SRLs) by explaining court rules and procedures, providing public information about case dockets and calendars, and directing patrons to available court forms and legal information. Preliminary survey data captured from patrons using the Douglas County Self-Help Center is positive, with 84% responding that they received the help they needed. The most frequent requests involve assistance with court forms, explaining court processes, and printing documents.
A key component of this project involved identifying the civil case types with consistently high numbers of SRLs, and developing case packets that include step-by-step instructions, plain language court forms, and basic guidelines on how to present evidence and testimony in court. These case packets will be available in both English and Spanish and will be housed on the Nebraska Supreme Court’s public website where they can be accessed by court users and court staff statewide. Translation of the case packets is provided by court interpreter partners using a scaffolded process developed by the Director of Language Access that has the potential to positively impact courtrooms statewide.
“The law promises ‘equal justice’ in the courts. However, many self-represented litigants feel frustrated with the legal process because they are unaware of all the legal practices and procedures required. The self-help center is designed to provide guidance and education to those who represent themselves as they navigate legal filings, court appearances, and presenting evidence. Both litigants and the courts benefit when the process is understood, and expectations are met.“
-Judge Stephanie Hansen, County Court, Douglas County
“We’re using translation projects as a strategic tool for skill building—giving interpreters the opportunity to deepen their vocabulary, refine their writing, and engage critically with legal concepts in both languages. It’s a meaningful form of professional development that strengthens their work in the courtroom.“
The National Center for State Courts, in cooperation with the ABA Commission on Law and Aging (COLA) and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) created technology and data standards for court case management systems for guardianship and conservatorship cases. Most case management systems are designed to track cases from filing to disposition. However, courts are required to monitor guardianship and conservatorship cases for as long as the guardianship or conservatorship is in place.
NCSC, ABA-COLA, and NDRN brought together a group of subject matter experts from around the country to discuss what courts need to effectively monitor the well-being and financial assets of those subject to guardianship or conservatorship. These experts included guardians, subject matter experts from state administrative offices of the courts, representatives from local courts, CMS vendors, and attorneys. The group used reviews of existing CMS systems, surveys, and focus groups to develop detailed user stories to describe the needs of judicial officers, court staff, guardians and conservators, and those subject to guardianship and conservatorship. These user stories were the basis for new standards.
What if families facing a crisis could receive support before entering the court system? In 2019, the National Center for State Courts received funding to identify promising practices in state and local courts that aim to prevent removal through non-adversarial collaborative team approaches and timely access to treatment and services. The Family Preservation Initiative (FPI) in Rutherford County, Tennessee was one of the standout programs identified.
FPI transforms how communities support families by intervening before circumstances escalate to court involvement. When families experience challenges likely to result in a juvenile court petition, FPI staff step in to build relationships, learn about each family’s unique strengths and needs, and connect them to resources and services. This individualized approach keeps children safely with their families while providing the entire family with the support needed to overcome obstacles.
Referrals come from law enforcement, schools, community organizations, and families themselves. Families involved in FPI are not under court supervision; however, the court’s backbone support for the program helps build and sustain community partnerships essential for its success. By intervening early, FPI prevents family separation, minimizes trauma, and provides crucial support when families need it most. The documentary, “Together We Thrive: Championing Prevention Efforts with Tennessee’s Family Preservation Initiative,” offers a powerful look at FPI through the eyes of the families and professionals involved in the program. Their stories demonstrate how family-centered and prevention-focused approaches can create positive changes for children, families, and communities.
“What we really hope is that this would become the new norm, that this wouldn’t be just a pilot or a program or in a few places dotted around the county. But this would become the way that people want to intervene much sooner so that children never become part of the system.”
-Deborah Taylor Tate, Former Director, Tennessee Administrative Office of Courts
The Courts in Nevada have invested in the development of electronic systems to improve transparency, accessibility and efficiency of court processes. These investments have significantly reduced the time taken from initiating a case to its final disposition. Unlike most Court processes, guardianships commence at disposition and can last for decades, for example the guardianship of a mentally disabled child.
Guardianships in Nevada are currently monitored annually with the guardian filing various mandatory reports with the court. To improve oversight, the Supreme Court of Nevada, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) initiated a project, funded by the State Justice Institute and in conjunction with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), to build an online portal to monitor guardianships. Moving to an electronic platform permits the guardian, and the court to track a protected persons Health & Welfare, income, expenses and assets in real time.
This is achieved through a built-in alerts system that flags financial inconsistencies, health & welfare concerns and the timeliness of a guardians reporting to the court. Financial oversight is via PLAID, an application that connects the portal directly with a protected person’s bank accounts, credit cards and other financial accounts in real time. Inconsistencies are flagged immediately for further investigation. Health & Welfare alerts focus on exceptions. For example, failing to regularly visit a protected person, abuse of a protected person, or missing a medical appointment are flagged for follow-up. The portal uses TWILIO, a leading cloud services provider, to alert guardians and court staff when reports are due and overdue. The portal stands apart from but is linked to individual court case management systems.
“I like that the portal prepares filings for me. Now all I need to do is review and press file and it’s done.”
-A public guardian
“The direct download to the transactions file saves me over hours of work a month, and it’s accurate!”
-A private guardian
“The H&W summary report saves me from having to read through all the pages of the Annual Report, it’s real time saver.”
The National Center for State Courts announces the upcoming “Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings,” a comprehensive resource, funded by SJI, developed as an addendum to the Remote Proceeding Toolkit. Child abuse and neglect hearings require additional considerations for effective remote proceedings given their confidential nature and multiple participants. The Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings offers specialized guidance for this case type.
Many courts turned to remote dependency hearings during the pandemic, and many continue to use them to reduce traumatic experiences and barriers for parents facing transportation challenges, lost wages, or childcare difficulties. Developed through careful collaboration with courts across the country, the Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings offers practical solutions for courts seeking to implement or improve remote dependency hearings. It includes detailed recommendations for drafting court policies, selecting appropriate technology platforms, ensuring privacy and security, managing hearing logistics, and enhancing family engagement. The Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings includes a self-assessment tool that allows courts to evaluate their alignment with best practices and identify specific areas for improvement and checklists for judges and attorneys that provide role-specific guidance.
The Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings will be officially released during a webinar on May 13th, 2025, after which it will be available on NCSC’s website. Court professionals interested in previewing the assessment tool or discussing implementation strategies are encouraged to contact Teri Deal at NCSC (tdeal@ncsc.org). During this webinar, you will learn how this resource can help your court design high-quality remote dependency hearings. To access the link to the Ensuring Family Justice in a Virtual World: Introducing a New Court Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings webinar, click here: https://ncsc-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yvwcO_dXTp-nflrWBXk4Kw.
The Ensuring Family Justice in a Virtual World: Introducing a New Court Guide for Remote Dependency Hearings webinar is being held on: May 13th, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST.
In October 2024, the Pennsylvania Courts held a first-ever statewide Behavioral Health Summit that brought together over 500 judges, leaders, and stakeholders to address the growing behavioral health crisis within the judicial system. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty emphasized the increasing severity and frequency of behavioral health challenges and called the summit a “call to action” to improve court responses and support justice-involved individuals with behavioral health needs.
The summit, hosted in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), fostered collaboration among judges, county and state leaders, and advocates. It highlighted the importance of both education and building relationships in creating informed solutions that positively impact the community. This initiative seeks to develop comprehensive strategies that address behavioral health issues and ensure both effective legal proceedings and compassionate, trauma-informed care.
A significant prior step in this effort was the establishment of the Office of Behavioral Health by the Pennsylvania Courts last year. This office is focused on promoting best practices at the intersections of at-risk populations and the courts. It is also dedicated to providing training and educational resources for judges, ensuring they are equipped to navigate cases involving those with behavioral health challenges. Key areas of focus include truancy, domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, criminal justice, and civil commitments.
Justice Dougherty addressing Summit attendees.
The office is currently supporting the establishment of seven judicially led, behavioral health regional councils to ensure ongoing collaboration and progress. The councils will launch via regional summits across Pennsylvania with a focus on helping county leaders to understand and engage the legislature and stakeholders on regional priorities.
In 2016, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) developed the Enhanced Resource Guidelines (ERGs) to outline best practices for handling child abuse and neglect cases. To support implementation, NCJFCJ launched a project to train select jurisdictions in ERG-based practices.
The ERGs emphasize keeping families together, ensuring access to justice, cultural responsiveness, appropriate family time, and child safety. Research has shown that ERG implementation improves case outcomes, including faster permanency, better parental understanding in court, and increased family engagement.
Researchers from the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), NCJFCJ’s research arm, analyzed data from three urban courts trained in ERG implementation. Their pre/post analysis found that ERG training positively impacts case processing and outcomes. Post-implementation, adoption rates increased, and hearings were less likely to be continued, reducing delays. Findings are under review for publication and will be presented this April at the 24th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect in Rockville, Maryland.
Additionally, NCJJ has published a catalog of dependency case management reports to help courts track key data for assessing and improving permanency outcomes. This resource provides guidance on essential data collection, report creation, and information-sharing strategies to enhance child welfare case processing.
Behavioral health diversion is built on a guiding hypothesis: Diverting non-violent individuals with serious mental illness away from the criminal justice system and into community-based treatment and support services will transform lives, reduce recidivism, generate cost savings, and ease the burden on jails, courts, and state hospitals. This hypothesis has been proven in well-resourced urban centers like Miami. The Wyoming Judicial Branch is now testing whether it holds true in a rural, under-resourced jurisdiction like Wyoming.
To test this hypothesis, the Wyoming Judicial Branch launched the state’s first diversion pilot in Campbell County on January 1, 2024. The program operates as follows: eligible individuals (those who commit non-violent misdemeanors, have a diagnosis of serious mental illness, are assessed as moderate to very high criminogenic risk, and do not pose a public safety threat) are offered the option of diversion. Participants who choose diversion and successfully complete an individualized treatment plan have their charges dismissed. Those who decline or fail to complete the program return to the traditional criminal justice process.
Early results are promising. The pilot program’s first graduate spent 623 days in jail before entering diversion and zero days in jail after entering the program. While it is too early for definitive conclusions, these results suggest behavioral health diversion works in rural settings.
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has brought together experts and practitioners to develop comprehensive guidance on AI Readiness for the state courts. The project, funded by SJI, aims to provide resources for courts along the whole spectrum of AI maturity, from courts that are just beginning to think about AI to courts that have already implemented AI projects.
The AI Readiness Workgroup includes court leaders, court practitioners on the cutting edge of AI implementation, and experts in court technology, psychology, computer science, design, and law. In a 2-day kickoff gathering in Chicago, pictured below, the workgroup heard presentations from subject-matter experts, engaged in brainstorming and problem-solving activities, reviewed existing guidance on AI for courts, and viewed demonstrations from courts that have already implemented ambitious AI projects.
The Workgroup from the kickoff meeting held in Chicago, IL.
The Workgroup is currently hard at work drafting a variety of resources for courts that are just beginning their AI journeys. Topics include establishing the court’s AI governance structure, building AI literacy in the court workforce, assessing data governance practices for AI readiness, identifying AI opportunities, and updating policies. Once these resources are developed, the Workgroup will tackle resources for courts that are already at various stages of AI development, including topics like vetting technology vendors, implementing change management, and evaluating AI outcomes.
The project is scheduled to conclude in Summer 2025, but interim deliverables will be published as they become available, beginning in the Spring.
The RFK National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice (RFKNRCJJ) has used a proven framework to partner with state and local jurisdictions to conduct multiple probation and youth justice system reviews designed to improve outcomes for youth and families at-risk or involved in the juvenile justice systems for more than fifteen years. RFK’s successful technical assistance partnerships have produced an impressive array of positive innovations and reforms to the policies and operations that impact youth outcomes and increase community safety.
The RFK National Resource Center is applying these positive experiences and lessons learned in the Probation and Youth Justice System Project in Clark County, Washington; San Diego County, California; and the tri-county District 25 in the state of North Carolina. The project will produce replicable methods, approaches and operations for probation, courts, and the broader youth justice system.
The RFK National Resource Center has produced other resources and guides that permit youth justice system reviews to be successfully replicated nationwide.
RFK will be hosting a 2025 Transformation of Youth Justice National Symposium in San Diego, California on June 18-20, 2025, designed for multi-disciplinary professionals and youth-serving stakeholders committed to advancing youth justice transformation.
