Revisions to Connecticut Juvenile Detention law will take effect on January 1, 2017. This is good news for juvenile justice advocates who long argued for reform.
Here is a brief summary:
No child may be detained after a hearing unless the court determines that:
There is probable cause to believe that the child has committed the acts alleged,
There is no less restrictive alternative available,
There is (i) probable cause to believe that the child will pose a risk to public safety if released to the community prior to the court hearing or disposition; or (ii) a need to hold the child in order to ensure the child’s appearance before the court, as demonstrated by the child’s previous failure to respond to the court process, or (iii) a need to hold the child for another jurisdiction.
The Judicial Department will be developing a detention risk assessment instrument which can be used by a Juvenile Court judge to determine, based on the child’s risk level, whether he/she should be detained
As an alternative to detention, a Juvenile Court judge may release the child on a suspended detention order. Such an order would include the ability of the Juvenile Probation Office to implement graduated sanctions and/or conditions to be imposed on the child based on their individual risk assessment.
The time interval between appearances before a judge for any child held in detention would be reduced from every fifteen days to every seven days or until a dispositional hearing is held, whichever is shorter.
Please email me or call (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on Connecticut Juvenile Detention.
Safe in foster care?
A scathing 73-page report charts severe negligence and failure on the part of DCF, which nearly killed little “Dylan C,” the report says.
Email me or call (203) 259-5251 to discuss a potential negligence case against DCF.
Tragic.
The birth mother of a baby boy in the center of a Department of Children and Families investigation is planning to sue the state agency.
Source: Mother of Child in DCF Abuse Case Planning to Sue | NBC Connecticut
Email me or call (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on lawsuits against DCF.
A new law restricting gun ownership for people targeted by temporary restraining orders will take effect Saturday in Connecticut.
After reviewing the Application for a Restraining Order the judge can order that the Respondent surrender all firearms. A hearing must then be held within seven days where the judge can either continue or vacate the order.
Source: New domestic violence law to take effect Saturday | News 12 Connecticut
Email me or call (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on the new Connecticut Restraining Order Law.
Protective Supervision is one the options a Connecticut Juvenile Court judge has after making a finding of neglect. The neglect finding is made wither when a parent pleads “no contest” or after a full trial on the allegations in the DCF Neglect Petition. If there is no finding of neglect, then Protective Supervision cannot be imposed.
When Protective Supervision is ordered, the child lives with the parent or parents subject to DCF and Juvenile Court oversight. Parents are provided with “Specific Steps” setting forth things they should and should not be doing this period. If the parent complies with these expectations DCF gets out – usually in 6 months. When parents don’t fully comply then the period of Protective Supervision can be extended. If there is extreme noncompliance, the child can be removed and placed in foster care.
The goal is to keep the family intact but to address and hopefully correct the issues that led to DCF involvement. DCF will do home visits, speak to other agencies working with the family and make referrals for services as needed.
Please email me or call (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on DCF and Connecticut Juvenile Court.
Need a ride?
In the past, most folks would call a cab or phone a friend. Now they whip out their Smart Phone and hit the Uber app. Within a few minutes, a vehicle whisks them away to a destination near or far.
Unfortunately, with the increase in Uber traffic comes an increase in Uber car accidents. Sure – Uber has been lauded for quick pickups and reasonable fares. However, if you have been involved an Uber car accident you already know how difficult it is to report a claim and navigate the insurance maze.
For starters, Uber does not have live customer service so you are forced to initiate a claim through their website.
When you do eventually get a response, Uber is likely to deny liability while they sort which insurance company, if any, is on the hook.
The amount of insurance available to cover personal injuries will depend on whether the driver is already carrying Uber passenger and/or en route to pick up a passenger or simply logged onto Uber. The take away from this blog is that Uber make muck things up just enough so that you become frustrated and finally go away.
Please email me or call me in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 or in Fairfield at (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on a Connecticut Uber car accident.