Juvenile Court Professionals Guidebook

Judge writing at a desk with a gavel in the foreground

The Juvenile Court Professionals Guidebook was developed as a result of recognition by the Connecticut Judicial Branch that professionals associated with the juvenile court process (court staff, attorneys, mental health providers, therapists, guardians ad litem, and others) would benefit from specific information and guidance related to domestic abuse.

In collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state’s child protective services agency, the Judicial Branch under the auspices of the federally funded Court Improvement Program convened a series of workgroups to help identify current gaps in knowledge, key resources, and what information should be included in the guidebook. Partners in this process included representatives from the Judicial Branch, including Court Services Officers, the Attorney General’s Office, DCF Legal Division, and the Office of the Chief Public Defender.