Unraveling the Labyrinth: A Proposed Revision of the Nebraska Juvenile Code

I. Introduction . . . . . 1128 II. Terminology . . . . . 1132 A. Child in Need of State Protection . . . . . 1137 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1137 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1137 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1138 4. Rationale . . . . . 1138 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1139 6. National Perspective . . . . . 1139 7. International Perspective . . . . . 1140 8. Social Science Research . . . . . 1140 9. Public Policy Implications . . . . . 1141 B. Child in Need of State Supervision . . . . . 1141 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1141 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1141 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1142 4. Rationale . . . . . 1142 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1142 6. National Perspective . . . . . 1143 7. Social Science Research . . . . . 1143 8. Public Policy Considerations . . . . . 1143 C. Child in Need of State Rehabilitation . . . . . 1144 1. Current Statute - Original Jurisdiction . . . . . 1144 2. Proposed Change - Original Jurisdiction . . . . . 1145 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1145 4. Rationale . . . . . 1146 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1147 D. Child in Need of State Mental Health Treatment . . . . . 1148 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1148 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1148 3. Rationale . . . . . 1149 4. Legal Issues . . . . . 1150 5. National Perspective . . . . . 1151 6. International Perspective . . . . . 1151 III. Organization . . . . . 1152 A. Purpose Statement . . . . . 1152 B. Definitions . . . . . 1152 C. Procedures . . . . . 1153 IV. Selected Substantive Changes . . . . . 1154 A. Court-Agency Relationships . . . . . 1154 B. Speedy Hearings . . . . . 1155 C. Requirement for Children to Attend Their Abuse and Neglect Court Hearings . . . . . 1156 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1156 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1156 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1157 4. Rationale . . . . . 1157 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1157 6. National Perspective . . . . . 1158 7. International Perspective . . . . . 1158 8. Psychological Research . . . . . 1159 9. Public Policy Considerations . . . . . 1160 D. Judicial Oversight of Voluntary Relinquishment of Parental Rights . . . . . 1161 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1161 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1161 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1162 4. Rationale . . . . . 1162 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1162 6. National Perspective . . . . . 1162 7. Psychological Research . . . . . 1163 8. Public Policy Considerations . . . . . 1163 E. Mandatory Consultation with Counsel . . . . . 1164 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1164 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1164 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1165 4. Rationale . . . . . 1165 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1166 6. National Perspective . . . . . 1167 7. Psychological Research . . . . . 1168 8. Public Policy Considerations . . . . . 1170 F. Extended Jurisdiction/Blended Sentencing . . . . . 1170 1. Current Statute . . . . . 1170 2. Proposed Changes . . . . . 1170 3. Meaning of the Changes . . . . . 1171 4. Rationale . . . . . 1172 5. Legal Issues . . . . . 1173 6. National Perspective . . . . . 1173 7. Relevant Research . . . . . 1175 8. Practical or Policy Issues . . . . . 1175 V . Conclusion . . . . . 1177 Appendix: Proposed Code . . . . . 1179