Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Criminal Justice
Advisor
Dianne Williams
Abstract
AbstractThe number of families being referred to the Department of Children and Family Services following allegations of neglect, or the inability to care for a child in the state of Georgia has been increasing. Many children removed from their parents’ custody are placed in foster care. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the impact of the socioeconomic factors facing these parents and the court processes and procedures on the increased number of foster care cases. Data were collected from participant interviews with attorneys, judges, and a clerk who work in the juvenile court system in two counties in the state of Georgia. Interview questions were open-ended. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, and handwritten notes were taken. The data were analyzed, and the following themes were identified: (a) substance abuse, (b) other socioeconomic factors, (c) routine case plans for families are not effective, (d) cases lasting too long, and (e) the need for increased services. Future research should focus on how to address the socioeconomic factors that contribute to the substance abuse or mental health, which significantly plays a role in child removals. The results of this study have potential implications for positive social change because the information could lead to a greater appreciation of the disruption that takes place in some families and ways to address the problems to eliminate state involvement.
Recommended Citation
O'Brien, Marcea, "A Study of the Impact of Judicial and Environmental Factors on Increasing Juvenile Court Dependency Cases" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13070.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13070
