The vital and important work of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) began in 1937 when a group of judges came together looking to improve the effectiveness of the nation’s juvenile courts. And over the past 80 years, the NCJFCJ has sought to address the myriad of issues in juvenile and family justice courts.
Since 1969, the NCJFCJ has been affiliated with and headquartered on the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus. In 2016, the organization outgrew its University of Nevada Reno office and in April 2016 moved into new space in downtown Reno. The NCJFCJ will remain affiliated with UNR.
One of the largest and oldest judicial membership organizations in the nation, the NCJFCJ serves an estimated 30,000 professionals in the juvenile and family justice system including judges, referees, commissioners, court masters and administrators, social and mental health workers, police, and probation officers.
For those involved with juvenile, family, and domestic violence cases, the NCJFCJ provides the resources, knowledge, and training to improve the lives of families and children seeking justice. The NCJFCJ resources include:
- Cutting-edge educational programs
- Wide-ranging technical assistance
- Nationally respected research to assist juvenile and family courts
- Unique advanced degree programs for judges and other court professionals offered in conjunction with the University of Nevada, Reno and the National Judicial College.
Mission Statement
The mission of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is to provide all judges, courts, and related agencies involved with juvenile, family, and domestic violence cases with the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of the families and children who seek justice.
Vision Statement
The vision of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is for a society in which every family and child has access to fair, equal, effective, and timely justice.
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will seek to fulfill its mission through the following goals:
- Improving the standards, practices, and effectiveness of the nation’s courts handling juvenile delinquency, family law, dependency, and domestic violence cases;
- Providing training for judges and other professionals who serve in these courts;
- Providing support for judges and other professionals through continuing education, research, publications, and technical assistance;
- Providing technical support to court systems regarding their structure, management, and procedures;
- Contributing to the development and implementation of national policy, standards, and procedures regarding children and families;
- Acknowledging and upholding the rights of all parties and victims, the safety of all family members, and the safety of the community;
- Informing the nation as to the work of the courts that hear juvenile delinquency, family law, dependency, and domestic violence cases.