D. Court Leadership

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges recommends close judicial monitoring to ensure the case is moving according the ICPC timeframes. Special hearings may be required to ensure that certain activities are completed in a timely manner. Lack of understanding of the ICPC and its requirements is often cited as a problem that causes delays in an ICPC placement. Other delays are built into the ICPC process itself.

Special Issue: Many receiving states routinely deny home studies, especially on non-custodial parents, and there is no appeal process – a highly criticized flaw in the ICPC. Judges should consider directly contacting the judge in the receiving jurisdiction to ask for assistance in completing the ICPC process in the receiving state and with home studies that are stalled or denied without sufficient explanation and no recourse for reconsideration.