Myths and Realities in the Search for Juvenile Justice: A Statement by The Honorable Justine Wise Polier

Abstract

The Honorable Justine Wise Polier retired from the bench of New York's Family Court in 1973 to head the Children's Defense Fund's program in juvenile justice,emphasizing the right to care and treatment. She has served as a judge since 1935. During those years, her work led her to become deeply involved in the lives of children in trouble. She has served as founder and president of the Wiltwyck School for Boys, member of the New York State Citizen's Committee for Children, the Mayor's Committee on Foster Care, the Advisory Board of the League School for Seriously Disturbed Children, the Board of the New York School for Nursery Years, the Policy Committee of the Office of Children's Services of the Judicial Conference, and the Judicial Advisory Committee on Crime and Delinquency, among others. Juvenile Justice Confounded was written under her chairwomanship of the Committee on Mental Health Services in the Family Court. Judge Polier is also the author of books and studies on the law and social welfare including Everyone's Children,Nobody's Child.