The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court this week praised the Legislature for its bipartisan efforts to ensure our state is safer for Iowans. Chief Justice Mark Cady highlighted how the Legislature has helped the Courts:
• Protect children
• Operate a full-time, full-service court system
• Offer faster, less costly resolution of legal disputes
• Be open and transparent
• Provide fair, impartial justice
The Legislature’s support has allowed the courts to hire more juvenile court officers. These are the public servants who meet face-to-face with young people in trouble and guide them toward better behavior that will help them become successful adults. The work of our juvenile court officers improves public safety for all Iowans and ultimately saves taxpayer dollars.
Other efforts to protect Iowa’s children are proving successful as well. Family Treatment Courts work with community professionals to help Iowans struggling with substance abuse or other problems that put them at risk of losing their parental rights. So far, 463 families—including 549 parents and 900 children—have participated in Family Treatment Courts. The results are spectacular: 95 percent of the kids suffer no further abuse or neglect.
Efforts to maintain an open and transparent court system continue to be successful. The Iowa Supreme Court holds hearings throughout Iowa and even visits local schools. By traveling the state, the Justices give local Iowans a glimpse of how our court system works.
With a boost in funding for our courts last year, every clerk of court office in the state is now open full time, providing access the services Iowans need and the justice they deserve.