A new report by The New York City Family Court COVID Work Group details the underlying issues that crippled the court’s ability to serve those in need during COVID-19, creating an enormous backlog of critical matters that have yet to be heard.

Dawne Mitchell, Attorney-in-Charge of The Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice and a member of the work group, recently appeared on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss a series of changes recommended by the report to address the issues faced by the children, families, and survivors of domestic violence who rely on the courts for a wide range of serious matters including child abuse allegations; issues related to custody, visitation, guardianship, child support; and juvenile delinquency cases.

Mitchell said that a key component in improving the Family Court system will be in upgrading its technology. She called on the court to prioritize a uniform system of electronic filing, processing, and tracking of cases, and to use technology to help manage the case volume more efficiently. She pointed to the New York Supreme Court as an example of a system that already has these components in place.

Mitchell also stressed the need for the court to understand and appreciate the value of communication with the community. Small fixes, like keeping their website up to date would go a long way to providing information and guidance for individuals attempting to have their matters heard.

Listen to the full segment below.