Solicitor Report: Assessment and Plea for Jen Johnson's Case

This solicitor report details the case of Jen Johnson, a 21-year-old woman facing legal issues, and provides a comprehensive assessment to support a plea for community-based service instead of custodial sentencing. The report, prepared by Miss Dakota Ray of the Marigold Community Centre, examines Jen's family situation, including her marriage to Mick Johnson, their two daughters (one with autism), financial difficulties, and mental health challenges. It highlights the family's need for economic support, parenting skills, and mental health counseling. The report emphasizes the potential devastating impact of a custodial sentence on the family, particularly the children, and proposes an intervention plan that includes individual and social support, parent aid programs, multi-service interventions, risk assessments, and intensive family preservation services. The goal is to address the root causes of Jen's struggles and enable her to remain with her family while receiving necessary support within the community. The report underscores the importance of providing Jen with the opportunity to address her issues through community involvement and support services.

Running head : SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Report
Name of the student
Name of the university
Authors note

1SOLICITOR REPORT
The legal service agency as mentioned wants a detail report on the for Jen so that the plea
can be made to the court to the mitigation of the offences so Jane could get a community-based
service rather than custodial one. Jane Johnson is a 21 years old women who are married to Mick
Johnson who is of 25 years of age. The couple has two daughters Hannah Johnson who is four
years old and Bessie Johnson, who is three years old. I am Miss. Dakota Ray is working in the
Marigold Community Centre which is located at Glenaurie. I am working for four years in the
organisation and I my qualification is that I am a graduate. Marigold community centre exists in
order to promote the community and the well being of the people of Glenaurie. It is one of the
agenda of the community that justice must be served to the marginalised section.
I have been working for the past three years with Jen Johnson and subsequently with her
husband on various issues. The issues mostly included the housing issues, providing social and
emotional support regarding the youth of the family, parenting skill which is particularly in the
case of Bessie, who is an autism spectrum. Bessie is the younger daughter of the couple as
mentioned above money and the household management issues and relationship issues between
the Johnson couple.
There was some issue with the relationship as they have been referred to the other
services as well; however, there were recurrent relapses in the issues. This has consequently
made me intervening in the issue. Hannah has been quite well and has her love for her sister.
Both the children have met through the Marigold community playgroup, and she is eventually
taking care of her sister. However, it is was observed that the child does not communicate
properly with her friends and sometimes not even to her parents. Hanah though shares a good
bond with her younger sister who is diagnosed with autism. Jan has been finding it extremely
difficult to communicate with her children and giving both love and care to the children. Jane

2SOLICITOR REPORT
sometimes visit with her children to the community centre in the playgroup and with Bessie
autism behaviour when this girl hits other the situation in the community centre would often
become tense. However, it is observed like the other mothers who communicate with the kids
Jen wishes to take a break from their children.
The couple also faces a lot f financial difficulty as only one member of the family earns
and there is sometimes misuse of the cash and the family had to to the salvation relief army fund.
In the family, couple time is almost non-existent as they cannot leave the kids; however, the
situation was not that bad in the beginning. For the couple now live at the moment seems to
struggle and turn that they face the problem and it usually mounted up. The couple wants to give
best to their children; however, lately, they have not been able to contribute for the same.
Jean has some family problem as well as she during her childhood did not get parental
care as her mother was diagnosed with depression, and she had to take care of her sisters. She
was also derived from paternal love as well. Last, when I met her, she was indeed distressed;
however, later on, there was no sign of her.
The main issues which are faced by the couple are the economic issues which have
resulted in the housing and the potential homelessness in the area. In case of Jane she has an utter
mental crisis as she from her childhood did not find the belongingness and with her early
pregnancy and taking care of the kids especially Bessie she is suffering from mental pressure.
There is no couple of time, and there is significant pressure from life events. The couple also
lacks the parenting skill due to the economical and mental baggage, which is present in the
couple. The need for the family, in this case, is proper economical support from the state in term
of employment. Mike is aa first-class student; therefore, further assistance can be imparted to
him to earn a proper livelihood for the family. The children, especially Bessie, needs love and

3SOLICITOR REPORT
care. The most important aspect of the children growing up years is love and care as it can shape
the entire adulthood. Jane should be referred to a counsellor as she has serious belonging issues,
and therefore, she is also not able to provide the required love and care to her children. If Jane is
sentenced to custodian sentence, the family will be significantly affected as it will be devastating,
this may result in homelessness among children, and especially among the children, this may
cause an emotional turmoil. Additional strains may be incurred in Mike, and the family
altogether may break up. The children may, at the end, end up in the foster care and get separated
from their family. In the case of the community custody Jane if she has committed any mistake
would realise by getting involved in the community services. Her main problem is the lack of
her; therefore, this would get solved. Her family will also be able to meet her through some
issues still may exist, but that can be overcome.
There is an intervention service plan which can be incorporated :
 Individual and social support interventions which can be played in counselling and in the
home education which can be provided by the aid program. The parent's aid program
education support group intervention.
 Multi services intervention in the match services in order to cater to the needs of the
Johnson family.
 Risk assessment intervention which assesses the strength and the family social system.
 Intensive family preservation services which are provided to the support of the family in
the counselling and the referral during the crisis period.
 Child care through trained caregiver in autism
 Housing requirement would be fulfilled through the provincial government.