NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Saying that New York's family courts are "in crisis," a citizen-based court-monitoring program has issued a report making wide-ranging recommendations for the improved functioning of the Suffolk County Family Court, from better interpretation services to alternatives to juvenile detention.

The report was distributed to judges earlier this month by the Fund for Modern Courts, a nonprofit statewide court-reform organization, but released publicly on Tuesday.

Over 11 months, 32 volunteers visited courthouses in Central Islip and Riverhead, observing hundreds of cases involving child abuse and neglect, custody and visitation, domestic violence and juvenile delinquency, among other issues.

While the monitors said they were "favorably impressed" with many aspects of the family courts' operation, the report identified several areas for improvement. These included scheduling, assistance with paperwork and community involvement in juvenile proceedings.

Among the report's recommendations were that the court should make private spaces available for meetings between parties and their lawyers.

The report also urged the court to "explain orders of protection more thoroughly," and to improve courtroom scheduling and decorum and increase the use of available microphones.

The Fund for Modern Courts began monitoring New York state courts in 1975, and conduct one to two monitoring projects a year in family, county, city and other courts, said Denise Kronstadt, the Fund's deputy executive director.

FAMILY COURTS 'IN CRISIS'

Kronstadt said the state's family courts are in crisis. "There are insufficient resources, there are excessive case loads and very difficult issues," she said. "Each court has its positives and its negatives, but the problem is statewide, and that's why we're doing our best to focus on family courts in our monitoring as we go forward."

The Suffolk County project, the Fund's ninth in family court since 2000, was funded with a $20,000 grant from the Long Island Community Foundation, said Dennis Hawkins, the Fund's executive director.

The Fund will send monitors back within six months to determine whether recommended changes have been implemented.

Judge C. Randall Hinrichs, the district administrative judge of Suffolk County, said the report's findings and recommendations were helpful.

"If potential areas for change are pointed out that enable us to serve the public in a better and more efficient manner, then obviously we want to do it," he said. The courts have already taken action on one of the recommendations, Hinrichs said, improving courthouse signage to direct people to the right place within the court.

Hinrichs did not agree with all of the recommendations, such as one to begin each judicial proceeding with an explanation of the issue and relevant background, which he said would tax the 10 family court judges in the county.

"My belief is that all of the litigants and the lawyers on these cases are fully aware of what the issues are and what they're addressing," he said.

Monitors also recommended increasing Spanish-language assistance at the clerk's office in both Riverhead and Central Islip. Both offices' services were not currently meeting the demands of their local constituencies, the report said.

(Reporting by Jennifer Golson)

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