Social workers won't be charged
But Hardin grand jury chides child-welfare employees
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070801/NEWS01/708011098
By Deborah Yetter
dyetter@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
A grand jury in Hardin County has declined to indict any state
child-welfare workers over allegations that some of them lied in court,
falsified records and otherwise abused their authority.
The grand jury, in a report released yesterday, found too much time had
elapsed to charge anyone with criminal violations in 18 cases it
reviewed of workers' conduct in child abuse and neglect cases.
But in the harshly worded report, grand jurors called for more outside
oversight of the state's child-welfare system and tougher laws to deal
with errant workers, noting they have "potentially devastating power"
over children and parents.
The six-page report also criticized the state Cabinet for Health and
Family Services for not acting sooner to sanction employees involved in
misconduct.
The findings that triggered the grand jury investigation were contained
in a January report by the cabinet's inspector general. That report
cited arbitrary and -- in some cases -- deliberate mistreatment by
workers of families at risk of losing children in abuse or neglect cases.
"We found it both disturbing and shocking that these few employees were
able to act in such a manner toward the families involved, as well as
the court system, without any significant disciplinary measures being
taken," the report said.
Mark Washington, the state official in charge of social services, said
in a statement yesterday that the cabinet has been investigating the
allegations and is about to act.
"The cabinet will finalize personnel actions in August," the statement
said. But some people were disappointed with the lack of criminal
charges yesterday, including Terry Brooks, executive director of
Kentucky Youth Advocates, and David Richart, director of the National
Institute on Children, Youth and Families in Louisville.
The two child advocacy organizations released reports last year that
alleged widespread problems among some workers in the Lincoln Trail
social-service region that then included Hardin and seven surrounding
counties.
The lack of criminal charges "gives everyone a pass, and I think that's
regrettable," said Richart, who has worked with some families in the
region to try to help them resolve disputes with the state.
Richart said he talked to several of the families yesterday and they
were disappointed but didn't want to speak publicly.
"They just feel like the justice system let them down," he said.
Brooks said the results leave him wondering how the state can guarantee
"kids and families are treated consistently, equitably and fairly."
Hardin Commonwealth's Attorney Christopher G. Shaw, who led the grand
jury investigation, said he and grand jurors also were frustrated that
they could not identify any felony violations, which have no statute of
limitations and could have been prosecuted.
Any possible criminal violations appeared to be misdemeanors and were
outside the 12-month statute of limitations for prosecuting lesser
offenses, he said.
"It was frustrating and depressing," Shaw said
He said the grand jurors took the unusual step of deciding to issue a
report because of their frustration and because of the publicity
generated after the cabinet's inspector general issued a public report
citing wrongdoing by some workers and referring them for possible
charges to the grand jury.
"We did everything we could do," Shaw said.
Neither the grand jury nor the inspector general's report identified any
employees by name, and there were no further specifics in the case. In
his statement, Washington said the cabinet only obtained names of
employees suspected of misconduct in April from the inspector general,
which acts as an independent watchdog. It then began investigating, in
accordance with state personnel law, he said.
The grand juror's report noted that criminal laws dealing with employee
misconduct in child-welfare cases provide few serious sanctions. It
called for "clearly defined felony criminal penalties."
By law, child-welfare cases are confidential and outside public
scrutiny. The grand jury report suggested that "perhaps a separate
agency outside the cabinet should be established and given the power to
review and, if necessary, remove those employees" found to have abused
their authority.
Brooks said he believes the state is working to improve oversight of
employees and consistency of decisions in child-welfare cases. A
blue-ribbon commission formed last year is studying ways to improve the
system.
But he said the inability of the grand jury to bring charges despite
alleged abuses detailed in the inspector general's report leaves him
concerned that there's no clear way to hold workers accountable.
"It should not bring a lot of comfort to the families in Hardin County,"
Brooks said.
Reporter Deborah Yetter can be reached at (502) 582-4228.
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....
CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.
every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com
Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS
*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*
Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...
BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...
.
|
