“Deprivation of liberty pending trial is harsh and oppressive, subjects defendants to economic and psychological hardship, interferes with their ability to defend themselves, and, in many instances, deprives their families of support. This impact may be exacerbated for indigent individuals who, as a consequence of their poverty, are already in vulnerable situations. “In short, bail […]

In 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed bills to improve foster care, expanding Public Advocate Letitia James oversight over New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services. Today, she stands rebuked by a federal judge for giving the appearance of “collusive activity” in connection with her efforts to promote a particular reform agenda. Introduction Last year, […]

Scott and Robin Galehouse may have thought they were charting new territory when – after winning their case, and having their daughter returned home – they challenged the bill they were handed for her “care” while in the hands of the state. But the Michigan Court of Appeals had gone down this road before. On […]

“There is unacceptable and then there’s disgraceful. We need to change the system to protect these children from being hurt over and over again. I hope Foster Shock will let people see the dysfunction under privatization and move them to demand action.” Director and Producer Mari Frankel Privatization The privatization of foster care has been […]

A longstanding miscarriage of justice in a string of “shaken baby” cases that swept the Nation has been potentially set aright by a decision filed by the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division Two, on January 5. Tuesday’s opinion ends a long, dark chapter in the life of Heidi Charlene Fero, who was convicted of […]

In a New York case set for a jury trial this month, defendants have settled out of court with a family for $250,000. It started as most CPS cases do; with a call to the hotline. This particular call came in to New York State’s centralized hotline, where reports are “screened” to determine whether they […]

Texas Foster Care: Long Road Toward Reform – Part II “The Court does not base any system-wide findings solely on the Named Plaintiffs’ experiences in foster care. Their experiences, however, paint a similar picture: children often enter foster care at the Basic service level, are assigned a carousel of overburdened caseworkers, suffer abuse and neglect […]

“We are well aware that DCS and the courts are overwhelmed with the growing numbers of CHINS cases statewide. All would be better served if the system focused its time, efforts, and resources on the families who really need them. This one did not.” A recent ruling by the Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed […]

Governor Jay Nixon discussing his veto among supporters, notably including children. “A Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge is taking a personal approach to deal with the state crisis of finding homes for kids who go through the juvenile court system and need a foster family,” a news report from KPLR in St. Louis explains. “Judge […]