The San Francisco Juvenile Court system must review its procedures for awarding guardianships
The death of Jazzmin Davis, the 15-year-old police say was tortured for 15 months and starved to death by her foster mother in their Antioch home, should serve as a catalyst for state and court investigations into the bureaucratic breakdowns that lead to such tragedies.
Social workers, school officials, judges and attorneys involved in the case should all be grilled to determine how they missed the countless warning signs that preceded Jazzmin's Sept. 2 death.
Attorney Tali Soltz, who served as the court-appointed advocate for Jazzmin and her twin brother, told MediaNews reporters, "I feel like everyone did their jobs, as best as I can tell." That's hard to believe. But if it's true, then the entire foster care system is broken and must be repaired.
Child welfare attorney William Grimm of Oakland has examined numerous cases of foster care deaths. Usually, he says, it's not one single failure in the system that led to the fatality. In every case, there are warning signs that were ignored. What this case presents is an opportunity to see what went wrong.
Grimm: "For every Jazzmin Davis there are many, many children who have suffered because of the practices of the agencies and they are hidden from public review."
Shemeeka Davis now sits in a Richmond jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail, facing charges of murder in Jazzmin's death and torture and abuse of both twins.
Davis served as the twins' foster parent from their infancy until she was awarded guardianship just six days before Jazzmin's death.
Full Article and Source:
Daniel Borenstein: State must find out why system failed dead teen
See also:
The San Francisco caseworker overseeing the care of a 15-year-old girl who starved to death in her aunt's home failed to follow state and agency regulations:
Worker didn't heed rules in starved girl's case
Rules ignored in starved girl's case
Davis charged with murder, torture
The death of Jazzmin Davis, the 15-year-old police say was tortured for 15 months and starved to death by her foster mother in their Antioch home, should serve as a catalyst for state and court investigations into the bureaucratic breakdowns that lead to such tragedies.
Social workers, school officials, judges and attorneys involved in the case should all be grilled to determine how they missed the countless warning signs that preceded Jazzmin's Sept. 2 death.
Attorney Tali Soltz, who served as the court-appointed advocate for Jazzmin and her twin brother, told MediaNews reporters, "I feel like everyone did their jobs, as best as I can tell." That's hard to believe. But if it's true, then the entire foster care system is broken and must be repaired.
Child welfare attorney William Grimm of Oakland has examined numerous cases of foster care deaths. Usually, he says, it's not one single failure in the system that led to the fatality. In every case, there are warning signs that were ignored. What this case presents is an opportunity to see what went wrong.
Grimm: "For every Jazzmin Davis there are many, many children who have suffered because of the practices of the agencies and they are hidden from public review."
Shemeeka Davis now sits in a Richmond jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail, facing charges of murder in Jazzmin's death and torture and abuse of both twins.
Davis served as the twins' foster parent from their infancy until she was awarded guardianship just six days before Jazzmin's death.
Full Article and Source:
Daniel Borenstein: State must find out why system failed dead teen
See also:
The San Francisco caseworker overseeing the care of a 15-year-old girl who starved to death in her aunt's home failed to follow state and agency regulations:
Worker didn't heed rules in starved girl's case
Rules ignored in starved girl's case
Davis charged with murder, torture
2 comments:
They're always investigating -- and investigating -- and investigating.
Nothing ever changes.
Yes, and while "they"
are investigating "they" are being paid a nice calary by....US... the little people, the taxpayers. Nice gig, huh?
If this were a private corporation, there would be a price to pay for FAILURE heads would be rolling and flying down the stairs but oh, no, this is ineffective government at it's worst!
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