Child Welfare
An internal investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services into the death of 5-year-old Serenity Deal revealed child welfare workers failed to follow the agency’s policies and procedures, Ann Kelly of NewsOK reports. The child was alleged killed by her father after she was reunited with him. One social worker involved has committed suicide and another has resigned.
The Los Angeles Times editorial board calls on the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services’ refusal to release reports on child deaths “arrogant and illegal.” The editorial comes as an audit of the Los Angeles agency and three others in California is under way.
Juvenile Justice
In the aftermath of the sentencing on Thursday of former judge Mark Ciavarella to 28 years in prison for his involvement in a “cash for kids” scheme, a Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader editorial states that the biggest shocker of the Luzerne scandal case is that it has not led to any statewide reforms.
