State legislator pushes for historic public access to juvenile dependency courts statewide

By Karen de Sá
kdesa@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/04/2011 10:56:50 AM PST
Updated: 02/04/2011 02:41:29 PM PST

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Marking a dramatic shift in the scrutiny of how California protects its most vulnerable children, the courts overseeing the state's vast foster care system would be open to the public for the first time since 1961, under legislation now working its way through the Assembly.

Proponents, including the state's most influential juvenile court judges, say the exposure will improve performance by allowing outsiders to view and evaluate the state's dependency courts, which last year decided the fate of more than 58,000 children in foster care who were removed from their homes following allegations of abuse and neglect. The change would bring California in line with a growing number of states nationwide that have opened those courts.

"In the 17 states that have prior experience in the open courts, there has been no determination of harm to kids," said the bill's author, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-West Hollywood. "There has, however, been even closer scrutiny, more accountability and more attention paid to the system." FULL STORY