7 posts tagged “court reform”
Have you ever called a government agency for help only to be chuckled at and made fun of? Then chances are you have never had to contact the Cocke County Department of Children Services (DCS) located on Heritage Street in Newport, Tennessee.
Such was the case on Monday, July 6, when Renée Lynn, Editor-in-Chief of “The Knoxville Journal,” needed to discuss a dire situation with Kim Ramsey, a case worker at the Cocke County DCS. Mrs. Lynn tried numerous times to reach Ms. Ramsey or anyone in the department to no avail.
Finally, Mrs. Lynn got in touch with Ms. Ramsey to converse about a very serious issue concerning information relevant to two foster children under their jurisdiction. Apparently the information was ignored.
When asked very pertinent questions about the care of these children, Ms. Ramsey began laughing over the phone along with other employees. They just kept on laughing. Ms. Ramsey made no effort to correct her rude behavior with an apology. Mrs. Lynn then informed Ms. Ramsey that this was not a laughing matter, but was a grave set of circumstances. Again Mrs. Lynn was met with snickering.
It just so happened that Mrs. Lynn’s telephone was on speaker phone and at least one other person witnessed the outrageous behavior of Ms. Ramsey.
Mrs. Lynn commented, “It is a sad day when upstanding citizens are being subjected to such disrespect from government employees.”
This is not the first complaint lodged against the Cocke County DCS. This reporter knows of at least one other incident in which the Cocke County office has overstepped their bounds.
Ms. Vicki Hodge, supervisor of the Cocke County DCS did return a call to Mrs. Lynn on Tuesday, July 7, but did not apologize for the offensive conduct of her employees.
If you have any information about the Cocke County DCS you would like to share, please call Myra Wheeler at The Knoxville Journal at (865) 546-5353.
http://www.theknoxvillejournal.com/inside/pages/news/Cocke-County-DCS.html
I am sure they would be interested in all the stories in TN, give it a shot.
| Judge to day care worker: Say you're sorry |  |
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| Wednesday, 13 May 2009 | |
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The former lead day-care worker at a Sun Prairie, Wisconsin day care center has been given probation for squeezing an 18-month old until she stopped breathing, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Dane County Circuit Judge Patrick Fiedler gave Sara Kladenhall 5 years to "prove... she was sincere when she said she was sorry for what happened," reports the paper.The child was revived by a co-worker and has since recovered. Co-worker Lindsay Anderson, charged with child neglect for helping to hold the child down, was placed in a first offenders program. The State Journal says that following that sentencing, Anderson was charged with domestic disorderly conduct in another case and dropped from the first offenders program. On May 7, she pleaded guilty to the disorderly conduct charges and was placed, again, in the first offenders program. For a second time. |
Judicial discipline in 2007
In 2007, as a result of state judicial discipline proceedings, nine judges were removed from office (including one former judge). Six judges resigned or retired in lieu of discipline pursuant to agreements with judicial commissions that were made public. 104 additional judges (or former judges in approximately 15 cases) were publicly sanctioned in 2007. In 42 of those cases, the discipline was imposed pursuant to the consent of the judge. (These figures do not include pending recommendations or decisions pending on appeal.)
There were 19 suspensions without pay, ranging from one week to 18 months (with six months stayed with conditions); one suspension also included a public reprimand and $1000 fine; one also included a public reprimand and $1500 fine. In addition, there were 24 public censures; 22 public admonishments; 30 public reprimands (one reprimand also included a $500 fine, one also included a $3500 civil penalty); two cease and desist orders; three attorney discipline cases involving former judges for conduct as judges; and four other public dispositions (a private reprimand that was made public and three cases in which misconduct was found or stipulated to but no sanction was imposed).
The 2007 cases illustrate the variety of misconduct, both on and off the bench, for which judges may be sanctioned. As in other years, many cases involved discourteous demeanor in the courtroom, such as becoming angry with a litigant, treating attorneys in a sarcastic and belittling manner, using religious and ethnic slurs, and abusing the contempt power. Delay, administrative failures, and offensive language in dealing with staff also resulted in discipline for several judges. As always, ex parte communications (independent investigations or conversations with parties, attorneys, an Army recruiter, an arresting officer, witnesses, a landlord, or defendants’ relatives, for example) and failure to disqualify (from cases involving a judge’s attorney, a neighbor with whom the judge had poor relationship, or relatives, for example) also formed the basis for judicial discipline sanctions for several judges. Eight judges were sanctioned following driving while intoxicated offenses, while four former judges were disciplined based on criminal convictions for domestic violence, tampering with a utility company meter, failing to file federal income tax returns, or common law misconduct in office.
As usual, judges’ failure to resist the temptation to assist friends and relatives by using the power or prestige of office to fix tickets or ask for leniency from police, prosecutors, and other judges resulted in numerous sanctions in 2007. Less typical conduct sanctioned in 2007 included, by different judges, pushing counsel; assaulting an off-duty police officer and verbally abusing the officer’s wife; pursuing a defendant who had fled from the courtroom; telephoning a defendant’s alleged drug dealer in open court; directing a mother in a custody case to lower her pants in the courtroom to view a wound; approving a plea agreement that sent a defendant to another state; and having a domestic violence victim’s facial injuries photographed. Charitable fund-raising in the courthouse, including direct solicitation of attorneys, and an adulterous affair, including sexual intercourse in the courthouse, also led to discipline of two judges in 2007.
Many cases involved egregious handling of cases or a pattern of abuse of discretion, for example, issuing judgments without conducting a hearing or providing for service of process; finding unrepresented defendants had violated their probation without following due process requirements; increasing or threatening to increase defendants’ sentences for asking questions or offering defenses; informing unrepresented defendants at arraignment that their only choices were to plead guilty or accept diversion; failing to advise criminal defendants of constitutional and procedural rights; failing to accept guilty pleas in accordance with court rules; and following a practice that appeared to coerce criminal defendants to waive their right to jury trial. In many cases, the judge’s misconduct was exacerbated by failure to respond to inquiries by the conduct commission, making false or misleading statements to the commission, retaliating against the complainant, or attempting to influence the testimony of a witness.
The Judicial Conduct Reporter, a quarterly published by the Center for Judicial Ethics, reports developments in judicial discipline, tracks changes in codes of conduct, and analyzes recent decisions and advisory opinions. The fall 2007 issue has articles on campaign supporters and disqualification, the judicial accountability system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, developments following Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, and assessing complaints about judicial conduct and summaries of recent advisory opinions on teaching by judges. An annual subscription costs $32 ($36 foreign). A single issue of the Reporter may be ordered for $9 ($10 foreign) plus postage and handling.
AJS and Center publications can be ordered on-line at www.ajs.org. Click here for more information.
Dated January 23, 2008
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| Written by The Indiana Gazette | |
| Sunday, 27 January 2008 | |
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Information for this column is provided by the Indiana County Department of Human Services.ANNOUNCEMENTS * Aging Services, Inc. will have a Groundhog Day Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Mahoning Hills Social Center, Route 119 North near Punxsutawney. The breakfast is open to the public at a cost of $3.50. * Indiana County Community Action Program is offering VITA, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. This program provides free Income Tax services to eligible low-income families in Indiana County. For more information and to make an appointment, please contact Arlene Anderson at (724) 465-2657, ext. 207, or Diane Reese-Walters at (724) 465-2657, ext. 212. * Katie's Closet provides free clothing for adults and children from 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays upstairs at Zion Lutheran Church, Church and Sixth streets, Indiana. * Kids Night Out, hosted by IUP Track and Field, will be offered from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Feb. 8 at Memorial Field House Auxiliary Gym, Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus. Enjoy a night out while the IUP Track and Field Team watches and entertains your children ages 5 to 14. Cost is $10 for three hours. For more information, call Ralph White, coach, at (724) 357-2464. * Kiwanis Baby Cupboard and Indiana County Community Action Inc. are offering to provide diapers at $2 a pack (four packages a month in medium, large and extra large) to qualifying county families with an income lower than 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline. Call Arlene Anderson, AmeriCorps Vista volunteer, at (724) 465-2657, ext. 211, for more information and/or to register. Diapers will be distributed at the ICCAP food bank at 1849 South Sixth St., Indiana. * Special Needs Activity Program is a physical fitness, motor development and aquatics program specifically designed for individuals with disabilities through IUP. The program currently serves individuals of all ages and abilities from the Indiana area and surrounding communities. The SNAP program is sponsored by the Department of Health and Physical Education and is a required practicum experience for all HPED students. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays in Zink Hall on the following dates: Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; March 1, 29, and April 5. Volunteers are welcome and hours can be documented upon request. For more information or to register, call David Lorenzi at (724) 357-4415 or e-mail David.Lorenzi@iup.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . CLASSES* Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is a group program designed specifically for people with arthritis to help increase joint flexibility and range of motion. The group meets Tuesdays and Fridays. For more information, call Indiana Regional Medical Center at (724) 357-8088. * Breastfeeding is Best teaches about feeding your baby, pumping and storing milk from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at IRMC Outpatient Building. For more information, call (724) 357-8088. * Childbirth/Infant Care classes are available through Excela Health. A variety of classes include Car Seat Safety, Getting Ready for Baby, Breastfeeding Basics, Infant Massage, Prepared Childbirth and Lamaze. Class times and locations vary. For more information, call (877) 771-1234. * CPR Classes are available through Armstrong County Memorial Hospital. Participants will receive basic instruction in one-person adult and child CPR as well as choking intervention instructions. The class is designed for the layperson. For more information, call (724) 543-8473. * Disaster Mental Health Services: An Overview, helps participants understand the function within the American Red Cross Disaster Services program. Participants will learn how DMHS supports disaster relief workers and people affected by disasters. For more information, call the Indiana Chapter at (724) 465-5678. * Eat Well for Life is a four-week lifestyle improvement program promoting wellness and long-term weight management through balanced nutrition, cooking demonstrations and other hands-on experiences. For more information, call Excela Health at (877) 771-1234. * Healthy Moves is a supervised, structured exercise program for inactive adults or those at risk for health problems. Any adult who wishes to improve their fitness level can attend. For more information, call IRMC at (724) 357-8088. * Infant/Child CPR and First Aid classes teach "loving touch" techniques through American Red Cross. A fee is charged. For more information, call the Indiana Chapter at (724) 465-5678. * Introduction to Disaster classes teach how the American Red Cross fits in when there is a disaster and how you can help your community. For more information, call the Indiana Chapter at (724) 465-5678. * Logistics: Disaster Preparedness Training, is a study of providing the support services for a disaster relief operation including transportation, facilities and supplies through the American Red Cross. For more information, call the Indiana Chapter at (724) 465-5678. * Mass Care Overview, through American Red Cross, teaches about helping to care for victims who are displaced from their residence during a disaster. For more information, call the Indiana Chapter at (724) 465-5678. * Ornish Advantage teaches how to prevent heart disease and improve health by a six-week program focusing on nutrition, stress management, exercise, nutrition and group support. For more information, call Excela Health at (877) 771-1234. * Prenatal Aquatic Exercise classes allow pregnant women to keep up their fitness levels while expecting. For more information, call the Indiana County YMCA at (724) 463-9622. * Preschool and Progressive Swim Classes are held in 7-week sessions at the Indiana County YMCA. Preschool classes are for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Progressive classes are for children ages 6 years and older. Enrollment is limited. For more information, call (724) 463-9622. * Ready to Quit is a seven-week smoking cessation course for those who have resolved to quit smoking. Scholarships are available for pregnant women. The class costs $25, and some costs may be covered by insurance. For more information, call (877) 771-1234. * Survey/Damage Assessment teaches how to make assessment of damage to homes and areas affected by disaster. Participants must have attended the Introduction to Disaster class prior to this training. For more information, call the American Red Cross, Indiana Chapter, at (724) 465-5678. * Toddler Time, offered by Armstrong-Indiana Intermediate Unit 28's Family Focus Program, is a class for children ages 1 to 3 years old. For more information, call (724) 463-5300, ext. 1234. * Water Exercise Classes are available at the Indiana County YMCA. Classes include Arthritis, Swimnastics and Aqua Aerobics. The 7-week sessions are excellent for individuals with joint problems and/or those who cannot exercise on land. Non-swimmers are welcome. For more information, call Adam Weiss at (724) 463-9622. * Working with Total Diversity teaches how to assist service providers in providing the needs of the changing populations in the communities served and how to overcome prejudices and stereotypes within the communities. For more information, call the American Red Cross, Indiana Chapter, at (724) 465-5678. FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS* Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Room 306, Pratt Hall, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 8 p.m. every Thursday at Calvary Presbyterian Church, Indiana; and 8 p.m. every Friday at Marion Center Presbyterian Church. * Diabetes Support Group at IRMC provides a dietician and clinical nurse specialists to help people with diabetes develop and practice self-management. For more information, call (724) 357-8088. * Family Caregivers Support Group meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Aging Services Community Center, Indiana, with a special focus placed on Alzheimer's Care. For more information, call (724) 349-4500. * HIV/AIDS Support Group meets twice per month through UPMC Lee Regional Community Care Management. This group is intended for people living with HIV/AIDS. All support group meetings are facilitated by a social worker. For more information, call (814) 534-6732 or (866) 429-1583. * ICD Support Group is for those with an implantable cardiac defibrillator and their support persons. For more information, call Excela Health at (877-771-1234. * IRMC's Breast Cancer Support Group is for individuals who have had breast cancer. The group generally meets at 6:30 p.m. the last Thursday of the month. For more information, call (724) 357-8088. * La Leche League provides mother-to-mother information and support for those planning to breastfeed or currently breastfeeding. The group meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday at IRMC Outpatient Building, Classrooms A&B. For more information or 24-hour support, call (724) 463-4661 or (724) 463-9890. * Moms Offering Moms Support Club is an international support group for stay-at-home parents. For more information, call Amy at (724) 465-0770, Stephanie at (724) 463-1453 or e-mail momsclubofindiana@yahoo.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . * PFLAG, or Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, have local chapters of a national organization to provide safe dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity. The group seeks to replace negativity with accurate and positive information and support. For more information, contact the Indiana chapter at (724) 357-8309 or e-mail pflagindiana@adelphia.net. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it * Post-Partum Depression classes are for natural and adoptive parents experiencing depression following the introduction of the new infant into the family. Dates and locations vary. For more information, call Excela Health at (877) 771-1234. * Reach to Recovery provides newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with support, information and resources through visits and conversations with trained breast cancer survivors. For more information, call (800) 227-2345. * US Too Prostate Cancer Support Group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Excela Health Westmoreland Regional Hospital. For more information, call (877) 771-1234. GRIEF SUPPORT* Bence Mihalcik Funeral Home offers a support group and a bereavement lending library with booklets, videos, etc. For information, call (724) 349-2000. * Bereavement Support, Catholic Charities. Meetings vary based on need. Call (724) 463-8806 for information. * Bowser-Minich Bereavement Support Services, (724) 349-3100 or (888) 923-5550. Offers lectures and grief seminars to public groups. * Curran Funeral Home Grief Support Group, 701 Salt St., Saltsburg. Call (724) 639-3911 for dates, times and location. * GriefShare is a special seminar/support group for people grieving the death of someone close. Registration is required, and sessions are in the fall and spring at Graystone Presbyterian Church, Indiana. For more information, call (724) 349-5556. * Grief Support Groups, through Excela Health, offer a six-week series held Tuesdays at various locations. For more information, call (877) 771-1234. * Help to Heal is an adult and child grief support group that meets twice per month. Registration is requested. For more information, call Excela Health at (877) 771-1234. * Highmark Caring Place, through the Caring Foundation for Children, Pittsburgh, offers support groups weekly or biweekly for grieving children, adolescents and families. For more information, call (888) 224-4673. * Mourning Has Broken is a grief support group for grieving partners and spouses. For information or support, call (724) 349-5677 or visit mourninghasbroken.org. * Richard Shoemaker Funeral Home Support Group, Blairsville, (724) 459-9115; information and support offered by phone.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Plaintiffs in a landmark lawsuit against the state's foster-care system are dragging the government back to court, complaining that officials haven't followed through with promised reforms.
In documents filed Thursday in Whatcom County Superior Court, lawyers representing Washington foster children are asked a judge to enforce parts of their 2004 settlement with the state within two months, and impose a fine within 90 days.
Plaintiff's lawyers said the state was far from meeting its requirements in four specific areas: safety, caseloads, sibling contact and mental health. Casey Trupin, a lawyer for Columbia Legal Services, said the state has "continued to put children in foster care at risk."
"We shouldn't have ever gotten to this point, but the lack of urgency and insufficient commitment by the state to keep the promises it made to Washington's children has made today's action necessary," Trupin said in a statement.
State officials and lawmakers, however, defended the government's efforts to overhaul foster care. While not disputing that the state Department of Social and Health Services has missed some requirements, officials said Washington is still making progress toward the settlement's ultimate goals.
"We've been making steady progress, and this just has the potential to take us away from the work that we're doing and the important work of keeping kids safe," said Cheryl Stephani, head of the state Children's Administration.
The court action is the latest twist in the lawsuit known as the Braam case, in which 13 foster children sued the state for bouncing them around foster homes without adequate services.
The state settled the suit in 2004 by promising to make dozens of specific improvements, including more state caseworkers, better foster parent training and increased mental health treatment for kids.
Thursday's court filing was not a surprise. Lawyers for the foster kids announced last fall that they had decided to drag the state back into court, and the move was foreshadowed by months of complaints that the state wasn't spending enough to overhaul the foster care system.
Officials also said the court action could help the state set priorities for achieving the huge set of reforms.
"All of the above are happening. It's just not as quickly as the plaintiffs would like," said Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, chairwoman of the House children's services panel.
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On the Net:
Braam plaintiffs: http://www.braamkids.org
Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov
my momma look :)
6-year-old Gloucester boy killed; mom implicated
by Seung Min Kim and Jonathan Casiano/ The Star-Ledger
Saturday December 22, 2007, 2:30 PM
A Gloucester County boy was killed this morning, allegedly by his mother who cut the child's throat before turning the weapon on herself, authorities said.
When police arrived at the family's home on Dartmouth Road in Deptford Township at around 7:30 a.m., they found the boy, Jared Harding, in the living room, bleeding profusely, He was taken to Underwood-Memorial Hospital in Woodbury where he died a short time later, said Bernie Weisenfeld, a spokesman for the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.Jared's mother, 42-year-old Martina Harding was taken to Cooper Medical Center in Camden where she underwent surgery for a self inflicted wound to her throat, Weisenfeld said. She was placed under arrest and charges are pending, he said.
Weisenfeld said prosecutors have not yet interviewed Harding, whose injuries are not considered life threatening, and could not immediately comment on a motive.
Weisenfeld said Harding's husband, Christian, witnessed at least part of the attack. The couple's 9-year-old daughter was also home at the time. Neither was injured.
An autopsy was scheduled for this afternoon. Weisenfeld said formal charges are expected to be filed later this afternoon.
Local law enforcement authorities said they had not been called to the home in the Oak Valley section of town before this morning and that Harding did not appear to have an existing criminal record.
Kate Bernyk, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Youth and Family Services said investigators had never dealt with the family, but would launch an investigation as a result of the boy's death.
"He was a wonderful little boy," said Scott MacDonald, principal at Pine Acres Early Childhood Center, where Jared was a first-grader. "We're totally devastated and trying to process the whole tragic situation."
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/12/6yearold_gloucester_boy_killed.html
