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Study: Juvenile delinquency courts overwhelmed
California juvenile delinquency courts are plagued by too many cases, too few services for troubled youth and a total bewilderment among many families involved, a two-year study by the state court system has found.

· Legal help for poor defendants called inadequate
· Santa Clara County foster-care court struggles to adjust to kids' larger role
· State panel calls for change to fix dependency court system
· Lawyer who represented parents in Santa Clara County's dependency court commits
suicide
· Bill would strengthen kids' voices in foster care court
· Firm will quit, leaving courts scrambling
· Attorney won't seek new deal with court
· Controversial lawyer in dependency court resigns following Mercury News series
· A call for swift change for juvenile dependency courts
· Expected recommendations for juvenile dependency courts
· Judge's personal, legal experience
· District attorney office's 'different hat' troubles some
· Overworked defenders: Sacramento attorneys struggle to keep up
· Deputy public defender stepped in for foster mom
· High turnover: Many judges want no part of dependency court
· In these crowded courts, the rules are different

The Original Series

· PART I: How rushed justice fails our kids
· PART II: A timid advocate for parents' rights
· PART III: Big stakes, but little voice for kids
· How this series was reported


Ms. Donnel Jenkins
Consultant
Office of the Foster Care Ombudsman