By Vivek Sankaran, The Chronicle of Social Change, May 17, 2020
During a recent training, a judge showed us a glimpse of his future courtroom and what awaits us when juvenile courts reopen.
A plexiglass shield will separate the judge from the litigants. Attorneys will spread out across the courtroom. Parents and children will be seated apart from their own attorneys. Everyone will wear masks.
What I saw frightened me. This can’t be our new normal in child welfare.
Even before the pandemic hit, many of my clients – children, foster parents and parents – feared going to court. Attending court hearings created fear, stress and anxiety. In part, these feelings were invoked by what courts symbolized to them. It was the place you went before you were locked up. Or lost your home. Or got your kids taken from you. Why would anyone possibly want to go somewhere where they could face those consequences?
Comments (0)