Monday, May 23, 2011

Should child dependency courts be open to the public?

Should courts that hear cases on the abuse and neglect of children be open to the public? On the next Your Call, we'll have a debate about opening dependency courts. where cases involving abuse, neglect or abandonment of juveniles are tried. In California they have been closed to the public since 1961 to protect the children involved. A bill is pending now in Sacramento that would open them again. Do you think the public and the media has the right to transparency in these cases? Or are would it harm an already sensitive population? Join us at 10 or send an email to feedback@yourcallradio.org. It's Your Call with Holly Kernan and you.

Guests:
Karen de Sa, reporter with the San Jose Mercury News

Chantel Johnson, legislative and policy coordinator with California Youth Connections (CYC)

Judge Michael Nash, presiding judge of the Juvenile Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court

Click to Listen: Should child dependency courts be open to the public?