Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard 2006 Annual Report
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard 2006 Annual Report Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard 2006 Annual Report
Child and Family Protection Division (continued) Highlights • filed 136 adoption petitions. verdicts in favor of severing during the year. PSS attorneys Newly implemented changes in CPS practices slowed the large increase in overall case volume that occurred in prior years. The FY06 case volume of 6,464 is only slightly greater than the FY05 total of 6,434. However, FY06 saw significant increases in the number of appellate cases and actions brought to achieve permanency through severance of parental rights, guardianship and adoption. PSS attorneys and staff: • helped place 4,600 children in permanent homes. • helped reunite 1,253 children with their parents. • placed 702 children with permanent guardians. • helped 1,275 children be adopted by relatives or foster parents. • represented DES in 229 appeals filed. • prevailed in 97 percent of all appeals resolved. parental rights, a necessary condition to adoption and placement of the children in safe, permanent homes. Training of CPS workers, supervisors, attorneys and judges: In FY06, PSS attorneys provided legal training to 282 new CPS case managers who joined DES also provided advanced training to approximately 80 CPS case managers and supervisors throughout the State and conducted training sessions for members of the judiciary. Twentyseven new attorneys joined PSS and received extensive juvenile dependency training. Numerous in-house training sessions were • protected more than 11,220 children from abuse and neglect. • filed 3,443 dependency petitions. • filed 1,316 severance motions and petitions. Success in jury trials: In FY06, 216 jury trials were requested in cases where CPS sought severance of parental rights. Of those 216 cases, 30 went to trial. PSS prevailed on behalf of CPS in 28 of those 30 cases, obtaining • filed 535 guardianship motions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Robert Brutinel during Adoption Day 2005. The Attorney General's CFP staff participate annually in Adoption Day where families finalize adoptions. 22
Child and Family Protection Division (continued) conducted, focusing on maintaining and increasing the skills and knowledge of more experienced PSS trial and appellate attorneys. Civil & Criminal Litigation & Advice Section The Civil and Criminal Litigation and Advice Section (CLA) provides advice and representation for all DES programs except Child Protective Services and Child Support Enforcement. The CLA Criminal Unit prosecutes individuals and contractors who defraud the State of Arizona through DES programs and parents who willfully fail to provide support for their children or who escape from the child support work furlough program. Highlights The CLA Civil Unit: • Received 754 administrative litigation, civil and appellate cases: • 55 Mental Health Appeals, an increase of over 300 percent from the previous year. • 16 Adult Protective Service Guardian/Conservatorship cases, an increase of 50 percent. • 46 EEOC cases, an increase of 48 percent. • 37 foster care licensing cases, an increase of 85 percent. • Handled 265 appealable DES personnel actions, including 71 hearings before the State Personnel Board. • Resolved 670 administrative litigation, civil and appellate cases, including 10 appeals to the Court of Appeals. • Obtained judgments totaling $531,332. • Collected $202,528 through wage and bank garnishments. The CLA Criminal Unit: • Filed 335 criminal cases. • Obtained 271 individual sentences. • Obtained restitution orders totaling $547,657. • Collected an additional $380,398 in restitution prior to sentencing. • Obtained orders for fines totaling $18,485. • Saved the State nearly $1.7 million through successful challenges to Value Options’ denial of behavioral health services for children in DES’s care. • Collaborated with the Russian government to investigate and resolve complaints against an international adoption agency licensed in Arizona. 23
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- Page 17 and 18: Consumer Protection Cases (continue
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Child and Family Protection Division (continued)<br />
conducted, focusing on<br />
maintaining and increasing the<br />
skills and knowledge of more<br />
experienced PSS trial and<br />
appellate attorneys.<br />
Civil & Criminal Litigation<br />
& Advice Section<br />
The Civil and Criminal Litigation<br />
and Advice Section (CLA)<br />
provides advice and representation<br />
for all DES programs except<br />
Child Protective Services and<br />
Child Support Enforcement.<br />
The CLA Criminal Unit prosecutes<br />
individuals and contractors who<br />
defraud the State of <strong>Arizona</strong><br />
through DES programs and<br />
parents who willfully fail to provide<br />
support for their children or who<br />
escape from the child support<br />
work furlough program.<br />
Highlights<br />
The CLA Civil Unit:<br />
• Received 754 administrative<br />
litigation, civil and appellate<br />
cases:<br />
• 55 Mental Health Appeals, an<br />
increase of over 300 percent<br />
from the previous year.<br />
• 16 Adult Protective Service<br />
Guardian/Conservatorship<br />
cases, an increase of 50<br />
percent.<br />
• 46 EEOC cases, an increase<br />
of 48 percent.<br />
• 37 foster care licensing cases,<br />
an increase of 85 percent.<br />
• Handled 265 appealable DES<br />
personnel actions, including 71<br />
hearings before the State<br />
Personnel Board.<br />
• Resolved 670 administrative<br />
litigation, civil and appellate<br />
cases, including 10 appeals to<br />
the Court of Appeals.<br />
• Obtained judgments totaling<br />
$531,332.<br />
• Collected $202,528 through<br />
wage and bank garnishments.<br />
The CLA Criminal Unit:<br />
• Filed 335 criminal cases.<br />
• Obtained 271 individual<br />
sentences.<br />
• Obtained restitution orders<br />
totaling $547,657.<br />
• Collected an additional<br />
$380,398 in restitution prior to<br />
sentencing.<br />
• Obtained orders for fines<br />
totaling $18,485.<br />
• Saved the State nearly $1.7<br />
million through successful<br />
challenges to Value Options’<br />
denial of behavioral health<br />
services for children in DES’s<br />
care.<br />
• Collaborated with the Russian<br />
government to investigate and<br />
resolve complaints against an<br />
international adoption agency<br />
licensed in <strong>Arizona</strong>.<br />
23
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