City councilman says more judges are needed for child abuse cases in city, BX

A member of the City Council says more needs to be done to improve the city's Administration for Children's Services (ACS). Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) says more judges are needed in family court to handle

News 12 Staff

Jan 11, 2007, 3:18 PM

Updated 6,508 days ago

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A member of the City Council says more needs to be done to improve the city's Administration for Children's Services (ACS). Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) says more judges are needed in family court to handle the increase in reported child abuse cases. He also wants the $4.2 million in funding for preventive services made permanent.Court officials estimate at least 12 more judges are needed. There are currently 47 judges handling child welfare cases in family court. Officials say no additional judges have been hired since 1991.Several changes were made to ACS after Brooklyn 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown died last year. Casewokers were given lighter work loads and more caseworkers were hired. Since then, the number of child abuse cases reported has increased 30 percent.