CPS Admonished to Cooperate with Grand Jury

Complaining that its investigation of Child Protective Services is being
stonewalled, the Sacramento County grand jury has warned all CPS employees
and its leaders that they must cooperate with the panel's probe.

In a strongly worded two-page letter issued to all CPS workers this week,
the grand jury said it has "been met with staff resistance and staff
improperly refusing to answer general program questions..."

"Any further refusals to answer general program questions or the citing of
confidentiality statutes when none apply will be considered a direct
attempt to interfere with the Grand Jury's investigations," said the
letter, which indicated it was being sent by grand jury foreman Donald
Prange Sr.

Grand jury proceedings are confidential. A copy of the letter obtained by
The Bee today indicates that Prange sent the warning on Wednesday to
Penelope Clarke, the county administrator who oversees CPS and its parent
agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. The letter was then
forwarded to all CPS employees instructing them to cooperate with the
panel's probe, sources said.

CPS spokeswoman Laurie Slothower had no immediate comment today on the
letter, and requested that questions about it be submitted in writing.

The grand jury's investigation was sparked by stories in The Bee in recent
months concerning a string of child deaths and the agency's altering of
documents in one case before they were released publicly.

Prange indicated in the letter that CPS staff members have resisted or
refused to answer the panel's questions and have improperly cited
confidentiality statutes in doing so.

"So that the Grand Jury can continue these investigations without further
delay, please direct DHHS management and staff to fully cooperate with our
investigations," the letter said.

The letter indicated that one of the areas being examined includes
"policies regarding altering documents," and it warned CPS administrators
that they cannot retaliate against employees who cooperate with the
investigation.

"There should be no intimidation/harassment of interviewees by management
and no questioning regarding testimony taken by the Grand Jury," the
letter said in one section that was in bold-face type.

See Story - Sacramento Bee