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A closer look at abused and neglected children in Pennsylvania under dependency court supervision

News Article

May 15, 2017

Pennsylvania court data shows that 20,458 children were under supervision of dependency court in 2015, with 43 percent of those children under court supervision for 12 months or less, and 48 percent placed in kinship care with family or friends or in-home care.

Dependency often results from a parent’s inability to provide for the child through neglect or abuse. If a judge finds that there are safety or other serious concerns, the child can be declared “dependent.” These children receive regular reviews by a judge to ensure their safety and care regardless of where the court placed them – for example, with family, friends or in foster care. Sometimes, the judge determines it’s in the best interest of the child to remain in the home while the family addresses the court’s concerns.  

The infographic below highlights some demographics and trends in Pennsylvania regarding dependent children in the courts. Download a high-resolution version of the graphic.

 

PA Courts InfoShare is a monthly product of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) that visually highlights the work of the courts with interesting data and statistics obtained through the judiciary’s case management systems, interactive dashboards and other research. Reproduction is permissible with source cited.

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Media contact:   Kimberly Bathgate, 717-231-3331