The Florida Department of Children and Families is asking a judge to approve the release of details on 177 children under agency care who have died since November. The request follows criticism of the agency for withholding information on child deaths, the Miami Herald reports.
Though Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers granted the request, a DCF attorney said the agency will withhold similar information in the future. He said the documents previously provided to the Herald had been done so erroneously.
Deputy General Counsel John Jackson said DCF asking a judge for permission to release further information is designed to improve public confidence, the Herald reports.
The Herald’s “Innocents Lost” series chronicled the deaths of 477 children whose families had been brought to DCF’s attention. It was based in part on reports that DCF now says were provided by mistake.
