Santa Clara County Child Death: Three Strikes, Demand for Change

0:00Another child welfare tragedy hit Santa Clara County with the death of two-year-old Jackson Juarez. County social services placed him in a relative's home despite the cousin's prior child endangerment conviction. Now, the cousin's teenage son faces murder and felony assault charges for the alleged sexual assaults in killing. 10 county employees linked to the case are on paid leave as investigations ramp up. This marks the third high-profile child death under the county's watch in just three years. FDA reports flagged how the agency dismissed abuse referrals and downplayed neglect in low-income families. Leadership shifts happen after past deaths, but critics say policies still prioritize family programs over pulling kids to safety. Folks are furious. From district attorney Jeff Rosen vowing to chase evidence wherever it leads, possibly to county staff, to supervisor Sylvia Arenas, demanding real accountability for these losses. Many groups like the Nebula CP and unions are calling out the same executives overseeing

1:02all three scandals, pushing for criminal charges beyond just. Resignations State social services is probing Juarez's case and expanding to all foster placements at county request. Recent audits reveal case workers fearing retaliation and the agency dodging its own abuse probes by handing them to police. As reports wrap up, the county insists child safety comes first, with promises to fix flaws and hold folks responsible. These kids deserved better, and the pressure is on to make real change stick. That's the story for today. California News Today, driven by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.