The state Department of Children and Families is refuting a judge's criticism that it did not turn over documents in a timely manner for a recent child abuse trial.
Last week, Superior Court Judge Julia Dewey ruled a Glastonbury man was not guilty of abusing a foster child in his care. Speaking on WNPR's Where We Live, DCF Commissioner Joette Katz said the agency did share important documents with both the judge and the attorneys in the case. "If they weren't picked up by the lawyers, shame on them," she said. "It was very distressing to know those representations were made by Judge Dewey, and nobody bothered to correct the record."
Katz also shared her reaction to the verdict and the judge's determination that the victim was not credible given his long history of lying. "Merely because she didn't find this person credible," she said, "doesn't mean at the end of the day that it didn't happen. It means it wasn't proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But also we need to have a better understanding of what some of the trauma some children experience may contribute, indeed, often does contribute to the ability to tell the truth or to know the difference."
Another foster parent involved in the Glastonbury case will be tried later this month.
