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| CASE FILES ON FAMILY TRAUMA FOUND IN "OPEN" |
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| The New York Times reports on May 4, 1996, that case files listing the names, social security numbers, and a complete history of children under the supervision of New York City were found discarded on the grounds of a welfare office in a construction dumpster. The records exposed the lives of troubled families and their disposal in such a manner may possibly violate state laws on maintaining and disposing of confidential records.
Nicholas Scoppetta, the head of Children’s Services, blamed the problem on an unwieldy and archaic system of managing records. State law requires the files to be retained for six years after the close of a case or until the youngest child reaches the age of majority (21). According to Charles Carson, assistant counsel for the State Dept. of Social services, when it comes time to discard a case file, the law does not specify a method. |