A November 2025 letter from the Children's Bureau reversed a national foster care reimbursement policy, reducing Maryland’s disallowance by $16.…
Inside the California Custody Cartel
In California, family courts are criticized for prioritizing profit over justice, leading to parents like Brenna Gano losing custody rights.…
Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families
Since 1997, the federal government has allocated over $1 billion in adoption bonuses to states, with additional funding of $52…
What the Defendant Admitted Under Oath
The Hornbeck deposition highlights the complexities of parental custody disputes in family court, where personal narratives often clash. Under oath,…
What 2025 Revealed About Family Courts — And What Journalism Must Do in 2026
In 2025, family courts showed increasing gaps between promises of reform and reality, highlighting issues such as evidence-based decision-making and…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 14, 2025
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) has acknowledged it lacks written policies for criminal affidavits and District Attorney Investigator authority.…
The Public Has a Right to Know Whether Government Agencies Followed the Law Before Taking Someone’s Freedom.
Los Angeles and San Diego officials are withholding public records related to the arrest and prosecution of Giselle Farias Smiel,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 5, 2025
Investigative journalist Michael Phillips is questioning the Los Angeles Superior Court about a discrepancy in the public docket for People…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 16, 2025
Newly acquired documents disclose that California's Child Abduction Units (CAUs) receive over $9.9 million in state funding to enforce custody…
The Psychiatric Weapon: How Mental Health Was Turned into a Weapon of Control
California's family courts exploit psychological diagnoses to control parents, particularly those with ADHD and PTSD. Brenna Gano's experience illustrates how…