The Juvenile Dependency Court System is administrated by two different entities. The Superior Court of California, Juvenile Dependency Departments – which is part of every County Superior Court system in California. This system is part of the judicial branch of the local government.
The County social works have different names from County to County. In Los Angeles, they are referred to as the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). In most parts of the state, they are referred to as Child Protective Services (CPS). These departments are part of the executive branch of the local government.
Cases generally start with an investigation by the county social workers, which could, but not always, involve the local or federal police agencies. A juvenile dependency investigation sometimes leads to a criminal investigation, which is separate and apart from the social worker’s investigation. It is my advice that you DO NOT talk to a county social worker, or a policeman, without first consulting with an attorney. It could lead to you losing your children, forever, or going to jail and being convicted of crimes.
