Court Knew Of Problems at 4 Girls' Home

WASHINGTON -- The D.C. Superior Court is the latest agency to reveal they didn't do enough to protect four girls found dead in a Southeast home last week.

The Court Social Services Division of the D.C. Superior Court was alerted to problems at Banita Jacks' home in May, but did not pursue the case.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Rufus King has ordered an internal review, saying the court's procedures and safeguards were inadequate.

"The systems in place to protect children in the circumstances of Brittany and her sisters failed them," King says in a written statement. "We all need to take whatever steps we can to prevent this kind of tragedy in the future."

Last May, an attendance counselor at Booker T. Washington Public Charter School notified the court of 16-year-old Brittany's lengthy absence from school.

The report from the charter school didn't have enough information for the court to recommend that the attorney general's office file a case against Jacks.

A court staff member contacted a D.C. Public Schools representative and explained the additional information they needed to pursue the case.

King says the court never received additional information, and did not conduct a follow up.

As part of the review, King says the court will re-examine how its relationship can improve with charter schools, D.C. Public Schools and the Child and Family Services Agency.

On Monday, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty announced that at least six child welfare workers would be fired for failing to properly address complaints about the girls' well being.

The decomposing bodies of Brittany, and her sisters N'kia Fogle, 6; Aja Fogle, 5, and Tatiana Jacks, 11, were found Jan. 9 when deputy U.S. marshals served an eviction notice at the row house.

The girls' mother, 33-year-old Banita Jacks, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder after telling investigators that the children were possessed by demons and died in their sleep.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)