The recent anniversary of the killing of 7 year old Nixzmary Brown brought with it grim reports of crowded and harried courtrooms in New York City, where Family Court judges, public officials, and lawyers are simply overwhelmed by the growing number of child abuse and neglect filings.

While New York City, and the state as well, have certainly taken positive action in the aftermath of the Nixzmary tragedy ,the number of children involved in abuse filings in a single year rose 63 per cent, to1,285, and the number of new neglect filings skyrocketed 163 per cent , to 11, 224., according to a New York Times Report of January 12^th.

Meanwhile, the number of family Court judges---set by state law at 47-has not changed since 1991.

Without question, the spotlight thrown on the subject by Nixzmary caused a significant jump in child abuse hotline calls. And, according to Gladys Carrion, State Office of Children and Family Services, New York's new Permanency Laws, requiring more frequent review of the cases of foster children contribute to the clogging of court calendars.

Editor's Note: There are, of course, complex questions of cause and effect in this area, where the statistics often overshadow and actually distort evidence of progress. New York is not alone, and to us at Child Advocacy 360, worth tracking in other venues where, in fact, the Nixzmary effect may not be present. We are hoping that the New York effort to unclog the system provides leadership, and good results, for others to follow.

Hershel Sarbin