Judge Rules In Favor Of Mass. In Foster Care Case

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled against a child advocacy group that alleged thousands of children in the Massachusetts foster care system were being abused and neglected.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge William Young ruled in favor of the state in a lawsuit brought by Children's Rights, a New York-based group.

The lawsuit alleged that the state Department of Children and Families had violated the constitutional rights of children by placing them in unstable and sometimes dangerous situations.

The DCF said the ruling reflects the hard work the state has done in recent years to increase adoptions, enhance foster care supports and lower caseloads for staff.

A lawyer for Children's Rights said the group is disappointed with the ruling, but hopes the state will take action to improve problems.