Mom's murders spark call for social services changes

The case of the New Cassel mother charged with the deaths of her three children has prompted a call for changes in the social case worker field by activist groups. Leatrice Brewer, 27, was charged Tuesday

News 12 Staff

Feb 29, 2008, 12:47 AM

Updated 6,262 days ago

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The case of the New Cassel mother charged with the deaths of her three children has prompted a call for changes in the social case worker field by activist groups.
Leatrice Brewer, 27, was charged Tuesday with murdering her three children earlier in the week. She pleaded not guilty. Brewer allegedly drowned the children, ages 1, 5 and 6. She remains in the hospital after jumping out of her apartment window following the alleged murders.
Corey Pegues, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE), says a red flag should have gone up to the case workers who visited Brewer?s home but didn?t make contact with her last week.
NOBLE says the social workers should have sought police involvement after visiting the home. The group wants the privacy laws they say prevented agencies from sharing information about the case to be loosened. NOBLE is also calling for a review of how case workers do their jobs. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi says an investigation that?s already under way will tackle those questions.
Local NAACP activist Douglas Mayor says the incident should lead to more responsiveness from the Nassau County Department of Social Services.
Thursday?s court appearance for Brewer was canceled while she remains in the hospital. She is due back in court March 7.