Social Worker in Chokey

The following is reported from Kentucky.

Faced with conflicting court appearances on the same day in late June, state social worker Aaron Jackson said he followed a supervisor’s directive to attend family court in Jefferson County and notify Bullitt County court officials that he’d miss a child-welfare hearing there.  Jackson, 29, a two-year worker with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said he was stunned to wind up in jail a week later — after an angry Bullitt County judge jailed him for 24 hours for contempt of court. He said he was equally shocked to get no immediate legal help or support from his agency. Supervisors advised of the judge’s intentions initially advised Jackson to “turn yourself in,” and afterward told him he had to use vacation hours to cover his time in jail.

I know some UK Judges who might be tempted to follow suit and some UK social workers who should take careful note if they want to avoid sharing Aaron Jackson’s unfortunate experience