REPORT FINDINGS

• Some of the older Turpins had trouble getting housing and food while finding it difficult to access money donated by the public.

• The Public Guardian's office did not attempt until recently to obtain more than $1 million in donations to the Turpins that was held by two charities.

• Some of the younger Turpin children were placed with caregivers who were later charged with child abuse. Better oversight of placements is needed.

• High turnover, high caseloads and low pay in county social services agencies make it difficult for caseworkers to provide quality care.

• The Public Guardian and County Counsel are reluctant to share information, making care coordination challenging.

Spiegel

The 13 Turpin siblings found chained and horribly abused in a Perris home often got the care they needed from Riverside County, but “all too often the social services system failed them,” concludes a massive report released Friday by a law

Jeffries firm hired by the county.

In addition, the county's Public Guardian office, which looks after vulnerable adults, failed to obtain and distribute more than $1 million raised for the Turpin children's benefit, which “may have resulted in food and housing insecurity for at least some of the Turpin siblings, in direct contravention of

“Our duty is to ensure that our most vulnerable communities are receiving the care and protection they deserve. I am dedicated to making sure we have the tools, resources and staffing to provide that care.” — Karen Spiegel, Riverside County supervisor

“We need to remember that our most vulnerable need immediate and effective help — not delays or inaction because of a fear of violating some overzealous regulation or a bureaucrat's hard line interpretation of the law.” — Kevin Jeffries, Riverside County supervisor