Not me, gratefully. Not now.
But over the years, I have accumulated a host of friends who have ended up going head to head with this most feared of government agencies. I have one friend who had CPS called on her simply for the fact that some anonymous passerby thought that having children on a boat looked “dangerous”. The Sunderlands have had CPS called on them three times for daring to let their 16-year old circumnavigate. I assisted my midwife in intervening not once, but twice, in two different counties, when an OB threatened a pregnant woman with CPS if she did not agree to submit to an unnecessary cesarean for the OB’s convenience. I know a woman who accidentally hit her child (she was gesturing while talking, and he walked up) and she had to go to trial to keep him. I know a woman whose husband punched the OB who was literally ripping her placenta out of her, and their child was taken.
And now it’s happened again, with another friend, for the crime of daring to reach for help during a bout of depression, rather than keeping it to herself.
A mother in this culture cannot win. If you reach for help, CPS gets called, and you lose your children. If you do not call for help, you end up like Tina Zahn, or Andrea Yates.
This friend is in Texas, home of so many civil and human rights violations in the past few years. While I do not agree with the FLDS lifestyle, the things that were done to the FLDS were unspeakable, so it’s not surprising that my friend is being run through the wringer.
So, in tribute and solidarity with her and for everyone else like her, here are some tips:
- There are parent advocates that know how the system works, and can give inside advice (although not legal advice). Fortunately my friend in Texas found one that provides services totally free, although they do take donations.
- Contact state representatives and senators about the case, which can motivate CPS to move promptly (well, promptly for CPS).
- Here is a website of 10 things you must do if CPS targets your family. http://www.bransonlegal.com/10things.htm. EVERY parent should read it, even if they think there’s NO WAY they would ever be involved with CPS, because that is what every person I know also thought.
- Here’s a link that explains how the police (and CPS) can twist things you say, even if you’re totally innocent of what you’re being accused of: http://www.bransonlegal.com/Don%27t%20talk%20to%20the%20police.htm
So there you have it. Hopefully it’ll help someone you know.
No related posts.
This is great information. I found out the many things that I have already done wrong in my case with CPS. Although, I will say one thing about Sheriffs (not Police). A sheriff in your own community is more likely to treat you as a person and not assume your guilt. This is true if you treat them with respect. I have also admitting to speeding to a Sheriff and explained that I did not mean to but was upset for something the IRS had just done to me. I was not ticketed and the Sheriff told me to drive home slower and hoped that I got my problem solved. I would agree that you should be aware if the officer is asking you questions that admit guilt. A simple “I don’t know.” is acceptable to an officer and won’t be questioned. As in, asked and answered.
The authorities that I have found one should NEVER talk to is CPS. CPS takes an innocent statement and rewrites it in the most sinister way that sounds the worst it possible can. I also warn, do not give out excesses of information, they will also find a way to use it against you. As well, do not beleive that your children said things against you just because a CPS worker said so or it is written. Children’s statements are also changed to sound horrible in an effort to make a judge sign papers to take or keep your children. CPS workers are trained to lie about things to get a reaction. Remember that if your child is being taken from you that your first responses are made in a state of shock. I personally only remember half of what I said that day.
Be polite to authorities but don’t talk. Ask for a lawyer or tell them that you want to talk to a lawyer before talking.
Good job… I learned a lot.