I’m sure you’ve read about the mega-custody case in Texas. The state removed over 400 children from the compound of a fundamentalist Mormon sect which believes in polygamy. The leader of the sect is already serving time for forcing an underage girl to have sex with her cousin.
Was the State of Texas justified in forcibly removing these children? Yesterday, a state court of appeals ruled that child protective services committed a mighty big error in taking those kids away. The appeals court said there wasn’t enough evidence that any or all of the children had been abused in any way.
BRAVO! It seems that Texas child protective services are like those of so many other states. Maybe they mean well, but often it seems their motto for parents is “You’re guilty until proven innocent.” Many workers don’t know what they’re doing, their clinical judgment is lousy, or they rely too heavily on so-called “professionals” who think they have a straight line to The Truth. CPS workers make lots of mistakes. They also save kids. But it’s catch-as-catch-can when it comes to the competence of these people.
CPS is now appealing this case to the Texas Supreme Court. Let’s hope those judges affirm the decision of the appeals court. Those kids should be returned home – it’s their home. Their parents. Their lives.
I’ll tell you some stories from my clinical experience next time.
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