It is an amazing website .
The first rule is SHUT UP, except to discuss the few things that are set forth below. Tell them nothing. You do not owe government agents any answers. Just like on the cop shows, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Count on it. There are several other things you must do, as well:- Get a recording device into action immediately.
- Don't let them into your home. All discussions should be through a window, or at least outside. Do not let them into your home without a warrant.
- Figure out who you are dealing with. Are they really social workers and police?
- Find out what the allegations are. Federal law now requires them to tell you.
- Next you have to figure out what their real authority is right now in this situation. Do they have a warrant, a court order for custody, a mysterious document called a "precept", or are they acting on emergency powers that they have decided to exercise. In many cases, the documents they have only demand you come to court at a later date, so you don't have to let them in.
- Finally, based on all the circumstances, you must figure out what to do. Can you hold them off, make them go away, escape, or do you have to let them in?
I wish I had known all this when they showed up at my house. They had no order, no warrant, nothing. They came in with 4 state troopers with their hands on their guns and took my children. Thank God they are out of our lives and my children are home, but there will always be that fear that something we do will be "wrong" and they will come back with the troopers again.
ReplyDeleteCPS (DCF) is something that no parent ever things to prepare for, but every parent should.
Glad they are home. ♥ \
ReplyDeleteIf only I had known ahead of time.