CPS (Child Protection Services)

Originally Posted by ppammela I do not think they should waste time investigating the caller first. The first priority should be making sure they child is safe. If it comes out during the investigation that the caller intentionally lied etc, then I do think there should be something they could be charged with, or at least sued for slander/harassment but there would have to be concrete proof they intentionally lied, otherwise I think it would cause too many people to hesitate calling CPS to report suspected child abuse.

I understand. Thank you. And this has nothing to do with child abuse, AT ALL.

[quote=Godzilla in Pa;10470490]Sorry, I think that taking the time to investigate the reporter first would put too many children in danger. There should be a very stiff penalty for knowingly make false reports.[/QUOTE]

Thank you - I agree.

Originally Posted by MrsM And I'll throw this in there too. The allegations are of domestic violence, the husband beating the wife up constantly, with a history of domestic violence. No charges against the child, just that the child lives in that kind of environment. If that is a total LIE, and you have proof that's never happened, i.e., no police reports, complaints, if the neighbors called, you would hope they would call the police if you were getting beat up - NOT CPS. Don't you think the CALLER to CPS should be held accountable for their actions?

An abusive home is an abusive home, it doesnt matter if only one person in the household is being beaten or the entire family is. The threat of violence, the mental toll that situation would cause, the trauma it would cause a child witnessing their mother being beat..... all IMO enough to remove the child from the home. (If the mother left the home then the child should be returned to her, but with some kind of supervision at least at first, to make sure she does not return to the abusive situation once again putting the child in danger or enduring trauma)

I don't think you know what your asking either.

The poll is asking if the caller should be investigated before CPS checks on the child.

Then you turned around and said that if the caller is lying they should be investigated. How would CPS know if the caller was lying unless they investigated first?

I can't answer the poll based on two different scenarios so I will not vote but just answer here.


CPS should investigate any claim first and then if the charges are totally false then the caller should have to have iron clad proof or face some kind of fine for taking up CPS's time that could have been spent on something substantial.

Originally Posted by tigerjen77 So you want CPS to take the time to FIRST look into the caller while in the meantime a child may be getting beaten to death? Obviously I do not think CPS should waste their time investigating the caller first. Besides being a huge time and money suck, it could mean that the little window of time to protect a child is gone.

If you read my whole thread, I'm not even talking about child abuse.

I understand why you all are saying about wasting time investigating the caller first - I get it. And I understand that they have to investigate, I do.

But what would you do in the end to the person who called them on you out of spite and mental illness?

Originally Posted by LadyT I don't think you know what your asking either. The poll is asking if the caller should be investigated before CPS checks on the child. Then you turned around and said that if the caller is lying they should be investigated. How would CPS know if the caller was lying unless they investigated first? I can't answer the poll based on two different scenarios so I will not vote but just answer here. CPS should investigate any claim first and then if the charges are totally false then the caller should have to have iron clad proof or face some kind of fine for taking up CPS's time that could have been spent on something substantial.

I'm saying they should have some sort of proof for their call...........especially if it doesn't have anything to do with a child in danger.

I've rephrased myself MANY times.

Forget about my FIRST post.

I will rephrase:

When a person calls CPS on you, and makes up a lie, after they investigate the "accused", don't you think they should turn around and investigate the "accuser"? And then when it is all over, and it is proven that the caller lied, don't you think there should be some kind of punishment?

UGH - I don't know if I'm making any sense- I am to me.

Originally Posted by MrsM Forget about my FIRST post. I will rephrase: When a person calls CPS on you, and makes up a lie, after they investigate the "accused", don't you think they should turn around and investigate the "accuser"? And then when it is all over, and it is proven that the caller lied, don't you think there should be some kind of punishment? UGH - I don't know if I'm making any sense- I am to me.

No, because it would be a waste of resources on an already overburdened system.

In a perfect world with unlimited resources, sure but in reality? No.

If it comes out during the normal course of an investigation that is different IMO.

Originally Posted by MrsM I'm saying they should have some sort of proof for their call...........especially if it doesn't have anything to do with a child in danger. I've rephrased myself MANY times.

But a domestic abuse situation where a child lives in the same home....does involve a child in danger. Abuse is not always as clear cut as physical, in fact I have seen mental/verbal abuse end up being much more traumatizing and damaging long term to a child than some kinds physical abuse.

Originally Posted by ppammela No, because it would be a waste of resources on an already overburdened system. In a perfect world with unlimited resources, sure but in reality? No. If it comes out during the normal course of an investigation that is different IMO.

But that's what I'm asking basically. During the course of the investigation, and all evidence is submitted, don't you think the accuser should be punished? That's basically what I'm asking I guess. I understand about the call and the process. Believe me....

I just don't like the fact that anyone can call CPS and make up a lie and get away with it (at first). But payback is a bitch, so they say.

Thanks everyone! Sorry if I was unclear.

Originally Posted by MrsM Forget about my FIRST post. I will rephrase: When a person calls CPS on you, and makes up a lie, after they investigate the "accused", don't you think they should turn around and investigate the "accuser"? And then when it is all over, and it is proven that the caller lied, don't you think there should be some kind of punishment? UGH - I don't know if I'm making any sense- I am to me.

When they investigate the accused they are already investigating the accuser (as in trying to substantiate their claim).

I said in my last post...

"CPS should investigate any claim first and then if the charges are totally false then the caller should have to have iron clad proof or face some kind of fine for taking up CPS's time that could have been spent on something substantial."

Originally Posted by MrsM I'm saying they should have some sort of proof for their call...........especially if it doesn't have anything to do with a child in danger. I've rephrased myself MANY times.

If the child isn't in any sort of danger why would they be callin' CPS?

Originally Posted by LadyT When they investigate the accused they are already investigating the accuser (as in trying to substantiate their claim). I said in my last post... "CPS should investigate any claim first and then if the charges are totally false then the caller should have to have iron clad proof or face some kind of fine for taking up CPS's time that could have been spent on something substantial."

Thank you I agree.

And I understand about a child being in a home of domestic violence...... I agree about that.

I just don't like that people can make up lies. Period.

Originally Posted by KISSaholic4life If the child isn't in any sort of danger why would they be callin' CPS?

Because they are a LIAR and mentally ill.

CPS showed up at my house once when my daughter was a teenager. No idea who called them or why. It was weird. So I figured ok well do your thing I have not done anything wrong. My daughter and I both sat there looking at her like WTF? She looked around checked our refrigerator. She said I have to make sure you have food. LOL I said look at us, we have TOO much food. LOL In the end she said I think this was a mistake and left. To this day I have no idea. Maybe they had the wrong house or something. If I did anything wrong it was to spoil my kid. She got everything she wanted as long as her school work was done and she was at least a B average.