IntenseDebate - justice

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Documents show CPS was... · 1 reply · +2 points

Someone warned CPS the abuse would happen. Before it ever happened. "I suspect something" but have no details, disclosures. CPS did nothing. Ms Vedder, legally, what could CPS have done? What would they have investigated - you said yourself "BEFORE it happened". Cite the law that was not followed, please.

Ms. Vedder, can you tell us how many referrals are received in this state every year? I bet there's a lot of residents who would be surprised to learn that their family is actually in the CPS system from a ticked off neighbor, ex, mentally ill aquaintance, jealous lover, whatever, that called CPS in retaliation and that report simply did not meet the Administrative Code to launch an investigation.

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Documents show CPS was... · 0 replies · +1 points

Amen!

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Documents show CPS was... · 2 replies · +1 points

There is a protocol - sex abuse against a child is a criminal matter and CPS cannot interfere in criminal investigations until given the okay from law enforcement. If there is no evidence or disclosure that sex abuse occurred - law enforcement closes their investigation. What exactly can CPS (legally) do to protect the child at this point (and what would they be protecting the child from with no evidence or disclosure)? How could CPS get her out without kidnapping her?

The "professionals" who investigate are more than just a lone social worker - for sex abuse investigations there are police, detectives, medical professionals and a forensic interviewer.

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Documents show CPS was... · 6 replies · -5 points

Begs the question - where were you and the father in going to family court and presenting the evidence directly to the court to get a change in custody - IMMEDIATELY? Why does everyone expect CPS to take care of things when clearly those who have so much first hand knowledge and information can file a motion for an emergency hearing in family court, file for a protection order, or God forbid, find a way to fund their legal defense and hire an attorney?

Did you get the CPS worker's name that was smoking in the house? Did you call the Ombudsman's office and report this? Did you do anything other than run your mouth and diss all CPS workers because of what you allegedly saw, with one worker out of thousands, but did nothing to report at the moment?

If it took the GAL a minute - why did it take you four years? I'm going to guess the GAL has a lot more leniency and a lot less liability than a CPS worker.

Not every case is abuse or neglect - though many parenting practices are far what most of use would call appropriate. The mom called you to take the child to the doctor - well, under the law that is seen as being protective because the mom did do something. Smoking in your home isn't illegal. You should have reported the worker you saw smoking and shame on you for not filing a report.

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Documents show CPS was... · 2 replies · +3 points

Well said. Add to it these "investigative" so called - journalist who report more like tabloid headline grabbers rather than providing the full story that may actually promote intelligent discussions that is necessary to lead to positive change rather than reactive political knee jerk stupidity. Or people who make statements like tmb31 claiming that her niece told her teacher she was spanked and the police show up in handcuffs.

There's always bias when it comes to a family or friend who's ticked off - but what's Tracy Vedder's excuse for promoting more ignorance and prejudice rather than presenting unbiased factual news that encourage the audience to draw their own conclusions, opinions and bias?

Just the facts, Ms. Vedder. Just the facts. We, the public, don't need your inference to come to intelligent, well-informed conclusions. We should expect-and we should be provided - a genuine local "news" option - professional journalism that encourages people to think - or all we have left are a bunch of Ken Schrams and Geraldo Riveros.

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Attorney: ‘DSHS ... · 0 replies · +2 points

Section 8 housing is a Federal program. Once a candidate is lucky enough to get in - what incentive is there to pull up the boot straps and move on? Section 8 is NOT a State DSHS program.

What is the budget for the Fraud departments in Federal and State programs? How much in cutbacks have Fraud Divisions taken since 9/11/01?

Bandages and tough budgets that were inherited by trillions of dollars diverted to wars, Homeland Security - both that I can't even begin to calcuate the residual costs.

It took two Presidents before Osama was brought down, and thousands of lives - and the wars go on. Wow - but we expect DSHS to do what familes (that includes aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, neighbors, teachers - people who know families personally with regular contact) to protect the evil that happens against children at the hands of those who are suppose to protect them. Wow.

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Attorney: ‘DSHS ... · 0 replies · +1 points

What role do the legal rights of parents, attorneys, the law and due process, and the Judges have in the "broken system" you describe? Are they all paralyzed by DSHS?

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Attorney: ‘DSHS ... · 0 replies · +1 points

If the Authorities only have one shot - and if the mere suspicion was enough to place the child elsewhere, then why didn't the Authorities (law enforcement) place the child in protective custody that would have then given DSHS custody and the legal authority to place the child? We know that only Law Enforcement and the Court, not DSHS CPS, have the legal authority to remove a child - so, if it is that simple, why wasn't the child removed by the agency that had the one shot and the authority to do it?

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Attorney: ‘DSHS ... · 2 replies · +6 points

Last I knew of laws, policies, and such - DSHS can't touch sex abuse cases without law enforcement as it is a crime and there are special assault law enforcement professionals responsible to investigate and complete forensic interviews - I could be wrong but I thought sex crimes against children has a protocol and DSHS is to stay out until law enforcement has interviewed the alleged victim and secured the criminal investigation.

13 years ago @ KOMO - Seattle, WA - Preview: Investigation... · 0 replies · +3 points

Tracy - it'd be nice in your journalism investigations if you'd specifically identify what was done wrong and offer up suggestions to make positive changes.

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