Category: Child Abuse
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Why You Can’t Use an Object to Spank a Child During Discipline
There are many parents in Michigan who discipline their children using some form of corporal punishment. Spanking, in most cases, takes the form of a smack administered by hand to a child’s bottom, and this is a form of discipline that Michigan law allows. Although, as you’ll remember from our previous article on corporal punishment,…
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How to Tell The Difference Between Child Abuse And Corporal Punishment
This is a tough subject. And not just because child abuse is an inflamatory subject, or because people have very strong opinions about whether or not corporal punishment is an acceptable form of discipline. This is a tough subject because, contrary to popular belief, the law isn’t actually as “black and white” as you’d think.…
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Are CPS Workers Now Also Mandatory Reporters For Animal Abuse in Michigan?
When people think of the words “CPS worker” and “mandatory reporter” they tend to think in terms of child abuse. Specifically, the fact that CPS workers are mandatory reporters themselves, and the fact that when a mandatory reporter calls in report suspect child abuse, it’s a CPS worker that shows up to investigate. But a…
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Should Michigan Child Abuse Laws Change For Cases Involving Vulnerable Children?
When a person is convicted of abusing or neglecting a child in Michigan, there are rather specific sentencing ranges that Judges have to use when sentencing them to prison. First Degree Child Abuse can be punished by up to life in prison, but Fourth Degree Child Abuse is only a misdemeanor, and doesn’t get more…
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Can Education Reduce Child Abuse Numbers in Michigan?
April was child abuse prevention month, and all over Michigan nonprofits and other organizations came together to raise awareness and funding to combat child abuse. Then, just a few short weeks ago, the Kids Count report was released, and we saw that the numbers for child abuse in Michigan have actually gone up in the…
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MCTF to Host Discussion Panel on Substance Abuse and Child Abuse
It has long been known that substance abuse and child abuse tend to go hand in hand. Parents trapped in a cycle of drug or alcohol abuse often make poor parenting choices – sometimes as a result of the substance they ingested, sometimes because of a lack of that very substance they’re addicted to, and…
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How CPS Handles Abuse Investigations When Drugs Are Involved (Pt 1)
Drug abuse, specifically opioid abuse, is a growing problem in Michigan. Stats show that between 1992 and 2006 the number of people admitted for drug-related health concerns tripled, and the numbers have only grown from there. More and more people are battling drug addictions these days, and when you stop to consider that many of…
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What is ‘Brittle Bone Disease’ And Why Does it Matter to CPS?(Pt 2)
Welcome back and thanks for joining us. We’ve been talking about brittle bone disease and how it’s been the cause of so many falsely accused parents here in Michigan. As we pointed out before, in the previous article, most cases of brittle bone disease happen when worried parents take their crying babies to hospital to…
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What is ‘Brittle Bone Disease’ And Why Does it Matter to CPS? (Pt 1)
You might never have even heard of it before. Many people haven’t. But ‘Brittle Bone Disease‘, which is also known as ‘Fragile Bone Syndrome’ is a very serious condition that has made life incredibly hard for many families over the years. How, you wonder? By having innocent children with undiagnosed medical conditions torn from their…
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Pontiac Mom Accused of Intentionally Burning Baby With Hot Water
When emergency responders first showed up at Carmen Ann Smith-Portee’s house, responding to a call about a burned baby, she told them the 1-year-old had climbed into the tub by himself. Shortly after that, when deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s department arrived at the scene, Smith-Portee told them the same story – that she…