Tag: Michigan law
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Michigan’s Newest Mandatory Reporters
There is growing concern right here in Michigan, and nationally, about unreported sexual abuse or neglect, specifically in children. In an effort to protect those victims, Michigan law will now make physical and occupational therapists and athletic trainers mandatory reporters of reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect. Michigan’s Child Protection Law designates certain professionals as…
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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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Home Visit by CPS Judge Wasn’t Permissible Says Supreme Court!
A recent case has made headlines in Michigan, after an Otsego County Family Court Judge chose to visit the home of a family involved in a termination of parental rights case. His reason for stopping by? To see for himself how the family was handling the situation, and whether or not the prosecution’s claims…
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Mandatory Reporting: A Teacher’s Nightmare!
A recent news article, while it isn’t an incident that is taking place in Michigan, perfectly illustrated something that could easily happen anywhere in the U.S. A teacher from Columbia County in Georgia has been arrested and accused of failing to report suspected child abuse to the proper authorities. In this particular case the teacher…
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Child Endangerment in Michigan: What You Need To Know
When someone has a few too many drinks and gets behind the wheel, they are likely to face drunk driving charges. However, if they have a few too many drinks and get behind the wheel of a car with a child in it, drunk driving charges are going to be the least of their concerns.…
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CPS Petitions in Michigan: What You Need To Know 3
In the previous installment in this series on CPS petitions, we looked at everything in the process that leads up to the trial. Moving forward, we are going to look at exactly what is involved in an abuse or neglect trial in family court. If you are only joining us now, we recommend that you…
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CPS Petitions in Michigan: What You Need To Know 2
In the previous installment in this series on Michigan’s Central Registry, also known as the Abuse and Neglect Registry, we have been discussing the court process for parents who are accused of abuse or neglect. Previously we looked at the first steps in the process, where the Judge may choose to conduct a preliminary inquiry,…
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CPS – The Best And Worst of Our Nation’s Child Welfare Programs 1
UNICEF’s Innocenti Research Centre did a study awhile back: ‘Measuring Child Poverty in the World’s Rich Countries‘. Sadly, the United States, one of the most wealthiest and most powerful nations in the developed world, ranked second on the child poverty list. How is that even possible? According to the Children’s Defense Fund, one fifth…