If you’ve had any dealings with CPS, then you know they take their work very seriously (as they should!) But what about when they’re totally incorrect? What about the times when they investigate innocent parents and make false allegations against families who haven’t done anything wrong. Sounds crazy? And yet it happens a lot in Michigan!
Because they take EVERY investigation seriously, and they assume that every allegation made has some truth to it, if your family has been placed under the CPS microscope, then you better believe they’re looking for anything that could support their theories about you as a parent. Anything! So you have to be careful. With that in mind we created this list of what YOU should do if CPS is investigating you.
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Don’t say anything to a CPS worker until you’ve talked to your attorney!
We cannot stress this enough! Which is why we put it first on the list! You may greet a CPS worker when they show up at your door or call you on the phone. You can politely introduce yourself, and you can ask them questions courteously. But that’s it. DO NOT provide them with ANY information about your children, yourself, or your family.
Please believe us when we say that it may seem counterintuitive not to argue, or to explain what really happened so you can set the story straight, but YOU MUSTN’T! Do not speculate about what situation or circumstance might have been misinterpreted and led to false allegations against you! Do not answer their questions, or provide them with details, or have a “friendly conversation” about ANYTHING until you have spoken to your attorney! And just in case we weren’t clear: if CPS contacts you, call us BEFORE you talk to them about ANYTHING!
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Take the allegations seriously, just like they do!
CPS has a lot of power. They can put you on the state child abuse registry, take your children out of your home, and make it incredibly difficult for you to get them back. They can accuse you of crimes and use sneaky and ethically unsound measures for collecting evidence against you. In extreme cases, they can strip you of your right to parent your children.
So if CPS is investigating you for allegations of abuse or neglect, you need to take that investigation very seriously! Don’t blow it off, ignore it, or assume that “the truth will out.” Because it often doesn’t. So don’t assume that they have no idea what they’re talking about, or that because they’re wrong, the issue will resolve itself. There are many innocent parents in jail today who took that approach and regretted it!
Do you need help from an experienced CPS defense attorney in Michigan?
Unfortunately, many good parents come under CPS scrutiny at one point or another, and have no idea how to handle it. They try to explain themselves, assume that if they can only have a rational talk about the misunderstanding, everything will be cleared up. But that kind of thinking, while perfectly understandable, is what gets people into trouble. CPS isn’t rational. They don’t operate under the same guidelines as caring parents. They look at every child and see a victim, look at every parent and see an abuser. You cannot use logic when dealing with CPS. You have to fight fire with fire. You need an attorney!
If you or a loved one have been accused of neglecting or abusing a child, then defending and protecting yourself and your family needs to be your primary objective. Call The Kronzek Firm immediately at 866 766 5245 to discuss your case with an experienced CPS defense attorney who understands and can help. If you are simply trying to prepare yourself, then join us again next time, for the next few items on the list! You’ll be glad you did.