A case for self-defense against Child Protective Services

A case for self-defense against Child Protective Services

In an ongoing case described in three articles at Reason, Danielle Meitiv, a Maryland mother of two was reported to Child Protective Services for letting her children, ages 10 and 6, play in a park two blocks from their house and walk to and from unsupervised by an adult. Two agents showed up at her house to inform her that this is illegal. (In fact, it is not illegal, let alone immoral.) She then called CPS and was told that “judges have interpreted the law to include parks—in spite of the fact that the language is VERY clear about enclosed spaces—so a cop could charge us $500, or a judge could give us 30 days in jail, if my daughter is without supervision at the park.” We have a mother who wants her children to learn to operate independently and get some exercise. The state, on the other hand, would rather use the fact that she is not with them every step of the way as a pretext for extortion or kidnapping and caging. The reasoning here boggles the mind; “spend time with your kids or we'll make sure you can't for a month!,” say the agents of the state.