Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

[Anonymous]

Was anyone else disgusted by the WaPo article today?

It was extremely one sided and only presented the viewpoints of those who support the Meitivs.

There are many very well spoken posters here who are not supporters: would you consider writing a letter to the editor of the WaPo?

I am appalled by the lack of balance shown by the WaPo, but don't feel up to the task of writing a letter myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This has nothing to do with coddling or agreeing with your opinon. It is a matter of understanding how the system works. Whether you like it or not, this family was already entangled with CPS, therefore once the kids were picked up, they had to take them back to the station for CPS to make an evaluation as to next steps.
Maybe the kids are not being "neglected", I don't think they are, but that was the nature of the previous investigation and now you have another report about the kids being out and about, CPS is OBLIGATED to investigate at the time and cannot just give the kids back. IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.
This protects ALL KIDS, most especially the ones who are being abused. Just because you do not like, just because you do not like that this family is entangled with the system, does not mean you can circumvent the process. What do you not get about that?
It has nothing to do with not agreeing with anything -- it's about how the system works. Use your brain

What many of us are upset about is the idea that letting your 10 and 6 year old out of your sight will trigger an investigation by CPS.

I have had friends with brief not-very-painful interactions with CPS and acquaintances who have had extended interactions with CPS. I certainly would not ever want to be entangled with the system or CPS. But why should two children walking along a sidewalk trigger entanglement with the system and CPS? That's what we're getting hung up on.

People can argue all day about whether or not the state regulations apply to these kids being alone at the park. However, it is abundantly clear that this family was told not to do it again, and they did. And knowing how the system works, I think it was piss ass funky ass judgement by this family to do it again and chance losing their kids. Maybe they are the type who are so smart, they're stupid(as grandma used to say). I could thing of 100 ways to fight this without chancing losing my kids.
I could have staged a sit in at CPS and the State House, but i bet they would not have found my kids alone at that playground, makes me lose all sorts of credibility, weakens my argument and makes me look more like a grandstanding malcontent than someone with a legitimate and solid concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because the parents are known to the system and refuse to comply with a safety plan for the kids. They already had an agreement and refused to follow it. The parents set this up to sue and win. It is not about the kids or their needs and all about the parents. They are failing to provide proper supervision to their kids. That is neglect. It does not matter where. If the kids were playing hard and walking a mile they should have water on them.

How do you know that they had a safety plan? How do you know what was in the safety plan?

As for the water -- I guess you can add that to the list of ways it used to be normal to neglect your children. Parents let kids walk places without parental supervision AND without water!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
People can argue all day about whether or not the state regulations apply to these kids being alone at the park. However, it is abundantly clear that this family was told not to do it again, and they did. And knowing how the system works, I think it was piss ass funky ass judgement by this family to do it again and chance losing their kids. Maybe they are the type who are so smart, they're stupid(as grandma used to say). I could thing of 100 ways to fight this without chancing losing my kids.
I could have staged a sit in at CPS and the State House, but i bet they would not have found my kids alone at that playground, makes me lose all sorts of credibility, weakens my argument and makes me look more like a grandstanding malcontent than someone with a legitimate and solid concern.

Based on what? What did CPS tell the parents, and how do you know this?

Also, you bring up two separate arguments:

1. Did the parents show poor judgment in doing this?
2. Is it child neglect, according to state laws and regulations, to let your children walk home from the park?

I'm not very interested in question #1. I could disapprove of them all day long, and it wouldn't make any difference in my life or theirs. It's question #2 that matters, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
People can argue all day about whether or not the state regulations apply to these kids being alone at the park. However, it is abundantly clear that this family was told not to do it again, and they did. And knowing how the system works, I think it was piss ass funky ass judgement by this family to do it again and chance losing their kids. Maybe they are the type who are so smart, they're stupid(as grandma used to say). I could thing of 100 ways to fight this without chancing losing my kids.
I could have staged a sit in at CPS and the State House, but i bet they would not have found my kids alone at that playground, makes me lose all sorts of credibility, weakens my argument and makes me look more like a grandstanding malcontent than someone with a legitimate and solid concern.

Based on what? What did CPS tell the parents, and how do you know this?

Also, you bring up two separate arguments:

1. Did the parents show poor judgment in doing this?
2. Is it child neglect, according to state laws and regulations, to let your children walk home from the park?

I'm not very interested in question #1. I could disapprove of them all day long, and it wouldn't make any difference in my life or theirs. It's question #2 that matters, in my opinion.

They signed an agreement with CPS not to do it -- sheesh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
People can argue all day about whether or not the state regulations apply to these kids being alone at the park. However, it is abundantly clear that this family was told not to do it again, and they did. And knowing how the system works, I think it was piss ass funky ass judgement by this family to do it again and chance losing their kids. Maybe they are the type who are so smart, they're stupid(as grandma used to say). I could thing of 100 ways to fight this without chancing losing my kids.
I could have staged a sit in at CPS and the State House, but i bet they would not have found my kids alone at that playground, makes me lose all sorts of credibility, weakens my argument and makes me look more like a grandstanding malcontent than someone with a legitimate and solid concern.

Based on what? What did CPS tell the parents, and how do you know this?

Also, you bring up two separate arguments:

1. Did the parents show poor judgment in doing this?
2. Is it child neglect, according to state laws and regulations, to let your children walk home from the park?

I'm not very interested in question #1. I could disapprove of them all day long, and it wouldn't make any difference in my life or theirs. It's question #2 that matters, in my opinion.

They signed an agreement with CPS not to do it -- sheesh

The agreement applied while the previous investigation was in progress. The investigation was closed. The CPS has no grounds to tell them where their children can walk once it's closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
People can argue all day about whether or not the state regulations apply to these kids being alone at the park. However, it is abundantly clear that this family was told not to do it again, and they did. And knowing how the system works, I think it was piss ass funky ass judgement by this family to do it again and chance losing their kids. Maybe they are the type who are so smart, they're stupid(as grandma used to say). I could thing of 100 ways to fight this without chancing losing my kids.
I could have staged a sit in at CPS and the State House, but i bet they would not have found my kids alone at that playground, makes me lose all sorts of credibility, weakens my argument and makes me look more like a grandstanding malcontent than someone with a legitimate and solid concern.

Based on what? What did CPS tell the parents, and how do you know this?

Also, you bring up two separate arguments:

1. Did the parents show poor judgment in doing this?
2. Is it child neglect, according to state laws and regulations, to let your children walk home from the park?

I'm not very interested in question #1. I could disapprove of them all day long, and it wouldn't make any difference in my life or theirs. It's question #2 that matters, in my opinion.

They signed an agreement with CPS not to do it -- sheesh

Only just this time did they sign that form after being coerced and not telling them where their kids were or letting them see them once they found out. If you think that is the way government should be telling us to raise our kids?

A 6yr and 10yr old should and can be allowed to walk to a park or anywhere else. There is no law in place that say they are not allowed to do this. CPS over stepped their protocol and they are going to get burned on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They signed an agreement with CPS not to do it -- sheesh

How do you know this? I haven't found it in any news reports. Maybe it is in a news report that I missed? If so, could you please post the news report?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Cops and CPS
I, for one, that wants things to be checked out when there is a report of kids in possible harm's way. Look into it, and if it is unfounded, so be it. Just like that horrible story of the kid in
Arizona, I think. He was being horribly abused, he called 911. Cops come to the house and the mom and boyfriend convinced the cops nothing was going on.
Within weeks, they murdered that kid.

But in this case, somebody else called 911 because there were two children at a park who then started walking home, and their clothes looked dirty.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/15/listen-to-the-911-call-that-led-cops-to-take-the-free-range-kids-into-custody/

What difference does that make?\
The point is, if there is a call about kids, it needs to be checked out. Maybe you find out the caller is a kook, maybe you find out it was a false alarm, maybe you find out that the kids are in real trouble, but you have to investigate to come to any of these conclusions.

Sure. And the police officer could have checked out the call by talking to the kids and then concluding that everything was ok. It isn't necessary to respond to every call with police/CPS custody and a CPS investigation.

There had already been two reports, so apparently the names were flagged that CPS needed to be informed of any future police contact. CPS is there to protect kids who need help, who have no one to speak up for them. The only way to determine which kids need help and which kids do not is to investigate situations that are brought to their attention. The fact that CPS exists shows that our society values children and cares about their welfare when their families can not for whatever reasons.

Okay. We agree that CPS has a good mission. We agree that CPS should exist.

CPS has already interacted with this family, so they already know their names. They already know that the children walk home unaccompanied. Why detain them for hours, when they find them doing that?

BECAUSE CPS JUST NOT JUST SAY 'OH, WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE, WE'VE HAD A FILE ON THESE PEOPLE, SO LET'S JUST TAKE THE KIDS HOME'
IT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS
IT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS
WHAT IN THE CRAP DO YOU PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND????????
Are you playing stupid or do you really and truly think once you interact with CPS they are just going to turn ur kids back over to you easy, peasy?

Why the capital letters? Are you 13. You need to step away from the computer and take a deep breath. Not everyone agrees with your opinion. So what? The parents were never charged before and they won't be charged again. It really bothers you that some parents don't coddle their kids or do whatever someone tells them to do without question. We get it. No big deal.

This has nothing to do with coddling or agreeing with your opinon. It is a matter of understanding how the system works. Whether you like it or not, this family was already entangled with CPS, therefore once the kids were picked up, they had to take them back to the station for CPS to make an evaluation as to next steps.
Maybe the kids are not being "neglected", I don't think they are, but that was the nature of the previous investigation and now you have another report about the kids being out and about, CPS is OBLIGATED to investigate at the time and cannot just give the kids back. IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.
This protects ALL KIDS, most especially the ones who are being abused. Just because you do not like, just because you do not like that this family is entangled with the system, does not mean you can circumvent the process. What do you not get about that?
It has nothing to do with not agreeing with anything -- it's about how the system works. Use your brain

Yes we have confirmed that she is indeed 13, or at least acts and types like one.

[Anonymous]

This is such BS. My kids had classmates at their DC public elementary that took the bus home ALONE at 4th and 5th grade.

[Anonymous]

Since when has two kids walking anywhere count as neglect? I walked to school with a sibling and home alone after half day kindergarten. I was 5yrs old. Why are we acting like this is dangerous? I think if the parents feel they can do this and the kids are okay doing it, it should be no one else's business. How sad is it that CPS is involved in something so trivial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Cops and CPS
I, for one, that wants things to be checked out when there is a report of kids in possible harm's way. Look into it, and if it is unfounded, so be it. Just like that horrible story of the kid in
Arizona, I think. He was being horribly abused, he called 911. Cops come to the house and the mom and boyfriend convinced the cops nothing was going on.
Within weeks, they murdered that kid.

But in this case, somebody else called 911 because there were two children at a park who then started walking home, and their clothes looked dirty.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/15/listen-to-the-911-call-that-led-cops-to-take-the-free-range-kids-into-custody/

What difference does that make?\
The point is, if there is a call about kids, it needs to be checked out. Maybe you find out the caller is a kook, maybe you find out it was a false alarm, maybe you find out that the kids are in real trouble, but you have to investigate to come to any of these conclusions.

Sure. And the police officer could have checked out the call by talking to the kids and then concluding that everything was ok. It isn't necessary to respond to every call with police/CPS custody and a CPS investigation.

There had already been two reports, so apparently the names were flagged that CPS needed to be informed of any future police contact. CPS is there to protect kids who need help, who have no one to speak up for them. The only way to determine which kids need help and which kids do not is to investigate situations that are brought to their attention. The fact that CPS exists shows that our society values children and cares about their welfare when their families can not for whatever reasons.

Okay. We agree that CPS has a good mission. We agree that CPS should exist.

CPS has already interacted with this family, so they already know their names. They already know that the children walk home unaccompanied. Why detain them for hours, when they find them doing that?

BECAUSE CPS JUST NOT JUST SAY 'OH, WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE, WE'VE HAD A FILE ON THESE PEOPLE, SO LET'S JUST TAKE THE KIDS HOME'
IT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS
IT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS
WHAT IN THE CRAP DO YOU PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND????????
Are you playing stupid or do you really and truly think once you interact with CPS they are just going to turn ur kids back over to you easy, peasy?

Why the capital letters? Are you 13. You need to step away from the computer and take a deep breath. Not everyone agrees with your opinion. So what? The parents were never charged before and they won't be charged again. It really bothers you that some parents don't coddle their kids or do whatever someone tells them to do without question. We get it. No big deal.

This has nothing to do with coddling or agreeing with your opinon. It is a matter of understanding how the system works. Whether you like it or not, this family was already entangled with CPS, therefore once the kids were picked up, they had to take them back to the station for CPS to make an evaluation as to next steps.
Maybe the kids are not being "neglected", I don't think they are, but that was the nature of the previous investigation and now you have another report about the kids being out and about, CPS is OBLIGATED to investigate at the time and cannot just give the kids back. IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.
This protects ALL KIDS, most especially the ones who are being abused. Just because you do not like, just because you do not like that this family is entangled with the system, does not mean you can circumvent the process. What do you not get about that?
It has nothing to do with not agreeing with anything -- it's about how the system works. Use your brain

Yes we have confirmed that she is indeed 13, or at least acts and types like one.

yes and this truly hurts my feelings -- LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is such BS. My kids had classmates at their DC public elementary that took the bus home ALONE at 4th and 5th grade.

Kids in 3rd grade and higher take the NY subway to school on their own. You can only apply for a parent card for ages K-2nd with no older sibling in same school. Not allowing parents to decide when their own kids are capable of doing things is so wrong. It amazes me how people just blindly follow everything they are told, when it is not a law. I am glad this family is putting up a fight. I am behind them 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when has two kids walking anywhere count as neglect? I walked to school with a sibling and home alone after half day kindergarten. I was 5yrs old. Why are we acting like this is dangerous? I think if the parents feel they can do this and the kids are okay doing it, it should be no one else's business. How sad is it that CPS is involved in something so trivial.

Here are the responses you will get to your question:

1. Five-year-olds have never walked places by themselves.
2. Your parents were neglectful and lazy.
3. The world is more dangerous now because [reasons].
4. We didn't used to have car seats, but now we do.
5. What if a parent thought it was ok to sell a 12-year-old for sex?

[Anonymous]

Who knows, for some reason the dog walker thought the kids were endangered and called the police.
The kids do have a very disheveled, unkempt look to them, so maybe that was why he/she called the police.