Your child may have fallen off the monkey bars at the playground. You brought your child to a doctor or a hospital and the doctor or hospital personnel may feel your child was not properly being supervised when the injury took place. Thereafter they report you to CPS or ACS. Injuries such as these are part of growing up for a child. However there are injuries that can be misinterpreted and create significant problems for parents who are subject to ACS or CPS investigations. You need to be careful with regard to what you say to a CPS or ACS investigator. Your words can be misinterpreted by the investigator. The investigator may reach the conclusion you did not properly supervise your child which can lead to your being accused of “lack of guardianship”.
Smoking Marijuana
Whether smoking marijuana is legal or illegal in a state, it is not looked upon affirmatively by CPS or ACS investigators. Being high on marijuana, being intoxicated from alcoholic beverages, or being high on prescription drugs while a parent is supposed to be taken care of or supervising their children can be the basis of the CPS or ACS finding for lack of appropriate guardianship. Parents should be careful if an investigator comes to their home and asks if they use marijuana or drink alcoholic beverages. There have been numerous cases where children have been injured while parents have been high. Gummies involving the active ingredients in marijuana should never be in a in a location where they can be accessible by a child. Children will think they are candy and they will try to get them and consume them.
CPS and ACS Investigations can be a family nightmare. Hopefully you’ll never be exposed to these investigations, but if you are the best first step is to contact an attorney that handles CPS or ACS legal defense.
Elliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is the managing partner of Schlissel DeCorpo LLP. He has been practicing law for 42 years. Elliot, his partner Nathan DeCorpo, and their associates represent individuals in child abuse and child neglect investigations throughout the Metropolitan New York area. The law firm has been involved in handling these cases for more than 45 years. Elliot, Nathan and their associates have extensive experience dealing with scores of cases and successfully defending their clients regarding allegations of child abuse and child neglect. Elliot and Nathan can be reached at 800-344-6431 or e-mail Elliot at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or Nathan at Ndecorpo@sdnylaw.com.
