This blog focuses on the DC child neglect and abuse laws and some of the procedural aspect of a court involved case. Generally a child neglect and abuse case commences with reporting of some kind to the CFSA (“Child and Family Services”). There are those who are according to the DC Neglect Statute are mandatory reporters. The school and all those involved and have contact with the child at school setting, doctor’s offices, social workers, hospitals, police officers, etc. Regardless, when a report to hotline has been made, an investigative social worker is assigned to conduct a preliminary investigation. That
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Archives for dc child abuse and neglect lawyer
DC CHILD CUSTODY LITIGATION: WHAT IS THE BEST INTEREST CRITERIA
This blog highlights specifically the legal definition of the “best interest of the child” as relates to DC child custody litigation: All cases involving and relating to the children in family matters; termination of parental rights/adoption, guardianship and child custody and neglect – all invariably use the “best interest of the child” criteria as a paramount factor in the reaching the final order and the legal analysis substantiating that order. The court looks at different but similar legal elements in each family matter to define the “best interest of the child” criteria. In balancing relevant factors in a DC child
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DC ADOPTION LAWS: LEGAL PARAMETERS: DC ADOPTION LAWYER
DC adoptions can be categorized as Child and Family Services (“CFSA”) involved or private adoptions. The legal paradigm remains the same. The CFSA involvement could and generally does complicate the process as there are additional requirements to make the child eligible for the federal subsidy. Such requirements are adoption licensing, home study/visits, Interstate Compact (“ICPC”) when applicable, adoption final report, adoption subsidy agreement, federal and state police as well as Child Protection Registry (“CPS” ) clearances just to name a few. Once the CFSA procedural requirements are met, there still remains the legal threshold to completing the adoption and entering
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RETURN FOR REWARD DEFENSE; NEW COURT OF APPEALS RULING
The Court of Appeals on a second remand on August 20, 2015, in LIHLAKHA v. U.S., clarifies further the return for reward defense for receiving stolen property (RSP) conviction. Lihlakha was convicted at trial for RSP and her defense and arguments on appeal focused on return for reward defense. The Court on the first review outlined for the first time the elements needed to successfully assert the defense: Specifically, the defense will be satisfied if the evidence shows that: “(1) The reward had been announced, or was believed to have been announced, before the property was possessed or agreed to
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PARENTAL FITNESS DEFINED; RECENT COURT OF APPEALS DECISION: DC CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER
The DC Court of Appeals in IN RE PETITION OF S.L.G & S.E.G.; D.A. (No. 14-FS-73) decided on March 5, 2015; once again reiterated and cemented the presumption of parental fitness in a contested adoption proceedings. The case is significant as the Court defined and expanded on the definition of “fitness” and outlined the legal criteria the trial court must use in rendering an opinion. The appellant biological mother contested the adoption petition by the foster family S.E.G. and S.L.G. Evidence established that the child was in the foster home for over two years, well integrated in the home and
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COURT OF APPEALS REVERSES ON 4TH AMENDMENT GROUNDS
In the recent Court of Appeals case: In re D.M. (11-FS—1125) decided on July 10, 2014, the Court reversed the lower court conviction for second- degree burglary, felony destruction of property, and second-degree theft based on 4th amendment violations. Essentially DM and other juveniles were indentified breaking into a property and removing items from the home. DM was seen at the scene by an eyewitness and a look out was broadcasted. Subsequently DM was located and held by the detective pending a show up by the eyewitness. The Court justified in reversing the convictions and holding that there was an
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RECENT COURT OF APPEALS RULING REVERSING TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS (TPR) —
In the recent opinion issued by the Court of Appeals in IN RE D.M.; T.M., (March 13, 2014), the Court once again articulated that when a biological parent is unable to care for his or her child, her choice of a fit custodian must be given a weighty articulated consideration by the trial court. T.M., the biological mother of D.M., appealed successfully her termination of parental rights by the trial court. She argued on appeal that the lower court erred by “failing to give weighty consideration to the third-party custodial arrangement” she set forth as a placement option and in
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DC MARIJUNA USE/POSSESSION LAWS AND THE PROPOSED/ENACTED BILL:
Currently the criminal Statute in the District penalizes simple possession of marijuana and the imposed penalties are maximum 180 days/$1000 fine, specifically: “It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled substance unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his or her professional practice … any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor…” Incidentally the possession with intent to distribute marijuana on the first offense carries the same penalty as long as the amount is less
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De Facto Parent/Third Party Custody Actions: Legal Principles and Recent Relevant Court of Appeals Case:
In the District, the child custody statute extends rights upon third party and de factor parent custodians. That is, if an individual can establish by clear and convincing evidence that he/she is either a de facto parent or a third party custodian of a child – then the Statute allows for filing and litigating the custody action against the parent seeking order for grant of physical/legal custody to the third party custodian or to the de factor parent. Specifically, de facto parent is defined as an individual who has either: (i) Lived with the child in the same household at
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RECENT COURT OF APPEALS REVERSAL ON INSUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
The Court of Appeals in a recent decision issued on December 19, 2013, James M. Schools v. US (12-CM-1448) reversed the conviction for unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition. Specifically, the jury had convicted the appellant Schools of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Factually, the defendant was found in the back room of a two bedroom apartment during a search warrant. The apartment was occupied by other individuals, and although the defendant was found in control and possession of the narcotics found, the weapon and ammunition was
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