Tucson, Arizona: CPS e-mails raise new questions in handling of2 young siblings, Many of the docum

CPS e-mails raise new questions in handling of 2 young siblings

By Josh Brodesky

arizona daily star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.20.2007

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/192631.php

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E-mails sent between Child Protective Services employees raise new

questions about whether the agency followed its own guidelines by

keeping Ariana and Tyler Payne with their father, despite a court order

giving custody to their mother.

The e-mails, which were among roughly 1,500 pages of records released to

the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday, also show the Arizona Center for

Disability Law is investigating the death earlier this year of

5-year-old Brandon Williams.

They indicate the state's Risk Management Office and Attorney General

are preparing for an anticipated claim and/or lawsuit in the deaths of

two of the children, although the names are among hundreds of items that

have been blacked out in the documents.

CPS has been in the media spotlight since this spring following the

deaths of the two Tucson children, and the disappearance of another,

with whom the agency had some type of involvement.

One of the key questions in the Payne case is what steps CPS must take

to supersede a court order for custody, and place a child with the

noncustodial parent.

"If the noncustodial parent wants the child placed with them, a home

study is done, a CPS and criminal background is done on all adults in

the home," says an e-mail exchange between officials who were crafting

an answer to a reporter's question.

But in the Payne case there has been little evidence those steps were taken.

CPS officials say the agency didn't place 4-year-old Ariana and

5-year-old Tyler Payne with their father, who is charged with killing

them. Jamie Hallam, their mother, sent them for a visit.

However, when Hallam called police for help retrieving her children when

the father didn't return them, a CPS worker directed police to leave

them with their father and to not enforce the court order. Ariana's body

was found Feb. 18. Tyler has not been found.

A CPS case summary says Payne was not the subject of any abuse

allegations, but there's no indication they checked his background,

which has a lengthy arrest record.

Brandon Williams, who was autistic, died in March as a result of a skull

fracture, but he also had a large amount of over-the-counter medication

in his system.

His mother Diane Marsh, and a roommate, Flower Tompson, have been

charged with his murder.

The Arizona Center for Disability Law opened an investigation into

Brandon's death in April following local news stories.

That investigation largely focuses on what services were offered or

applied for with the state's Division of Developmental Disabilities. It

is also looking at correspondence between CPS and developmental

disabilities workers regarding Brandon's death, as well as reports and

action plans.

Many of the documents show a preoccupation with the media, or were

simply forwarding exchanges of news articles, commenting on them or

discussing how to handle questions.

They were obtained as part of the Star's lawsuit for access to

complete CPS case files.

CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A

DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL

SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...

It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even

killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from

connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US

These numbers come from The National Center on

Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)

Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

Perpetrators of Maltreatment

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59

Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13

Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241

Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12

Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that

are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per

100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse

and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the

citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold

parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY

government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and

death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more

human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which

they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that

they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when

children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a

bunch of social workers.

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF

REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES

TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY

ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...