Tucson, Arizona -- News 4 investigations lead to changes at CPS

News 4 investigations lead to changes at CPS

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7594855&nav=HMO6

We have a first look at some of the changes that could be coming to
child protective services, the result of several News 4 investigations.

It all started when 4-year-old Ariana Payne's body was found in a
midtown Tucson storage facility last February.

Her 5-year-old brother, Tyler Payne, is also presumed dead, but his
remains have never been found.

Then, last March, 5-year-old Brandon Williams was beaten to death.

All three children had ties to Child Protective Services (CPS), and the
agency concerns didn't stop there.

In May, News 4 also blew the lid off of a tightly held scandal, that a
CPS supervisor was openly dating a convicted child abuser. That woman
has since left the agency.

In all, these three investigations prompted a Tucson lawmaker to hold
public hearings in Phoenix. Right now, Jonathan Paton and his
colleagues are still fine-tuning the bills.

"You can't stop the evil in people's hearts," says Representative Paton.
"You can't legislate that... It's a terrible tragedy... If there's any
good that could come out of this, it would be that there would be
reforms to protect other children."

Representative Paton is proposing a few bills to lift the so-called veil
of secrecy hiding CPS activity. For example, when a child dies, their
CPS file would automatically be public record, avoiding court battles
like News 4 had for Ariana and Tyler Payne.

Also, all state employees facing disciplinary action would be treated
just like city and county workers. Remember, the only reason News 4
found out about the CPS supervisor dating a convicted child abuser, is
because an anonymous source mailed us the document that proved it.

"No matter what agency it is," says Rep. Paton, "we have to have more
openness."

Another bill would address the lack of communication between beat
officers and CPS. For example: right now, if an officer pulls over a
vehicle, he may not know the child in the backseat is considered missing.

"When I was in Iraq," Rep. Paton tells us, "there was better
communication with Coalition forces and the Iraqi Army than there is
with TPD and CPS or the Sheriff's Department. That bothers me greatly."

Yet another bill would give CPS more power to find children in peril.
That means more access to information. Paton thinks this could have
saved Brandon Williams.

"There are between 400 and 700 kids in the state of Arizona every year
that CPS cannot find; that they suspect of being abused. That's an
astonishing statistic."

Finally, with the Payne case in mind, Paton says action could have been
taken to keep Ariana's body from ever being dumped inside one of these
units. According to Paton, authorities knew more than it seemed and
didn't have the power to do anything.

"When there's suspicion that a crime is being committed, and children
are involved, law enforcement needs to have a more active roll."

All of this, triggered by our News 4 investigation into the deaths of
Ariana and Tyler Payne, Brandon Williams, and that CPS supervisor in a
relationship with a client.

"We wouldn't even be talking about these bills right now if these
records were never released."

Turns out, CPS is working with lawmakers to help craft some of those bills.

The agency's spokesperson, Liz Barker, tells News 4, "We look forward to
continuing to work together on changes that support the child welfare
system's efforts to promote the safety, well-being and permanency of
children, particularly those that enhance our partnership with law
enforcement and give us access to additional information with which to
do our work."

Paton tells News 4 he'll move the bills forward before the month is out.






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 PROGRAMS....

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.


CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...


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...