Laurinburg, NC asked in Civil Rights, Family Law, Child Custody and Juvenile Law for North Carolina

Q: My little sister has ran away from her foster home. CPS has been at my house multiple times looking for her.

Dss will not stop coming to my house looking for my little sister. I willing let them in to look the first time after that I would not let them back in. They then took papers out on me for "contribute to del of a minor" what should I do ? No proof of anything just hearsay. Also can they involve my 1yr old ?

1 Lawyer Answer
Amanda Bowden Johnson
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Answered

A: My experience with DSS workers is not good. They often seem to gleefully abuse their power based on the flimsiest of evidence or even just their own bias and prejudice. Typically speaking you should never cooperate with DSS. As to what you should do now, you could likely benefit from a consultation with a local criminal law attorney. If you can not afford an attorney, you may be eligible for either a court appointed attorney or a public defender. You should definitely not cooperate or speak to DSS now. Even if they come with a court order, you have a right to remain silent and refuse to answer any of their questions - you should exercise that right. Very often anything you say to them will be twisted into being used against you somehow or another. Your one year old likely can not speak so there really isn't anyway they could involve your one year old unless they attempt to threaten to take your child away if you refuse to cooperate. It would be illegal for them to do that without cause but I wouldn't put it past them - as they very often will just out right lie to you to get what they want. Best of luck.

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