Child Protection

Recently, investigators have accused the San Diego child protection system of being out of control. One report claimed that 10% of the children removed from their homes were later found to be in no danger.

My heart goes out to the parents who are falsely accused of abusing their children and to the children whose lives are turned topsy-turvy by removal from their homes. However, an imperfect system is better than no system at all; therefore, when we repair the system, we must not destroy it. Let us not forget that, for every child improperly removed from its home, there are nine children whose lives are saved.

Critics are concerned that the current system has neglected the basic tenet of American justice, “innocent until proven guilty.” I am even more concerned about the children who are unable to protect themselves from punishments they don’t deserve for crimes they have not committed. Who is defending their innocence?

As a mother, I would be devastated if my children were removed from my home. But I would be even more horrified if, in an effort to prevent one false accusation, the child protection agencies allowed nine other children to remain in dangerous abusive homes. With love and the passage of time, my healthy family would heal from such an error; the injury to the nine abused children is usually irreparable.

We adults have legal recourse and the emotional wherewithal to defend ourselves against false accusations. Abused children lack the power and ability to protect themselves from their dangerously omnipotent parents. The critics and reformers must keep in mind the true purpose of the system--the protection of innocent children.

HILLARY S. LIBER

Carlsbad