A Government Institution’s DUTY TO honor
CITIZENS’ Rights and Protections Under the LAW

I. THOU shall not perform an investigation to obtain information admissible in a court of law without informing citizens of their right to remain silent and obtain legal counsel.

II. THOU shall neither remove a child from a public institution for questioning when performing an investigation nor shall the public institution allow a child to be removed for questioning without permission from the parent or guardian without a judicial order of removal.

III. THOU shall not command citizens to sign documents to remove their children from their custody without informing them of their right to decline signing, their right to deny consent and their right to a timely adversarial hearing in a court of law prior to the removal of their children.

IV. THOU shall not access the home or residence of citizens to inspect, observe, or meet with citizens before informing them of their right to deny access without fear of retaliation and their right to require a judicial order outlining the terms and conditions for accessing their home especially when children of lawsuit occupy the residence.

V. THOU shall not present at the home or residence of citizens accompanied by unauthorized persons intending to access the home and private property of citizens before informing them of their right to deny access without fear of retaliation, approve ALL accompanied persons, and require a judicial order outlining the terms and conditions for accessing their home.

VI. THOU shall not violate the privacy rights of citizens by contacting their place of residence to obtain leasing and confidential information without obtaining their authorization.

VII. THOU shall not violate the privacy rights of children and families by divulging the details of their case to any persons or entities that are not a party to the lawsuit without obtaining their authorization.

VIII. THOU shall not violate the privacy rights of citizens by contacting their employer to obtain information without obtaining their authorization.

IX. THOU shall not retaliate against children and families when they exercise their right to file a complaint or grievance.

X. THOU shall not have practices that result in the exclusion, discouragement or limitation of expert testimony in hearings and trials when the expert prefers to testify on the behalf of the children or family.

These policies and practices of Children Protective Services (CPS) contribute to the SIN of disproportionality and disparities of children trapped in the system.