People who’ve never been abused can’t understand why anyone would stay in an abusive relationship. It simply doesn’t make sense to their rational mind. But that right there’s the rub – it isn’t a rational thing. It’s so much more, so much deeper than that. And for parents, particularly mothers, who are trapped in abusive relationships, the cost can be so much higher than just your own safety.

Being the victim of domestic abuse is only the tip of the iceberg…

It may sound like something out of serial drama series – the loving but misunderstood mother who ends up in a protracted battle with the state because her boyfriend was abusive and so the state took her kids. After all, CPS wouldn’t punish a domestic abuse victim by talking their children away, would they? Oh, if only that were true…

Being trapped in an abusive relationship can mean losing your kids

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, there are many of reasons why people stay in abusive relationships. Whether it’s fear, believing that abuse is normal, shame or embarrassment, and chronically low self esteem are all very common reasons for why victims stay with their abusers. But what about the victim’s children? How can they stay safe when their parent is being abused?

If you don’t leave your abuser, you’re seen as putting your kids in danger!

If you’re in a relationship with someone who abuses you, and you have children who are in any way affected by that abuse, you will be seen as failing to protect them. Failure to Protect is when a parent, guardian, or caregiver fails to protect a child from ‘known dangers’. A common example of this would be if a mother knew that her boyfriend was physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing her children. But instead of protecting them, or working to keep them safe from the threat, she does nothing to stop it.

CPS will take your kids in a heartbeat if they believe they’re at risk

CPS agents have filed Failure to Protect charges against victims of domestic abuse countless times before, and the results are always devastating. According to CPS, a parent who forces their children to stay in a home where domestic violence is an ongoing problem is guilty of a crime themselves. That includes situations where kids are abused themselves, or even just subjected to the psychological harm of watching their parent be abused.

Don’t let CPS take your kids when you’re already struggling!

For parents who are struggling to get out of abusive relationships, having their kids taken away feels like one more nail in the coffin. Which is why you need a highly skilled CPS defense attorneys on your side so you’re not doing this alone. Here at The Kronzek Firm we’ve spent decades working to combat the bullying tactics of CPS in Michigan. So if you or a loved one have been accused of failing to protect your children, call us immediately at 866 766 5245. And don’t forget to join us next time for the wrap up of this discussion!