Welcome back and thanks for joining us again for this discussion on the ridiculous over-reach of CPS in Michigan. More specifically, the ability of a CPS to label someone a child abuser and put their name on the Central Registry – a list just as condemning as the sex offender registry! If you’re just joining us now, please take a moment to read the previous article. If you’re all caught up, let’s pick up where we left off last time…

Michigan’s Central Registry is worse than the Sex Offender Registry!

No other government agency in this state has the authority to label you a criminal and add your name to a statewide Registry without ever having to produce a shred of evidence against you. Even the Michigan sex offender registry requires that you be convicted of a specific sex crime in court, in order to have your name put on the list. However Michigan’s Central Registry is a completely different, and far less acceptable, situation.

What else is on the list besides your name?

If a CPS worker adds your name to the Central Registry, that isn’t all they include. There’s a whole lot of other personal and identifying information they include as well. Here’s what you can expect to find on the list if your name has been added by CPS:

• The names and birthdates of the people who are accused of abusing or neglecting a child
• The names and birthdates of the children who were allegedly abused or neglected
• The names of any other adults or children who were in the home with the allegedly abused or neglected child, but were not involved in the allegations.
• The type of abuse or neglect that is claimed to have taken place
• The date of the alleged incident
• The county in which the alleged incident happened

Why is CPS allowed to just put people on the registry?

There is no law enforcement involved in the process. No judge or jury, no prosecutor or defense attorney. Just a CPS worker and their immediate supervisor. And despite the fact that the process is a clear violation of due process, CPS defends the registry, claiming that they’re doing what’s in the best interests of the child in every case. But many parents and caregivers around Michigan have spoken out against it, saying that they’ve been vilified by CPS and stripped of their constitutional right to defend themselves.

What happens to you if your name is put on the list?

Although it may seem as if having your name on a list that isn’t publicly searchable can’t be that bad, you’re unfortunately mistaken! Whenever you apply for a job, your future boss runs a background check on you. And yes – if your name’s on the registry, they’ll see that! Which means you could lose your job, or be denied a job, and even be denied the opportunity to volunteer with children. So yes, the impact is huge!

What do you do if your name gets put on the list?

Join us next time for an in-depth look at what happens when your name gets put on the list. Until then, if CPS shows up at your door, or you get a letter saying your name has been added to the Central Registry, call us immediately at 866 766 5245. Our skilled and experienced child abuse defense attorneys have spent years defending parents against allegations of abuse and neglect. So don’t just wait and hope this goes away, because it won’t! Call us right now and let us help you!