Help Change Laws so Kids like Jr. can have a chance at a decent life!

[Emeralgem]

Both parent's in this case have DRUG issues....as with many other families. If laws were changed....what would the purpose be to allow a child to stay with parent who does drugs less?

Changing LAWS would not benefit children....

Changing PARENT's priorities with how they choose to live their lives is what needs to be changed....some children NEVER have a chance in life due to their parents actions.

Ever heard the saying break the chains that bind you?

BTW.How does someone change a parent's priorities on how they choose to live their lives unless, the parent wants and chooses to make a change?

 

[Whisperer]

Instead of looking forward because Crystal has custody now, we should be looking backward at all the mistakes made by DCF and the courts during the years starting in 2005 regarding Haleigh and JR.

RC had twelve arrests under his belt, mostly for drugs. After he filed for custody, he was picked up again with drug possession. Where was the outrage then? Haleigh is mostly likely deceased either directly or indirectly due to his parenting. People still protected Ron and still believed him to be the better parent. This is lunacy thinking, in my opinion. Now the the surviving child is with his mother, some are worried that jr may be harmed. I don't know about everyone else, but I call this serious displaced thinking and even sour grapes.

As far as changing the laws. I say make the judges responsible for their decisions. The laws are fine. It's people who work the system that have no accountability. When you trust the Government to raise and decide where you child is to live, you are naive to think they make the right decision. If you follow the news at all regarding child custody and the latest death of the child, you will see the courts and the judges poor ability to place the child in the correct home. This case stands out as one of those. Ron's record, rap sheet were there for the taking...he did not look at it. He also did not care about the affidavit stating that Haleigh and jr wouldl most likely suffer great harm either.

So it is up to the judge. Does he or DCF suffer for their extremely poor decision? Nope. They have no accountability. Most Government worker's in Children Services don't.

 

[abbra]

instead of looking forward because crystal has custody now, we should be looking backward at all the mistakes made by dcf and the courts during the years starting in 2005 regarding haleigh and jr.

Rc had twelve arrests under his belt, mostly for drugs. After he filed for custody, he was picked up again with drug possession. Where was the outrage then? Haleigh is mostly likely deceased either directly or indirectly due to his parenting. People still protected ron and still believed him to be the better parent. This is lunacy thinking, in my opinion. Now the the surviving child is with his mother, some are worried that jr may be harmed. I don't know about everyone else, but i call this serious displaced thinking and even sour grapes.

As far as changing the laws. I say make the judges responsible for their decisions. The laws are fine. It's people who work the system that have no accountability. When you trust the government to raise and decide where you child is to live, you are naive to think they make the right decision. If you follow the news at all regarding child custody and the latest death of the child, you will see the courts and the judges poor ability to place the child in the correct home. This case stands out as one of those. Ron's record, rap sheet were there for the taking...he did not look at it. He also did not care about the affidavit stating that haleigh and jr wouldl most likely suffer great harm either.

So it is up to the judge. Does he or dcf suffer for their extremely poor decision? Nope. They have no accountability. Most government worker's in children services don't.

very well said whisperer!

 

[mydailyopinions]

Instead of looking forward because Crystal has custody now, we should be looking backward at all the mistakes made by DCF and the courts during the years starting in 2005 regarding Haleigh and JR.

RC had twelve arrests under his belt, mostly for drugs. After he filed for custody, he was picked up again with drug possession. Where was the outrage then? Haleigh is mostly likely deceased either directly or indirectly due to his parenting. People still protected Ron and still believed him to be the better parent. This is lunacy thinking, in my opinion. Now the the surviving child is with his mother, some are worried that jr may be harmed. I don't know about everyone else, but I call this serious displaced thinking and even sour grapes.

As far as changing the laws. I say make the judges responsible for their decisions. The laws are fine. It's people who work the system that have no accountability. When you trust the Government to raise and decide where you child is to live, you are naive to think they make the right decision. If you follow the news at all regarding child custody and the latest death of the child, you will see the courts and the judges poor ability to place the child in the correct home. This case stands out as one of those. Ron's record, rap sheet were there for the taking...he did not look at it. He also did not care about the affidavit stating that Haleigh and jr wouldl most likely suffer great harm either.

So it is up to the judge. Does he or DCF suffer for their extremely poor decision? Nope. They have no accountability. Most Government worker's in Children Services don't.

I so agree with you!
I would also like to add that the only way to straighten out our laws where children are concerned, is for every member of websleuths to run for public office and win. Then and only then can I believe in change that will make a difference!:dance:

 

[abbra]

What changes do you propose, Abbra?

I propose changing laws that favor placing children in the homes of biological parents even when the environment of that home is not conducive to the childs well being.

If the view that passing laws to save children from unsafe environments were held long ago then children today would still be working in sweat shops.

If you are looking for which laws need to be changed it varies from state to state. Not being a lawyer, I am unable to quote specific laws that need to be changed or the specific changes that are needed, however it is clear from the case of Jr. C that there is a need for these changes. Judges and Social Services can only act within the laws that exist. If the law favors placing the child with a biological parent that has never been convicted of drug use but is known to use drugs the Judge and Social Services have no choice but to place that child with the biological parent, even if they know that such placement can be a detriment to the child.

Yes Parents have the right to get their act together but not at the expense of their children. For a child to be in a home which could be detrimental to them for months and years is unacceptable IMO. ( Jr. living with Ron) It is when we are children that we are molded into the person we will become based on interaction and learning from schools, friends and especially at home. Even a short time in a detrimental environment can have a negative impact on a child that will stay with him/her for the rest of their lives.

People are innocent until proven guilty however proof of that guilt does not have to be in the form of a court verdict. Crystal is guilty of taking drugs by her own admission even if she claims that she was forced by Ronald Cummings to take drugs. To believe that she has taken drugs and never will again is naive. There is a better chance than some may believe of her continued use of drugs, exposing Jr. to a drug life that may ultimately result in his trying them as well. Parenting classes have little to no effect on drug users as it is the physical and psychological dependence on drugs that drives them.

Children cannot protect themselves in situations such as this. To put them in an unhealthy environment with the hope that the parents will change, and in the case of a parent that uses drugs all you can do is hope, is kind of like not being bothered when a level 3 sex offender moves in next door.

By her own admission on the Nancy Grace show Sheffield told Grace that Ronald Cummings ( her husband at the time) was physicall abusive to her and the children and FORCED DRUGS on her!! Grace told Sheffield and her Lawyer " she found it "unusual" that Sheffield would make these allegations, especially when she admits to not personally observing the abuse. Grace also wondered if it wasn't problematic for their case that Sheffield had a reputation as one who had filed false reports."

Sheffield claimed that she took both children when she left Cummings and when she let him have visitation he sued her for custody and acquired custody of the children. Ronald Cummings record was far from pristine but he was awarded custody of the kids.

Later on after Crystal divorced Ron and got pregnant Investigations by DCF shows Sheffields daughter Chloe was born with illegal narcotics in her system. And it goes on and on.

IMO neither parents are fit to raise any child and the SYSTEM let Haleigh and Jr. slip through that system that is suppose to protect them.

This is why laws have to be change to protect the well being of these kids but also to keep them from becoming part of the Social Service Foster Home revolving door syndrome.

Did the judge and SS make the right decision by granting custody of Jr. to his mother? Why did Crystal lose custody of Haleigh and Jr in the first place?

Did FDSS conviently forget to mention to the judge that Crystals youngest child was born with illegal drugs in her system and that her attorney dropped her as a client because she was " allegedly still using drugs."

Laws should be changed to make it harder for abusive and irresponsible parents to keep custody of their children. Laws should be set in place for DSS to be held accountable for the monitoring of children who are placed back in the family unit by the courts and also monitoring Foster Care Homes too.

One can only hope that someday Jr. Cummings can grow up to be a respected fireman, policeman or even a lawyer, because there were laws that made sure he got the proper upbringing by loving parents or care givers.

 

[Baznme]

Instead of looking forward because Crystal has custody now, we should be looking backward at all the mistakes made by DCF and the courts during the years starting in 2005 regarding Haleigh and JR.

RC had twelve arrests under his belt, mostly for drugs. After he filed for custody, he was picked up again with drug possession. Where was the outrage then? Haleigh is mostly likely deceased either directly or indirectly due to his parenting. People still protected Ron and still believed him to be the better parent. This is lunacy thinking, in my opinion. Now the the surviving child is with his mother, some are worried that jr may be harmed. I don't know about everyone else, but I call this serious displaced thinking and even sour grapes.
As far as changing the laws. I say make the judges responsible for their decisions. The laws are fine. It's people who work the system that have no accountability. When you trust the Government to raise and decide where you child is to live, you are naive to think they make the right decision. If you follow the news at all regarding child custody and the latest death of the child, you will see the courts and the judges poor ability to place the child in the correct home. This case stands out as one of those. Ron's record, rap sheet were there for the taking...he did not look at it. He also did not care about the affidavit stating that Haleigh and jr wouldl most likely suffer great harm either.

So it is up to the judge. Does he or DCF suffer for their extremely poor decision? Nope. They have no accountability. Most Government worker's in Children Services don't.

(Bolded by me) ITA

I am a recovering alcholic and have been for the last 15 years. Does that mean that I shouldn't have had the right to raise my own children because of my past? I think not. I put the effort into recovery and even though the kids are gone and I now have 6 grandchildren, I continue to recover and will to my dying day.

 

[fay]

(Bolded by me) ITA

I am a recovering alcholic and have been for the last 15 years. Does that mean that I shouldn't have had the right to raise my own children because of my past? I think not. I put the effort into recovery and even though the kids are gone and I now have 6 grandchildren, I continue to recover and will to my dying day.

I agree 110% with your post. I really cannot figure out what the purpose of this thread since it appears to be generalized to apply to all parents who have had an addiction issue. Personally I find it insulting. People can and do change, so to say that all parents should be stripped of their rights to parent is flawed logic to say the least.
What would be next? IQ tests, home checks, background checks, reference checks. This is a democracy not a communist state.

 

[News Junkie]

We don’t need to change the laws that we have. We just need to start enforcing them! If we had enforced our laws that are on the books, Ron Cummings would have been in prison a long time ago. In his particular case it would have been a lot cheaper for the tax payers to just throw his behind in jail even though I know it’s expensive to house these people. Seriously, get them off the streets.

 

[abbra]

Does anyone that provided an answer here mind if I show this post to a class of university students for discussion?

 

[Whisperer]

Has anyone defined the illegal narcotics in Crystal's system or are they going by legal terms from KP? Illegal narcotics can encompass many things but I fear that people are thinking hard core drugsl.

QUOTE..........."Later on after Crystal divorced Ron and got pregnant Investigations by DCF shows Sheffields daughter Chloe was born with illegal narcotics in her system. And it goes on and on." UNQUOTE

Where was this information acquired and were the drugs identified?

 

[abbra]

Has anyone defined the illegal narcotics in Crystal's system or are they going by legal terms from KP? Illegal narcotics can encompass many things but I fear that people are thinking hard core drugsl.

QUOTE..........."Later on after Crystal divorced Ron and got pregnant Investigations by DCF shows Sheffields daughter Chloe was born with illegal narcotics in her system. And it goes on and on." UNQUOTE

Where was this information acquired and were the drugs identified?

(Social Service Records stated at the time of crystal s daughter chloes birth the child had illegal drugs in her system according to SS record acquired by Cs's former attorney. ) There would have to be subpoena of those records to get access to them but the court nor DSS would not disclose that information to any Joe off the street.

 

[Annie]

Does anyone that provided an answer here mind if I show this post to a class of university students for discussion?

You can always show any posts on here, with or without permission of the people or knowing if they mind, but it bothers me that you would want to have a discussion with just this tiny bit of information and viewpoint, when it is such a small part of all that has gone on in the last eleven months. It would be impossible to have a meaningful discussion without knowing all the things that have gone on in this case. I would hate to see someone form an opinion on so little as what is in this thread. Just my opinion.

 

[abbra]

You can always show any posts on here, with or without permission of the people or knowing if they mind, but it bothers me that you would want to have a discussion with just this tiny bit of information and viewpoint, when it is such a small part of all that has gone on in the last eleven months. It would be impossible to have a meaningful discussion without knowing all the things that have gone on in this case. I would hate to see someone form an opinion on so little as what is in this thread. Just my opinion.

On the contrary Annie. The class has been following this case from the beginning and have acquired enormous amounts of information. Some information coming from postings from the board. Websleuths is a wonderful learning tool.

 

[Whisperer]

(Social Service Records stated at the time of crystal s daughter chloes birth the child had illegal drugs in her system according to SS record acquired by Cs's former attorney. ) There would have to be subpoena of those records to get access to them but the court nor DSS would not disclose that information to any Joe off the street.

You are assuming that they exist. We do not know if KP had an agenda. To think the board investigates these small matters to protect or convict an attorney from being chastised is probably a common belief but not one that is knowledgeable. When people hear the work "narcotic", they assume the worst. This could have been something minor and short lived and is expelled rapidly. Sleeping pills and cough syrups and many things can contain a narcotic....the perception people have taken with this term (which KP was going for) was an illegal substance and this child suffered damage. To continue a scorned attorney's opinion that was used to make herself appear better to a court of her peers seems to have worked for some.

 

[whittymom4]

(Social Service Records stated at the time of crystal s daughter chloes birth the child had illegal drugs in her system according to SS record acquired by Cs's former attorney. ) There would have to be subpoena of those records to get access to them but the court nor DSS would not disclose that information to any Joe off the street.

However I am not a junkie or user of any illegal drugs. My daughter had to be delivered emergency C-Section because in my 8th month of pregnancy I was in a horrible traffic accident. The physicians had given me shots of pain meds for at least 2 hours prior to delivery. This brings up an interesting question. I wonder if anywhere in my daughter's birth records it states she was born with narcotics in her system? She was in neonatal intensive care for three weeks and came home healthy, thank God. While we were visiting her in the NICU we did see a couple of narcotic dependent or addicted babies. They cried nonstop, they shook, they couldn't eat, it was just heart breaking to watch them fight for survival. The nurse told me the mothers (and fathers) were addicted to drugs when the baby was delivered. Of course she didn't say which drug but watching those little ones suffer was awful. Then from the NICU they are transferred to a foster home and then normally right back to the parents. Severe cases are probably adopted out but these babies have so many problems for being new to the world... sad.

 

[whittymom4]

(Social Service Records stated at the time of crystal s daughter chloes birth the child had illegal drugs in her system according to SS record acquired by Cs's former attorney. ) There would have to be subpoena of those records to get access to them but the court nor DSS would not disclose that information to any Joe off the street.

Does anyone that provided an answer here mind if I show this post to a class of university students for discussion?

I don't mind at all. Thanks...

 

[pittsburghgirl]

It's very tough on kids to live with a parent who is a drug addict or alcoholic. That said, many kids do just that and do very well. My psychologist friend once told me that children love even abusive parents, so when we consider breaking up a family, we have to consider the terrible pain of being yanked away from a mother or father. I think a better solution is for the community (and by that I mean other relatives, neighbors, teachers, coaches, etc.) to step up and pay attention to these kids, to suggest groups like ALA-Teen where kids can find out about addiction/alcoholism and mitigate the impact on their own development. In my own case being raised by one parent with a drinking problem and another who was abusive, I can say that school saved me. I had a safe place to go and sane adults around me. I had sports and activities and mentors. I also had a church with adults who were interested in my growth, even though I was the only one in the family who went to church. So maybe we rely too much on the "government" to solve all of these problems. I hope the people who know Crystal and her kids will step up and encourage her to get counseling and treatment; even if she is "clean" now (which she may or may not be) she has been through a terrible trauma losing Haleigh and certainly has not worked through the problems and issues that attracted her to drugs in the first place. I hope Crystal has a church to do to, even if she is not religious. It's a place to start building a life with relationships that are centered on something other than drugs. It only takes one adult to save a child.