The Laughing Wolf

Crowton Case Update

A while back, I posted this piece about another wonderful case of Child Abductive Services in operation up in Michigan. Yes, there were some problems but they had been dealt with, namely the father had a drug problem as a result of being hit by a car. When they contacted the state for help, what they got was a nightmare. If you did not do so before, go check out the particulars. If you are not enraged, you are probably beyond help.

I faxed a letter to Governor Granholm, who had been requested to get up off her duff and get involved by several organizations. Faxing and mailing work best, as e-mail is most often ignored by politicians. The reply I got deserves quite a fisking, and I have shared it around with some other bloggers. The hope had been to do a coordinated fisk, but that went out the window, so here is mine:

Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns regarding the well being of children whom the court has placed under the supervision of the Family Independence Agency (FIA). Your willingness to speak up shows your commitment to Michigan's children.

Ah, yes. The children of the state, the empire. Very clearly, not the children of the parents, but of the state. Thank you for making that clear. I also love the name of the agency, with its clear implication of independence from the birth/real family.

As you may know, the FIA has the responsibility of overseeing the state's foster care system and relies upon the involvement of its citizenry as a key partner in identifying and preventing child abuse and neglect. The FIA takes all such concerns very seriously and is taking proactive steps to strengthen child welfare practices across the state. You should also know that Child Protective Services investigates each specific concern to ensure child safety and well being. Ultimately, we are all committed to protecting the best interest of all child placements under auspices of the states' foster care system.

Yep, the snitch lines for anonymous informants, the seizure of children and placing them in the system. Of course, the bounty placed on each child has nothing whatsoever to do with this desire to be so proactive. And ensuring child safety means breaking up families to suit, and placing the children in homes with known sex offenders. After all, it is through these placements that the bounties get paid, and all agencies and such get their cuts. This only happens with placements, however, and not if the children stay with the family.

Please be advised that each child who is in foster care through the state of Michigan is provided with a system of checks and balances for their care, all of which work together to ensure safety and well being. First, each foster child has a court appointed lawyer guardian ad litem to represent the best interest of the child in court. Second, each parent is allowed to have legal representation. Third, either the local prosecuting attorney and/or the Attorney General's Office are involved in each case to ensure child safety and well being. Fourth, each foster child as an agency social worker assigned to ensure that the best interest of the child is at the forefront of case decisions. All of these partners in protection provide reports to the court. The court considers all the facts and the recommendations made by the involved parties. Ultimately, the court makes the final decision about the direction that each case should take.

A system of checks and balances which very clearly is not working. Starting with “investigators” got upset that the family went to church each Sunday, and then lied in their report. A system that is more interested in removing the children and doing what brings in money, rather than what is right for the children. A system of checks and balances that, again, places children in with convicted sex offenders, despite that child’s own concerns for their safety, much less the family’s concerns. How nice of you to grant the parents a right they already have under the constitution, that of legal representation. No mention, however, of how this is provided or not provided by the state, and not really appreciated in many cased. What happens if the family can’t afford the representation? Also, are the social workers provided the same ones who lied in their report? And who does the prosecuting attorney represent: The State, the children in who’s names this horror is allegedly being done, or the parents? Where does the money come from to pay for this time, and does the state get additional money for such from the Clinton law? Also, how willing is the court to believe outside parties, particularly the parents, when the officers of the state have a vested interest in removing the children from the parents? About a $10,500 per child interest, plus other monies from the Fed?

While we recognize that the Crowton custody matter is a highly publicized case and others have revealed specific details, we must honor our legal obligation to protect confidential information. Public Act 238 of 1975 prohibits the FIA from releasing confidential case information to the general public. Nevertheless, be assured that the FIA takes your concerns seriously and will act on relevant information in a manner that serves the best interest of the children and family. Additionally, FIA also actively works with and involves the Office of the Children Ombudsman (OCO), which is an independent office established by law to review the actions of the FIA in child welfare cases. Any family or citizen can request an independent review of FIA or private agency cases by the OCO.

Gee, even though the Crowton’s have implicitly and explicitly waived that right and asked you to release details, get up off your duff and exercise your command responsibilities, much less your moral ones, and get involved? Nice cop out. As for the ODC, is that also funded under the child placement bounty act? Is it truly independent? What happens if it find lying and other criminal misdeeds on the part of the state and its agents?

Thank you again for your concern and involvement.

Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor

Politicalese for “shut up and go away, I am not going to get involved.”

Well Governor, you have to get involved. Every outside agency and organization, along with the family and friends of the family, have asked you to do so. As I pointed out before, there are clear problems here and they are happening on your watch, under your command. It is you who bears ultimate moral and legal responsibility for this, and you need to deal with this. What is happening is a travesty of justice, and if you want to retain any semblance of deserving the post you hold and the responsibilities that come with it, you will get involved and do the right thing.

This letter, obviously composed by a flunky who just does not get the new political and communications reality, serves to emphasize the poor response of the governor and the government in this case. I urge each and every reader to go research the case, and let the governor how you feel via fax and regular mail. Let’s put a spotlight on this until justice truly is done.

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