Degrees of Crimes in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
What Degree of Crime can You be Charged with for Child Abuse in New Jersey? New Jersey child abuse laws protect people against harm, including harm committed by parents against their own children, by teachers and daycare providers entrusted to look after someone else’s children, and any other adult in whose care a child has […]
read full articleLeading Causes of Child Neglect, Abuse, and Mistreatment
CPS Attorneys Discuss Contributing Factors for Children Experiencing Abusive or Neglectful Behavior by Parents and Caregivers No child deserves to be abused or neglected, yet so many children are born into circumstances that make them more likely to suffer from violence or deprivation. According to Childhelp, an organization for child abuse prevention, about five children a […]
read full articleParental Mental Health Issues in DCFS Investigations
Is Mental Illness a Risk Factor for Child Abuse and Neglect in NJ? Recently, Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit organization, revealed that 16.4% of New Jersey adults suffered mental illness between 2018 and 2019. Since then, the pandemic increased those numbers for certain mental health conditions, namely anxiety and depression. When mental health issues dominate a […]
read full articleUnderstanding Termination of Parental Rights in New Jersey
When, Why, and How can Parental Rights be Terminated in NJ? Termination of Parental Rights or TPR means the legal action whereby a court severs all of a parent’s legal rights he or she has with their child. Parents have constitutionally protected rights that are both honored and protected under our laws. They have the […]
read full articleTypes of Reports in NJ Child Abuse Cases
As a person accused of child abuse or neglect in New Jersey, it is imperative that you understand all of types of reports that a litigant will typically encounter in a DCPP case and how to challenge the reports. For anyone that is not familiar with child welfare matters, a typical file can become quite […]
read full articleUnderstanding the Services that DCPP Provides to Parents & Families and Your Responsibilities
Since DCPP is a family agency focused on the best interests of the child, the Division may provide a variety of services to parents and families in NJ It is important to understand your responsibilities and child protective services’ options for providing or requiring you to use certain services after opening an investigation. The Division […]
read full articleChanges to New Jersey Marijuana Laws and their Impact on Child Welfare Litigation
Following the 2020 Election and effective January 1, 2021, the New Jersey Constitution was amended to proclaim that the manufacturing, transferring, and consumption of cannabis by persons 21 years of age shall now be lawful. A few months later, in February of 2021, new legislation was passed that stated possession of marijuana in the quantity […]
read full articlePrivacy in a DCPP Case
Confidentiality and its Limits if the Division of Child Protection and Permanency Opens a Case If the Division of Child Protection and Permanency receives a report concerning child abuse or neglect, the agency is legally mandated to open up an investigation. To that end, the Division will create and maintain a large number of documents […]
read full articleThe Evolution of New Jersey’s Child Protection Agency
A parent or guardian to a child has a legal duty to ensure that the child is properly cared for and his or her basic needs are being met. If, for whatever reason, those responsibilities are not being taken care of, the State has the power to intervene in order to protect the child. In […]
read full articleChanges to Child Welfare Litigation
What has Changed about Child Welfare Case Processes in New Jersey Child welfare litigation is constantly changing. As public awareness grows, so too does the law. The agency that handles such matters itself was created in 1899 and started with only seven volunteers. As public concern surrounding the issue evolved, so did the agency. Presently, […]
read full article