What is the Punishment for Cruelty to a Child in New Jersey?
Child Cruelty is a Serious Crime With Steep Consequences in NJ In New Jersey, there are three noted types of child abuse: cruelty, abuse, and neglect. According to N.J.S.A. 9:6-3, New Jersey law makes it a fourth degree felony to “abuse, abandon, be cruel to or neglectful of” a child. The law specifically protects children […]
read full articleReunification Through the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in New Jersey
What is the Process to Seek Reunification Through the Division of Child Protection and Permanency? It is a terrifying experience for most families facing the removal of their children. Parents have the inherent right to raise their children how they see fit as long as the raising of their children does not consist of any […]
read full articleThe Supreme Goal of Reasonable Efforts in DCPP Cases
The Division of Child Protection and Permanency Must Make Reasonable Efforts to Maintain or Restore the Unity of the Families they Investigate in New Jersey The Division of Child Protection and Permanency is a New Jersey government agency that is responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect, providing services to aid the parent […]
read full articleImportance of Profiling Children with Special Needs in DCPP Cases in NJ
Identifying the Strengths and Needs of Children With Special Needs Becomes Paramount to Secure Their Best Interests when New Jersey Child Protective Services Becomes Involved. The New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly known as DYFS) is responsible for protecting the welfare of children in the state. Children with special needs, whether mental, […]
read full articleWhat is Considered Child Abandonment in NJ
Determining Abandonment of a Child in a DCPP Proceeding in New Jersey The New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly known as Department of Youth and Family Services, DYFS) is responsible for responding to allegations of child abuse and neglect, and ensuring that children are currently residing in, or placed into, a safe […]
read full articleLeast Restrictive Setting Rule in DCPP Cases in New Jersey
Least Restrictive Setting Rule to Secure The Child’s Best Interest in Placement When the New Jersey Department of Children and Protection and Permanency (DCPP) finds it necessary to step in with a family following an investigation, it indicates that the agency believes the family is somehow not functioning healthily and the children’s health and welfare […]
read full articleAbuse and Neglect in Single Parent Households
The statistics on children being abused and neglected by single parents do not paint a positive picture, and DCPP investigates these cases with astounding frequency in New Jersey. That being said, you are not a statistic. Your family is undoubtedly unique and you deserve to defend your parenting if child protective services is investigating you. […]
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 […]
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