Re: Village Voice article

[NCCPR@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 2/2/01 11:44:01 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
14D691@dfa.state.ny.us writes:

> The victimized partner
>  might be indicated in the State Central Registry as having neglected the
>  children, but a protective removal can only be justified in cases where
>  neither adult is capable of or willing to protect the children.

A listing in the Central Register would seem to be "blaming" the victim.

>  
>  I hesitate to believe any newspaper account of an ongoing case, since
>  confidentiality rules prevent the local social services agency from
>  contributing to the article.

Actually, that's no longer true in New York and hasn't been true since about 
1996.  Under a little-known provision of "Elisa's Law," passed after the 
death of Elisa Izquierdo, CPS agencies are permitted, but not required, to 
tell their side of the story when a parent makes public that he or she has 
been charged with abuse or neglect and claims that the accusation is unjust.

Also, as the news story noted, the Child Welfare subcommittee of the New York 
City Inter-Agnecy Task Force Against Domestic Violence concluded that 
"Increasingly in New York City, abuse and neglect proceedings are brought 
against battered mothers whose children are removed from them where the only 
allegation is their children's exposure to domestic violence." 

Richard Wexler
Executive Director
National Coalition for Child Protection Reform
53 Skyhill Road (Suite 202)
Alexandria VA 22314
Phone/fax: (703) 212-2006
www.nccpr.org