Taking Children from Their Parents Without a Court Order
A New York City child-welfare agency frequently removes children without court orders, disproportionately affecting Black families, leading to a class-action lawsuit.Summary
The Administration for Children’s Services (A.C.S.) in New York City often bypasses judicial vetting to remove children from their parents, claiming emergency situations. This practice, which affects around half of all removals, is criticized for being traumatizing and disproportionately targeting Black and Latino families. A landmark class-action lawsuit alleges that A.C.S. violates the Fourth Amendment by engaging in unreasonable seizures and the Fourteenth Amendment through racial discrimination. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of two mothers, Denise Archer and Danielle Lorimer, seeks compensation and injunctive relief to stop these practices except in genuine emergencies. The legal team behind the suit hopes to change public perception and redefine the agency's mandate to prioritize family preservation over the 'better safe than sorry' approach.
(Source：The New Yorker)