Phoenix Arizona DCS(CPS) Families Rally 6/16/2017

 DCS (CPS) Families Rally

Phoenix, AZ

On June 16th, 2017 A group of families who have had their children seized by the Department of Child Safety (DCS/CPS) and other activists took to the streets of Phoenix, AZ. Many of them just want their story heard and for their children to be returned safely. 

This is a huge issue here in Arizona. The state of Arizona doesn't have to have warrants to seize children unlike other states. DCS is loosely regulated and there are stories of abuse of power in various forms during investigations. This has had media coverage for the last year but legislatively nothing has been accomplished. Between 2011 and 2015 there was a sharp increase of children being taken away. 4,500 more children were taken away in 2015 than in 2011. If you look at the numbers you can tell there is a problem. However this is more than just about numbers. This is about rights of parents as well as children. Without seeking warrants (for non life endangered cases) to remove children from their parents homes and severing parental rights this goes against the 4th amendment. There's been cases of abuse in group and foster homes. Some of the abuse has been severe and those numbers continue to rise. While the department has been in trouble before for letting family abuse cases go in the past, they have turned the other direction where they are taking children away for simple issues in the family care. There are many sides to this issue but are these numbers and stories alarming to you? 

Above Part one of the Rally

Above is the start of the Rally going into the detention of a family member Beth Young Breen and AZ Gubernatorial candidate/activist Merissa Hamilton. They were held for most of the day at Maricopa County Jail in Downtown Phoenix after blocking the street during an order to disperse out of the street. Bond was paid and both of them were released by June 17th.

Above Part 2 of the Rally

Above Part 3 of the Rally

Parents speak out 

There was a point where we had to wait for light rail and a signal. This is where parents decided to speak a little on their thoughts on DCS and children being taken from their parents.

Above a vigil and speech in front of City Hall

Sami Stone and the families hold a meeting @ City Hall


This was a meeting that Sami Stone (Chief of staff for Councilmember Sal Diciccio) was hearing the families of the children taken by DCS. This was mostly telling their stories of the seizures and cases. 

For more information and media coverage you can check out the links below. 

AZ Central media coverage

AZ Central Story on Current policy

Graphs and data on DCS

More media coverage on the High rates of Seizure

Interesting

Alex Love is an independent journalist from Lynnwood, WA / Phoenix, AZ. He is a community servant and activist who also runs a non profit called Love 4 Liberty.

Phoenix City Community Meeting with Police Chief Jeri Williams

Phoenix, AZ Community Meeting

With Police Chief Jeri Williams

and Concilmember Warring

I was in attendance to this community meeting in my council district in Phoenix. The district is up for election and I have noticed that Jim Warring is running for reelection unopposed. Jeri Williams is new to the department. She started back in October and came from California where she's been in law enforcement for years. She  explains about hiring more officers and talks about the most prolific crimes in the area which is property crimes. Above is a whole video of the meeting. 

Questions on DCS

Arizona has a huge problem right now with DCS (Department of Child Safety (CPS)). They do not currently need warrants per state law. However Police departments may chose their involvement in enforcing laws. There is a separate division in the police department that works directly with DCS called the "Family Investigations Bureau." I was asked by a community member to ask questions related to DCS. I didn't get to ask my second question. She says it plain and simple AZ doesn't need "Warrants" to seize parental rights from parents. Doesn't this go against the 4th amendment and some others? While she went around the question a bit I got contact information and learned more about the Phoenix Police department. Below I have links in support of my claims and information about the department. This is just the beginning of  my coverage on this issue as there was a Rally here last Friday that made the news. 

Phoenix Police Family Investigations Bureau

Jeri Williams Swearing In

DCS Policies

Jim Warring City Page

Alex Love is an independent journalist from Lynnwood, WA / Phoenix, AZ. He is a community servant and activist who also runs a non profit called Love 4 Liberty.

Del McArdle At DCS Policy Meeting

Del McArdle At DCS Policy Meeting

June 7th 2017

I was in attendance at this meeting where the public was invited to speak on the DCS Policy. While there were only a few people who showed up. Del McArdle spoke on the current issues with warrants. This was filmed at the DCS office on Thunderbird.

DCS Policy

DCS Rulemaking


Alex Love is an independent journalist from Lynnwood, WA / Phoenix, AZ. He is a community servant and activist who also runs a non profit called Love 4 Liberty.