family-law-150x150

 

 

 

Should I Meet And Talk To The Child Protective Services Social Worker?

I can univocally state the answer is NO, do not meet with the CPS or DCFS social worker without your attorney, 99 percent of the time. This advice is based on approximately 25 years of experience handling juvenile dependency cases at the trial and appellate level. I’ve made a career fighting Child Protective Services (“CPS”), also known as Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) in some counties such as Los Angeles.

It is also advice that would be disagreed with by most attorneys, especially those that are not experienced in juvenile dependency matters. It may even be looked down upon by some judges, and by most social workers.

So, why do I say NO, don’t meet with the social workers by yourself?

 

  1. You want to make sure that you are not misled by CPS or DCFS into saying anything that might be used against your interests. Let me make this clear, I am not promoting that you lie to the social worker. I am promoting that you be counseled before you talk to a social worker. Please remember that your interests in your children is at stake; and if the police are involved you should assume that everything you say is reported to the police. Frequently in child abuse criminal cases social workers go to criminal court to testify against you.
  1. Your attorney meeting with the CPS social worker (and probably her attorney) will provide your attorney great insight into the concerns of the social worker and the Agency. Sometimes you think the social worker will be concerned about A, B and C; and she is actually interested in C, D and E. This will give your attorney the ability to specifically craft defenses to the accusations against you.
  1. You appearing with an attorney, in my opinion, sets a definite standard as to how the social worker will deal with you throughout the case. It lets the social worker and CPS know that they are ACCOUNTABLE for everything they do; and that your attorney will do something is things are not handled fairly and appropriately.

 

Vincent W. Davis
626-446-6442
Law Offices Of Vincent W Davis And Associates
Juvenile Dependency Lawyer

Comments are closed.

Contact The Law Office Of Vincent W. Davis

First
Last
Email
Experienced Law Firm

Office Locations Where Can We Meet You?

Arcadia Office
150 N. Santa Anita Ave,
Suite 200
Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone: (626) 446-6442 Fax: (626)-446-6454
Get Directions
Beverly Hills Office
*Virtual Office
9465 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 300
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: (310)-880-5733 Get Directions
La Mirada Office
*Virtual Office
Cerritos Towne Center
17777 Center Court Drive ,
Suite 600
Cerritos, California, 90703
Phone: 888-888-6542 Get Directions
Los Angeles Office
*Virtual Office
Gas Comdivany Tower
555 West Fifth Street,
31st Floor
Los Angeles, California, 90013
Phone: (213)-400-4132 Get Directions
Long Beach Office
*Virtual Office
Landmark Square
111 West Ocean Blvd.,
Suite 400
Long beach, California, 90802
Get Directions
Irvine Office
*Virtual Office
Oracle Tower
17901 Von Karman Avenue,
Suite 600
Irvine, California, 92614
Phone: (949)-203-3971 Fax: (949)-203-3972 Get Directions
Ontario Office
*Virtual Office
Lakeshore Center
3281 E. Guasti Road,
7th Floor
City of Ontario, California, 91761
Phone: (909)-996-5644 Get Directions
Riverside Office
*Virtual Office
Turner Riverwalk
11801 divierce Street,
Suite 200
Riverside, California, 92505
Phone: (909)-996-5644 Get Directions
San Diego
*Virtual Office
Emerald divlaza
402 West Broadway,
Suite #400
San Diego, California, 92101
Phone: (619)-885-2070 Get Directions
Aliso Viejo
*Virtual Office
Ladera Cordivorate Terrace
999 Cordivorate Drive,
Suite 100
Ladera Ranch, California, 92694
Phone: (714) 721-3822 Get Directions