Issues

[mbkdc]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?PA
Okay. My son called and said his mom punched him in the face and wanted me to come get him. I told him I couldn't because she has custody of him. She got on the phone and admited to doing it. Well I tried to call domestic relations they are not in until monday. I was then forwarded to the state police who said they could do nothing because it was her day to have them. Is this really the case? And if I do go to domestics on Monday what will they do?

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?PA
Okay. My son called and said his mom punched him in the face and wanted me to come get him. I told him I couldn't because she has custody of him. She got on the phone and admited to doing it. Well I tried to call domestic relations they are not in until monday. I was then forwarded to the state police who said they could do nothing because it was her day to have them. Is this really the case? And if I do go to domestics on Monday what will they do?

They will investigate to determine whether or not any action should be taken.

 

[mistoffolees]

They will investigate to determine whether or not any action should be taken.

But it may not be anything - unless there's bruising or other physical signs of damage.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Without knowing the circumstances, it is hard to comment. Absent intent to harm, it may have been deserved. I believe parents should stick together if it was punishment related and not brutality.

 

[Proserpina]

Without knowing the circumstances, it is hard to comment. Absent intent to harm, it may have been deserved. I believe parents should stick together if it was punishment related and not brutality.

Parents do NOT get to PUNCH their kids in the face.

A slap across the face is one thing - but kids never deserve a punch in the face or head.

 

[LdiJ]

Parents do NOT get to PUNCH their kids in the face.

A slap across the face is one thing - but kids never deserve a punch in the face or head.

I agree, but it may really have been a slap rather than a punch...or a tap rather than a punch. Kids exaggerate and sometimes parents buy into that exaggeration.

That is why it needs to be investigated. I am a little surprised that the police were not willing to investigate. Although the state police would not normally be the people to call in a potential domestic violence situation.

 

[mbkdc]

Pwe live in a rural area outside a boro so the state police do handle it. I was in fact told that since it was her weekend they could do nothing.

 

[reportermom]

In PA the state police do not normally handle situations like this.

The local police department would be the ones to handle it. If Dad called the State police and said, "mom punched child, can I go get him, It's not my day." The police would say, "no. It's mom's day, stay out of it."

If Dad had called HER local police department and asked them to check on child because of the phone call he had gotten, he may have gotten more assistance.

I don't know who you mean by domestics, but if you mean that section of the courts, they will not investigate (it's not what they do). CYF will probably not investigate this strenuously if you do not call the day it happens, they will do an investigation, but unless there is severe bruising that is still present when they see child, they won't have much to go on.

 

[CourtClerk]

Pwe live in a rural area outside a boro so the state police do handle it. I was in fact told that since it was her weekend they could do nothing.

Really???? You called the police telling them that your child was being abused and was punched in the face by their parent and they essentially told you that abusing a child is fine so long as they do it on their parenting time????

So, where you're at, it's ok to punch children in the face so long as the parents do it on their parenting time, huh? **where's my kid???**

 

[mbkdc]

The police in the town that I live by have no jurisdiction where my kids live. So the the state police handle it. Its kind of like a new york cop can not come over the pa border and arrest someone. In rural areas like mine where thre are a lot of tiny villages and townships(which are not big enough and cannot afford to hire a local cop). This is what is done. Yes I was told that. His exact words were"Is it your weekend to have them? I said n0. He then said then there's really nothing I can do. Actually I do mean Childrens services when I said domestics. I in fact called them first and they are only opened Monday to Friday. They did tell me to call the police which I did.

 

[CourtClerk]

The police in the town that I live by have no jurisdiction where my kids live. So the the state police handle it. Its kind of like a new york cop can not come over the pa border and arrest someone.

No one said anything about the police where you live (except for you). When you called whatever police department handles wherever the kid is, you're telling me that they said it's fine to abuse your child so long as you do it on your time.

Is that really what you want me to believe? If so, please give me the name of the police department, because i'd like to hear that one myself.

 

[mbkdc]

No one said anything about the police where you live (except for you). When you called whatever police department handles wherever the kid is, you're telling me that they said it's fine to abuse your child so long as you do it on your time.

Is that really what you want me to believe? If so, please give me the name of the police department, because i'd like to hear that one myself.

Actually reportermom did say that the local police would be the ones to handle it. Which like I explained is not the case. The PA State Police handle it to to my township not having a local cop.
Honestly, why would I lie about the police saying that? What do I have to lie to you about? I don't have to prove anything to you or get you to believe me. I was just asking legal advice. It seems that some on here just want to find something wrong in a post or catch someone in a lie. Rather than giving legal advice. I would tell you the exact branch of the PA State Police that told me this but I do not want to give out to much information on where I am at.
I will go to domestics on Monday and report it.

As for everyone that answered the question without trying to make me into a liar. THANK YOU!

 

[majomom1]

Actually reportermom did say that the local police would be the ones to handle it. Which like I explained is not the case. The PA State Police handle it to to my township not having a local cop.
Honestly, why would I lie about the police saying that? What do I have to lie to you about? I don't have to prove anything to you or get you to believe me. I was just asking legal advice. It seems that some on here just want to find something wrong in a post or catch someone in a lie. Rather than giving legal advice. I would tell you the exact branch of the PA State Police that told me this but I do not want to give out to much information on where I am at.
I will go to domestics on Monday and report it.

As for everyone that answered the question without trying to make me into a liar. THANK YOU!

No one is calling you a liar. The police in her area whether it be local, county or State WILL do a well fair check on the child.

YOU have to ask the right questions... and do not take no. THEY HAVE TO CHECK if you ask them to. They cannot say no.

You asked them to investigate... they won't do that. But if you tell them that your child called and you fear that they are hurt... they will go and check.

If they tell you no, then you ask for their supervisor.

Legally... THEY HAVE TO GO CHECK.

 

[mbkdc]

Courtclerk did imply I was lieing. Oh well though like I said I don't care if he believes me. I am taking care of the problem.

 

[mistoffolees]

Courtclerk did imply I was lieing. Oh well though like I said I don't care if he believes me. I am taking care of the problem.

You're missing the whole point. If there is no visible damage, CPS can do absolutely nothing on Monday. NOTHING. You can spend all day there - or all week. You can have an army of lawyers. but without physical evidence, their hands are tied.

If it happens again (and domestic violence usually does), don't ask the police to investigate. Tell them that your son just called and said that Mom punched him in the face and would they please go check on him. If you call the police where Mom lives (I don't care if it's the sheriff or county police or State police or Canadian Royal Mounted Police - call whoever has jurisdiction where Mom lives) and ask them to check on the child, they will do so.

Don't ask for an investigation. Don't ask if you can pick the child up. Simply state that the child told you that Mom punched him and you would like the police to make sure he's OK.

We see this all the time - people claim that their child is physically abused, but without physical evidence, it goes nowhere. Not only does the child end up staying in an abusive home, but they get discouraged because they don't understand the rules and come to the conclusion that no one cares enough to keep them safe.

FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES next time it happens (and it will).