Spite Could Prompt A False Child-Abuse Report

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Dear Crimebusters:

I was turned in to CPS for revenge. My daughter was questioned at school, and I was questioned with no notice. The case was closed when no abuse was found. How can someone be allowed to turn you in just for revenge?

Signed,

A Federal Way mother

Last week's CRIMEBUSTERS explained how to make credible child-abuse reports to CPS. Unfortunately, some people do make false reports. In fact, CPS intake workers - the people who take the calls - believe from 5 percent to 15 percent are grudge calls.

In most such cases, an ex-spouse - particularly one involved in a custody battle - an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend or other family member who wants to make trouble is responsible, according to Janet Duris, a local area manager of CPS. Duris is not connected with the Federal Way case.

The Federal Way woman said she believes her brother-in-law made a false report accusing her of physically abusing her 14-year-old daughter. She believes he called CPS as revenge for her obtaining a restraining order against him after he allegedly assaulted her. A CPS worker contacted the daughter at school and then met the mother at home. CPS officials said the case has been closed.

People who use CPS to harass others are breaking the law, but social workers can't separate the troublemakers from the concerned citizens right off the bat.

``We have to take at face value whatever anyone gives us,'' Duris said. ``We can't always tell if the call's vindictive unless we can establish a pattern.'' Often, someone who's just out for revenge may call CPS several times, she said, reporting the same abuse again and again, which turns out to be unsubstantiated.

A person who maliciously or intentionally makes a false report of abuse or neglect is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and can be sentenced to up to a year in jail or fined a maximum of $5,000, or both.

Sometimes, the investigation of a false report is limited to a phone call. For instance, if someone alleges that a child is dirty and unfed, a social worker may call the child's school before contacting the family. If the social worker is informed that the child is clean and well-nourished, that's the end of it.

More common than vindictive calls, however, are calls from people who mistakenly report what they think is abuse, Duris said. It is not illegal to make a good-faith report and be wrong. For example, CPS will often hear about children with bruises, only to find out later that the children have some sort of disease that produces bruise-like discoloration of the skin.

Under state law, any allegation of child abuse that is investigated by CPS must be kept on file. Unsubstantiated reports are marked ``closed.'' If there are no additional allegations after seven years, the closed file will be destroyed.

CRIMEBUSTERS, by Times South bureau police reporter Christy Scattarella, appears Wednesdays in South Times Today.