Aiming to bolster constitutional protections and ameliorate trauma that parents may experience during Massachusetts Department of Children and Families investigations, advocates want to establish a system of Miranda rights that would mirror police interactions.
DCF caseworkers looking into potential child abuse or neglect would be required to provide parents or caregivers a written summary of allegations — in a language they can read and understand — during their first encounter, plus explain the investigative process, under the by-request petition filed by Sen. Sal DiDomenico (S 114). It was filed on behalf of Tatiana Rodriguez, founder and director of the grassroots organization Family Matters First, and is backed by Sen. Liz Miranda.
“The power imbalance is so extreme, these Miranda warnings would be a big step toward creating the system that truly protects children and families,” Rodriguez told the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday. “These are constitutional rights — these rights already exist. At a time in the country when people’s rights are being stripped away, it is time for Massachusetts to stand on the side of making sure people know their rights and not allowing those rights to be stripped from them.”…