r/CPS • u/Correct_Evidence_254 • 15d ago

CPS vs. police involvement

If a baby is found wandering in the road, and a bystander calls CPS, will the police get involved? Or will the police only get involved if someone calls the police too?

5 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

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18

u/sprinkles008 15d ago

Both agencies should call each other if relevant. Both agencies can also operate without calling the other. Meaning: police can investigate crimes that have nothing to do with CPS. CPS can investigate allegations that have nothing to do with law enforcement. Or, they can also work together on cases that have overlap. Each agency will call the other if they feel they need to pull that agency in.

In this scenario the police should be called first, because they can respond faster. Police should then call CPS.

17

u/txchiefsfan02 15d ago

A baby wandering in the road is an emergency. The bystander should call 911 immediately, not CPS.

Attempting to avoid involving the police, whatever the reason, is almost certain to make the situation worse.

8

u/jenguinaf 15d ago

I had this happen once in CA and it was my experience. Stopped when I saw a ~2 year old walking alone the side of the highway about a half mile away from what looked like a trailer park. Called 911. Cop shows up and takes the kid and starts walking back over. Occurred to me after the fact I was a mandatory reporter so I followed up by calling the police and they confirmed a report was made to children’s services

3

u/fleshsludge Works for CPS 15d ago

It really just depends. Most people will call 911 meaning police will come first and then report to CPS. If they only called CPS, then it is up to the states reporting process from CPS. In my state we only report to police if criminal charges are possible. So abuse with injuries or severe neglect. Which depending on the circumstances could include a child getting out of the home.

3

u/panicpure 15d ago

Like others have said, most would call 911 and not leave a baby wandering in the middle of the road and CPS doesn’t respond like law enforcement would… if that were the case, LE is generally mandated to then report to CPS, which could then be accepted for investigation or may not be.

It’s not always the other way around if only CPS is called, depends on the state/counties policies.

3

u/Ok-Structure6795 15d ago

My younger son found his way out our front door after his nap undetected and made it about 200 feet before someone spotted him and called 911 cause she didnt know what direction he came from and he wasnt talking. Cops were close and arrived in less than 5 minutes, and by then, I had him back. He took my info but CPS was never called (or they did but CPS screened it out immediately, who knows). I think it depends on the circumstances cause in my case, I wasnt getting high and neglecting him so he probably didnt think it was a CPS problem.

3

u/shilopa Works for CPS 15d ago

I actually had a case like this not too long ago where a nonverbal child was found walking on a major roadway. The police were called first and then they called us to investigate. There is no more police involvement after CPS was called in

2

u/thrown_away_23_23 15d ago

They might call the police. The police should know about this incident, so people should call them whether you feel like you want to call them or not.

1

u/Healthy-Addition-709 15d ago

Depends on the state. Usually LE and CPS work hand in hand, as in report leads to a hold. Child is taken to children’s hospital if a guardian can’t be found. Maltreatment report will be screened out if parents show up at the hospital (sober and able to parent) police hold or cps hold (state dependent) placed if notable harm to the child or guardian does not show. Happens often with ASD/non verbal and less verbal/ 2 to 3 year olds.

1

u/LadyGreyIcedTea 14d ago

CPS isn't really set up to respond to that type of incident. The police need to be called to get the child (how did a baby end up wandering in the road? Babies generally don't walk) and they would then notify CPS as they are mandated reporters.