Court lets CPS end oversight of 34 FLDS children

Source: Houston Chronicle

A West Texas judge on Friday agreed to end court oversight of 34 children from a polyamist group.

Child Protective Services indicated last week that it would no longer pursue legal action against the parents of 34 children because the agency felt they were not in immediate danger. On Friday, State District Judge Barbara Walther agreed to the motion, without comment.

Friday’s court action doesn’t mean CPS ends its involvement with the 10 families of the 34 children, all members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a group that allegedly practices underage marriage.

CPS may still investigate the families or deliver services.

The child protective agency typically drops custody cases either when a thorough investigation leads them to believe no abuse occurred, or when they conclude that despite past abuse, a caregiver can now protect a child without the court’s help, said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.

Meisner said she could not discuss the specific reasons for CPS’s decision to ask for an end to court oversight, nor the ages or gender of the 34 children.
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