On November 17, 2021, our lives were shattered when four of our children were abruptly taken from us. In December the same year, our newborn son was seized from the hospital. Our two teenagers were interrogated without parents and an attorney present and arrested. I, Alicia Marchant, was lured to the CPS office to be publicly arrested. These actions were based on false accusations made by a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigator and an officer at the Forrest County Sheriff's Department. We have not seen our children for nearly three years now - a period marked by trauma, heartbreak, and injustice. My husband and I have endured constant death threats to the point we had to move away from our home because once an individual finds out you've been accused of harming children, they become enraged. We could not defend our reputation because CPS reports, forensic interviews, interrogations of children, youth court proceedings are all kept private, so it can't be shared with the public to show the allegations have been false. Unsubstantiated reports have been used against us to keep our kids from ever coming home and even in the decision making process to have the children taken away. At times, a parents reputation is damaged beyond repair. If there were stricter laws in place to protect families, we would not have gone through the nightmare that has been our life since that fateful day in November. Not only that but the government workers that lied to begin with still have their jobs and have not been arrested for repeatedly committing perjury to hurt our family and most importantly, our children. 

Our family's experience is not unique. Many families across Mississippi have been subjected to similar ordeals due to systemic flaws within CPS and youth courts system. This petition seeks comprehensive reforms to protect the rights of parents and children while ensuring that those who abuse their power are held accountable. It may be too late to bring our kids back home to us but it's not too late for other families. Please help us make this change happen so this doesn't have to happen to anyone else. 

We demand:

1) Mandatory retraining for all CPS workers to ensure they are equipped with up-to-date knowledge about child welfare laws.
2) A requirement for reporters of alleged child abuse or neglect to provide identification at Family and Children's Services offices.
3) An end to anonymous reporting which can be misused for personal vendetta.
4) The prohibition of removing children from their homes without substantial evidence.
5) Opening up youth courts to public scrutiny as transparency is crucial in maintaining justice.
6) The right to a jury trial at youth court proceedings - this is fundamental in any democratic society that values fairness.
7) Removal of qualified immunity protections for CPS workers who lie under oath - no one should be above the law.
8) Upholding parental rights unless there is clear evidence that these rights are being abused.
9) All videos of forensic interviews and interrogations that involve children to be made available to be inspected by the parents and the option to be made public , keeping them private does not allow for transparency and hides  wrong doing 

10) mandatory for children being interrogated to have a lawyer present due to them not being fully aware of their rights, the law and the tactics police are allowed to use that can cause a false confession 

11) All interviews with children to be recorded and not allowed to be kept private to allow transparency and to keep CPS workers from lying about what the children may or may not have disclosed

12) unsubstantiated reports may not be used against parents or guardians in any way

13) CPS reports can be made public to allow for transparency 

14) family team meetings to be recorded and made public to allow for transparency 

15) the burden at youth court should be proof beyond a reasonable doubt before full custody or termination of parental rights are taken away from the parents

Furthermore, we demand legal consequences for anyone proven guilty of making false reports against families.

Our family has suffered greatly due to these unjust practices. It's time we bring about change so no other family has to endure such pain again.

Please sign this petition today – let’s work together to reform CPS and youth courts in Mississippi and protect the rights of families.