I am an attorney. In 1998, I was approached by a couple who are the grandmother and step-grandfather of a then-5 year old. The 5 year old had been living with her grandfather and step-grandmother for a year. Grandparents divorced in 1979, marrying a divorced couple (grandfather later divorced and re-married). Daughter is stripper, drug user, etc. My clients had heard from step-grandpa's 2 daughters, who had lived with grandpa for several years after divorce, that my clients should not allow grandpa to be able to adopt granddaughter (CHIPS action was leading to termination of parental rights; father not involved). Grandpa and step-grandma had foster care of child.
After intervening in adoption proceeding and several months passed, 2 daughters finally came forward and said that they had been molested by grandpa in 1979, violated several times vaginally and anally. Daughters were 10 and 13 at the time.
I go to Social Services with this, and was told "so what"; that they knew he had done something, but since it was a long time ago, they didn't care. Social Services backed grandpa in adopting granddaughter.
Prior to trial, I obtained Social Service records that showed that right after we had intervened in 1998, grandpa had gone to Social Services and said that he had molested one of the two girls, but that she had been an infant and didn't remember. This was a flat out lie. After affidavits from victims came, he modified statement, saying that girl was older, but was still only one of the two, and only one time. Keep in mind, under Minnesota law, if convicted or admit to child molestation in their background, supposed to be denied foster care license. Nothing was done.
Thankfully at trial, I was able to deny the grandfather's adoption petition, having the 2 molested children (now in their 30s) testify about what was done to them, and how they are still haunted by what was done to them, how they don't enjoy sex, etc. Very horrifying to listen to. However, my clients were denied as well (most likely due to judge not wanting to give child to either party). Now issue goes back to Social Services for them to place the child with a relative, or, back to either one of the original parties if noone else could be found.
However, in spite of the fact that judge made a finding that grandpa had molested both victims and had lied to Social Services, Social Services still wanted grandpa to have the kid!!! Fortunately, I was able to contact the head of adoption services in the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and he shared my outrage. He immediately had grandpa's foster care license revoked, and ordered that grandpa have no unsupervised contact. Yet Social Services STILL tried to place granddaughter with him, even having him go to some idiot therapists to try to get him declared fit. Fortunately, again DHS stepped in and had the guy evaluated by their own sex offender expert, who declared grandpa a high risk to reoffend! That finally put the stake through the vampire's heart, and he was ruled out. My clients are going to be adopting the child on April 10.
This happened in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and was the work of primarily one social worker, who thankfully retired last month. But it goes to show the idiocy of social service workers. My clients spent over $60,000 in legal costs and other fees associated with this action, and spent 3 1/2 years of terror "fighting the system". Fortunately we prevailed. But how many others out there don't?