When should social workers separate families? A federal lawsuit raises thorny questions

By STEVE LeBLANC
Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — A couple whose young children were taken by social workers and police in the middle of the night are suing, arguing they were unconstitutionally removed without a warrant or court order. Sarah Perkins and Joshua Sabey have filed the lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts, where the couple lived at the time. If they win, the case could set a precedent for state welfare agencies across the country, especially when they remove a child from a home without a court order. The lawsuit highlights the debate about when and how to respond to abuse or neglect of children. Civil liberties advocates say poverty and race — not parenting — are often the determining factor in child removals.