FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 16, 2025
Newly acquired documents disclose that California's Child Abduction Units (CAUs) receive over $9.9 million in state funding to enforce custody laws, straddling civil and criminal domains with significant discretion. The findings call for enhanced…
Maryland’s Missing Foster Children: What the Numbers Reveal
The Maryland Department of Human Services has revealed that 990 children in foster care have been missing since 2020, following an MPIA request by advocates. Policy changes obscured the distinction between runaways and missing children, raising concerns…
Inside People v. Smiel: When Process Becomes the Story
Giselle Smiel faces five felony charges, including kidnapping, after picking up her child at a San Diego school. Her defense argues that the charges lack legal basis due to improper venue and insufficient evidence. Concerns about ADA violations and a…
The Disabilities You Don’t See — and the Systems That Still Don’t See Us
The post discusses the challenges faced by individuals with invisible disabilities in America, highlighting systemic bias in courts and institutions that often fail to accommodate their needs. It emphasizes the need for better enforcement of the ADA,…
Paper Crime Scene: How a County Line Turned a Custody Dispute Into a Felony Case
Giselle Farias Smiel stands accused of kidnapping her children, with her case reflecting failures in bureaucratic procedures and communication. A custody dispute escalated into criminal charges due to unverified paperwork from the father. Sealed…