January 12, 2009

Child Custody Case Studies and CAM Monitoring

VOLUNTARY MONITORING

1. 30 year old Mother of four (NC District 20A, Union County) Mother of 4 (1,3, 5, and 7 years of age) lost custody due to her excessive drinking which led to neglect and endangerment of her children.

SCRAM Application - Mother volunteered to be in SCRAM Program for 2 months, in order to have visitation privileges and eventual return of her children.

2. 39 year old Father (NC District 18, Guilford) Father spent several weeks searching for a tool that could “disprove a negative.” His children are 2 yrs and 4 yrs old. He “needs to be their Dad and remain a part of their daily lives.” Found RSS online and voluntarily wore the CAM bracelet for 46 days. Currently sees his children every other weekend and hopes that proof of abstinence will increase the time he is allowed to be with them.

SCRAM Application – Voluntary application to “disprove a negative.”

3. 38 year old Father (NC District 28, Buncombe) Has one young son. Voluntarily monitored for 198 days. Remained abstinent for first 110 days. SCRAM detected, and RSS reported alcohol consumption during the remaining 88 days of monitoring.

SCRAM Application – Parenting Coordinator utilized data throughout custody evaluation.

4. 47 year old Father (NC District 26 Mecklenburg County) Parents are separated and the husband wants to prove to his wife that he is not drinking. He will wear cam for “as long as it takes” and at a minimum of one year.

SCRAM Application - Wants to reunify his family.

FAMILY COURT

1. 38 year old Father (NC District 26, Mecklenburg) Father just completed alcohol treatment program and is 120+ days abstinent. He is grateful to have the opportunity to prove his sobriety and to also have it 100% funded by the County.

SCRAM Application – Ordered by Family Court Judge to wear SCRAM for undetermined term. While being monitored will have visitation privileges with his 18 month old daughter.

2. 48 year old Father (NC District 26, Mecklenburg) County is funding 100% of monitoring costs. Father of one 10 year old son is eager to comply with the judges orders and has been monitored for 62 days thus far.

SCRAM Application - Ordered by Family Court Judge to be monitored by SCRAM for 90 days. Is allowed to visit son residing in another state while being monitored.

3. 42 year old Mother (NC District 26, Mecklenburg) South Carolina Mom was fully compliant while monitored by SCRAM for 61 days. County funding 100% of monitoring fees.

SCRAM Application – Ordered by Family Court Judge to be monitored for a minimum of 60 days.

4. 45 year old Mother (NC District 28, Buncombe) Mother admits alcohol is her drug of choice. Children (ages 11, 13 and 17) have been removed from the home.

Offender History-

Resisting Officer, Class 2 Misdemeanor, SS, Supervision 18 months - 2005

Habitual Impaired Driving, Class F, 1 year Incarceration - 2001

Worthless check, Class 1 Misdemeanor, SS - 1996

SCRAM Application - Ordered by Family Treatment Court Judge to wear SCRAM for 30 days to retain visitation privileges with her children. Compliant for duration of the SCRAM Program. Sources stated client started drinking again. Ordered back to SCRAM Program for 60 days.

6. 29 year old Father (NC District 26, Mecklenburg) Father of one young daughter completed assessment. No SA treatment required. County is funding 100% of the monitoring.

SCRAM Application – Ordered by Family Court Judge to be monitored for 90 days. Thus far at 31 days monitored, all reports show total compliance.

7. 44 year old Mother (NC District 26, Mecklenburg) Mother of elementary school age daughter is being monitored in order to retain temporary custody with goal of full permanent custody. County is funding 100% of monitoring.

SCRAM Application – Ordered by Family Court Judge to be monitored for a minimum of 90 days. Thus far the client has been compliant for the 107 days of monitored.

SCRAM use in North Carolina Social Services Cases

  1. A fifty-nine year old Grandmother from PersonCounty - has custody of daughter’s children and wore the SCRAM bracelet for 63 days to prove abstinence from alcohol and keep her grandchildren with her. She was 100% compliant in all areas of the SCRAM Program and will retain custody of the grandchildren as their mother is in active addiction to crack-cocaine.
  1. A Mother of 4 children from UnionCounty-, who recently lost custody, asked Judge Bragg if she could enroll in the SCRAM program to prove ability to abstain from alcohol and have visitation privileges with her children. This was granted and she wore SCRAM from May 30 through July 27. She was 100% compliant in all areas of the SCRAM program and is attending aftercare every two weeks.
  1. A young Mother from StanlyCounty - called RSS requesting to be enrolled in the SCRAM Program. In her desire to have her young child back at home with her, she stated, “I want to prove that I don’t have an alcohol problem and wearing the bracelet seems like the easiest way.” The bracelet will be installed on Monday, July 31 and she will wear it voluntarily for 2 months.
  1. This 40+ year old Male from OrangeCounty- has been residing at, and caring for his 97 year old grandfather. Close relatives have accused the grandson of negligence, theft, drinking excessively and using drugs in the home. The grandson’s attorney is advising him to wear SCRAM and will propose to the judge that the data generated be used as evidence.
  1. 30+ year old Mother from PersonCounty - Due to drug and alcohol addiction/abuse this young woman recently lost custody of her children and is in jeopardy of becoming homeless herself. She is attending 12 Step Meetings, working hard to make radical changes in her life and is proactively seeking help. She will be enrolled in the SCRAM program which will be funded by her attorney, and also into a treatment program.
  1. 40+year old Mother from Buncombe – admits that alcohol is her drug of choice and as a result is wearing SCRAM to eventually have her children returned home. By wearing the bracelet, she stated that she can forgo “the inconvenience of driving to town to take the breathalyzer test and then drive back to have visitation with my children.”

Rehabilitation Support Services

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