missmara13

Point taken, except Social Services/DCFS has to make it their primary task to locate any parent, legal guardian or family before formally putting a child in the system as a ward of the state. If the minor was a runaway, some adult would or should be looking or have an address where he/she could be reached to have the minor returned to the home after it was deemed safe and appropriate for the child. The child's welfare comes first. If there is no adult and no contact information to be traced, that in and of itself supports and defines abandonment and that would be established by the state at the time of any guardianship process.

And now I'll let the legalese be put to rest, but it's an occupational hazard.

Caleb certainly could and would bribe. It would help him use Dawn to accomplish his desired task, but he'd eventually find resistance within state channels from "Sandy" types who are moral and dedicated or from attorneys or judges who would love to turn the tables on him too.

The Kirsten/Caleb conflict ought to be interesting and I do wonder if this would change Ryan's relationship with Sandy for the better- and Kirsten for the worst. He's a private person and we know how he has the read on Caleb. He should be very hurt at the least and feel violated and betrayed at the worst for being put at risk needlessly and carelessly, even if not intentionally.