I had to get a lawyer when I got busted for weed possession, the guy I got I later found out was an active alcoholic, he'd show up drunk some times, got busted with Coke a few times, still allowed to practice law even found out he had like two felony possession charges
never trust a lawyer who isnt an alcoholic
I don't post that often and I lost the email for my last account so whatever, but I wanted to give my 2 cents.
I was a CPS caseworker for 5 years in FL. What people seem to be missing about this is that it isn't the imminent criminal charges that are going to fuck him, it's his case plan. I cannot speak for other states as my only interaction with other states and their caseworkers was through ICPC (interstate compact for the placement of children), but apparently Florida is one of the better states to be in care if you have to be, large cities are hellish, and the midwest states are basically the dark ages. I can speak for Florida though and give an approximation.
When the children were removed, within 24 hours a shelter hearing is held. This hearing, the state worker who actually removed the child has to appear before a judge and explain why the child(ren) were removed and justify that there is no possible way to keep them with the parents, even with a safety plan. (a document that requires accountability of the parents, say, a trustworthy relative who sees the kids every single day and the kids can go to them if shit goes south at home). After this, an adjudication hearing is set, where the removed child is adjudicated dependent (on the state for safety and security). The children are then placed, as close to home as possible, and with people who are closest to the child's home as possible, and with the closest relative (who is trustworthy), say, grandparents, an uncle, whatever. If this is not possible, foster care/a group home (usually the case for teenagers), and efforts are made to keep the kids together, which is often hard if the age ranges are large.
The "alleged perpetrators" (this is juvenile court in FL, not criminal or family court) are given a case plan, which contains certain tasks that must be completed in order for the parent or parents to regain custody. For example, in this case a case plan would probably include substance abuse classes, random UAs, parenting classes, relationship counseling (if there is no DV involved), maintaining sobriety, etc. Case plans in theory are supposed to be valid for one year, but often the changing circumstances of a case can drag this for much longer. If all efforts fail and the parents are incorrigible fuck-ups, the child is stated to require permanency as a human right, and we will seek to terminate the parent's right through a TPR trial (termination of parental rights). After this, the children are eligible for adoption, or permanent guardianship (in the case of say, grandma can't adopt but can and is willing to be their guardian until 1
.
Basically, Rekieta(s) can manage to slither out of their criminal charges scott-free, but their CPS case plan is a whole other ballgame. How easy or hard it is is really a function of the particular caseworker. I could make them go for random UAs 4 times a week, or once a month, or whatever. Sometimes this is stipulated in their case plan. Documentation from a substance abuse counselor, etc. In other words, they (theoretically) have to actually change, and evidence to this effect is gathered over a long period of time to paint a whole picture of their progress and attitude.
Judicial review hearings are set generally every 3 or 6 months at a minimum, with the state's lawyers requesting more, if something is needed to be brought before the court's attention. The caseworker will have an assistant state's attorney assigned to them. The parents also get a lawyer, or a public defender if needed.
This is a lot bigger in scope than just the criminal charges. Now there are two possibilities: Nick and the wife or whatever actually manage to stay clean and do their tasks, show up to visitation times, etc. and show they love their kids and will do what is required of them to get them back, or decide they are better off being slaves to Slaanesh.
Before anyone says "well they'll just stop drinking before UAs", when I had an alky parent, I didn't test them for just alcohol, I tested them for alcohol metabolites. IMO this will play out however Nick truly wants it to.
