“Terrorism” of Child Welfare System to Families to Be Addressed in Arkansas Legislature

Families caught up in dealing with Child Protective Services nationwide are frustrated with a system which allows families to be terrorized and destroyed, often based on unproven allegations and even outright lies. Legislators in Arkansas will be hearing from families and attorneys on Thursday, October 1 at 1:00 pm in a Joint Performance Review Committee meeting, who will be explaining why there needs to be an overhaul or even elimination of the current child welfare system. Hal Stanley represents one of the families who will be present at the hearing. Their homeschooled children were taken away from them in January on the basis of a mineral supplement in their home that the FDA has warned against, but is not illegal. The children are home now, but the Stanleys are determined to have legislators understand the incredible damage done to innocent families, like theirs, when Child Protective Services separate children from their parents without evidence of wrong-doing.

Warrant Issuing Judge in Stanley Children Kidnapping Case Forces Sheriff to Reveal Documents

Reporter Clay Herrmann of the Hot Springs Daily News in Arkansas has published copies of the Search Warrant documents used to take the seven children out of the Stanley home on January 12, 2015 with the full force of a tactical SWAT-style team. As has previously been reported, the children were removed by Garland County Deputy Sheriff Sgt. Michael Wright, against the protests of social service workers and a medical team who were present at the scene and saw nothing warranting the children's removal. Mr. Herrmann went directly to the judge who issued the warrant, Judge Lynn Williams, who forced Deputy Sheriff Mike Wright to finally hand over the documents. So far, no criminal charges have been filed against the father Hal Stanley, or any other family member. And yet, the State retains custody of their children. If you are a citizen of the United States living in Garland County Arkansas, maybe it is time to take action if you do not want to continue living in a police state where authorities can come and kidnap your children with no criminal charges filed. If Sgt. Wright does not believe he has to give an account of his actions because he can hide in Juvenile Court, maybe it is time for a "Citizens vs. Garland County Sheriff Department" complaint to be filed in Garland County, and specifically against Mike Wright.

4 Year Old Benjamin Stanley: Why Can’t I go Home?

It has been about 50 days now since a military-style SWAT team arrived at the home of the Stanley family in Arkansas, and removed all seven home-schooled children from the home. The parents have been charged with no crime, let alone been convicted of any wrong doing, and yet the children still remain separated from them, placed in foster care, as the State of Arkansas continues to collect federal funding for each child that has been placed into the foster care system. Hal Stanley, the father of the children and Baptist minister who has been required by the State to attend "parenting classes," shared this letter written by a 19 year old girl who prays every day for his children held in captivity: "Has anyone tried to imagine the Stanley’s story through the eyes of 4 year old Benjamin­?"

Attorney Emord: Arkansas Seizure of Stanley Kids is an Extraordinary Abuse of State Power

Constitutional attorney Jonathan Emord hosted the Robert Scott Bell show and discussed the current situation in Arkansas where local law enforcement together with social services took custody of Hal and Michelle Stanley's seven homeschooled children by force. Emord stated that based on what is known, the Arkansas seizure of the Stanley children looks like "an abuse of power that is extraordinary." Emord said that the Stanley children are "essentially incarcerated," because they have been taken by the State and kept away from their parents before there is any trial on the merits of any charges.

7 Children Kidnapped by State of Arkansas from Homeschool Family to Remain in State Custody

It will be at least "6 more weeks of kidnapping" for the 7 homeschooled, homebirthed Stanley children, according to their father. Hal and Michelle Stanley were given no warning that their court hearing scheduled for February 12 would be abruptly postponed until March 23. They say they were not given any explanation as to why the hearing was postponed. They had been under the impression that their children would be coming home after the hearing, and had held onto the hope that the crazy situation would be resolved, and their family would be reunited. The pain in their voices was palpable as they expressed their disappointment and grief over the postponement. The father explains to Health Impact News that they are only allowed to visit with their children a few hours a week, under strict supervision. There has to be two observers, and if they talk about things they are not supposed to discuss with their children, the visit is cut short. As a condition to these supervised visits, Hal and Michelle must attend "parenting classes," even though they have homeschooled their children for many years.

Judge Refuses to Allow Stanley Family Children to Go Home – Issues Gag Order

A judge in Arkansas Juvenile Court has refused to allow the Stanley children to go home, and has issued a gag order on the family. Listen to the parents address the public prior to being issued a gag order.

Mom of 7 Homeschoolers in Arkansas Taken by Authorities Speaks Out

Michelle Stanley, the mother of the 7 homeschool children who were taken away by authorities in Arkansas, was interviewed by Magellan, of Blog Talk Radio. "We've been doing the best we can to go from day to day. We can't sleep, we can't eat."