Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses NYC Child Welfare Agency of Coercive Tactics and Constitutional Violations

The lawsuit claims that invasive investigations disproportionately affect low-income Black and Latino families, with few resulting in findings of neglect or abuse.

A federal class-action lawsuit accuses NYC's child welfare agency, Administration for Children's Services (ACS), of using coercive tactics in investigations, violating constitutional rights and causing trauma to families.
The lawsuit highlights ACS's routine practice of entering homes without warrants, often under false pretenses, disproportionately affecting low-income Black and Latino families.
Only a small fraction of ACS investigations result in findings of child neglect or abuse, yet the agency conducts over 50,000 investigations annually, with invasive searches including strip searches of children.
Legislative efforts and policy changes aimed at reforming child welfare investigations have been criticized as insufficient, with advocates pushing for better training and policies to prevent coercion.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and an end to unconstitutional policies and practices, highlighting a systemic issue of government overreach and violation of Fourth Amendment rights.