Department of Social Services v. Smith

433 Mich. 24

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: August 1, 1989
• Docket: Docket Nos. 83035, 83116
• Status: Published

Opinions

Riley, C.J.

We are asked in this case to decide whether a probate court may acquire jurisdiction over a child under the neglect provision of MCL 712A.2(b)(2); MSA 27.3178(598.2)(b)(2) without a finding that the neglect is culpable. In light of the plain language of § 2(b) and established legislative purpose of the juvenile code, we hold that culpable neglect need not be shown to support an exercise of jurisdiction by a probate court under § 2(b)(2).

I

Respondents Lorraine Smith and Scott Jacobs are the parents of the two minor children involved in this case, Jeffrey Jacobs, born June 4, 1984, and Forest Jacobs, born March 27, 1986.

In April of 1986, respondent Smith suffered an intracranial hemorrhage which caused, among other things, partial blindness, atrophy of the muscles in the extremities, and a serious impairment of motor skills.

In early October of that year, Ms. Smith and Mr. Jacobs returned from Wisconsin to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. At that point, the couple apparently separated. The children remained with their mother. Ms. Smith and the two children moved in with Smith’s parents for approximately one week. The respondent then took her children to a domestic violence center. Because the center was not equipped to meet the needs of her children, Ms. Smith moved them to the Hiawathaland Home. When this relocation also proved unsuitable, the respondent contacted the Chippewa County Department of Social Services for assistance.

On October 10, 1986, the children were placed in temporary foster care. Three days later, the dss petitioned the Chippewa County Probate Court to assume jurisdiction over the children on the ground of neglect under MCL 712A.2(b)(l) or (2); MSA 27.3178(598.2)(b)(l) or (2). Specifically, the petitioner alleged that the respondent’s physical afflictions "limit her ability to provide direct care to her children” and that the respondent "is without adequate shelter arrangements for her children.”¹

At a preliminary hearing, the respondent admitted the allegations in the petition.² Accordingly, the court ordered that the children remain in foster care pending a formal hearing on the matter.

A formal hearing was held on November 14, 1986. At this time, the court permitted the dss to amend its petition due to "changed circumstances”³ and ordered an adjudicative hearing on December 3, 1986.

At the adjudicative hearing, the respondent conceded many of the allegations in the amended petition. Specifically, the respondent admitted that her children are members of the Chippewa Tribe; that she suffered complications from a brain hematoma which has impaired her ability to provide proper or direct care to her children; that since her return to Sault Ste. Marie on October 3, 1986, she has lived in approximately seven residences including her parents’ home, a domestic violence shelter, the Hiawathaland Home, and at least two adult foster care residences; and that she had visited her children regularly since their' placement in foster care.

The respondent testified that she was currently living in her cousin’s home and that the children could not be cared for there. The respondent explained, however, that she would be making arrangements later that day to rent a trailer where both she and the children could live. Ms. Smith admitted that because of her limp and the limited dexterity in her left hand, she was unable to care for the children herself. According to the respondent, she would require assistance in changing diapers and holding the children. The respondent further testified that she had arranged for a young woman to move in and help tend the children.⁴

At the conclusion of the adjudicative hearing, the court assumed jurisdiction over the children on the basis of neglect pursuant to § 2(b)(2), stating that it was "satisfied by clear and convincing evidence ... as a result of the admissions . . . that these children are properly within the jurisdiction of the Court . . . .”

Citing In re McDuel, 142 Mich App 479; 369 NW2d 912 (1985), counsel for the respondent asserted that the court’s exercise of jurisdiction was improper because there had been no showing of blameworthiness on the part of the mother. According to counsel, "[the respondent’s] physical incapacity does not constitute neglect.” The court rejected this argument, explaining that culpability was required only in the dispositional phase of a termination proceeding and not in the adjudicative phase wherein a court merely decides whether or not to assume jurisdiction over the affected children. According to the court, McDuel was inapplicable because it involved the dispositional stage of a termination proceeding. The court then ruled that the children should remain in foster care and scheduled a dispositional hearing for December 29, 1986.⁵

In a split decision, the Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the probate court, holding that "for purposes of subsection 2(b)(2), some culpability or blameworthiness must be established by a preponderance of the evidence in order to justify the exercise of jurisdiction by a probate court over a child under 17 years of age.” In re Jacobs, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, decided April 12, 1988 (Docket No. 97841), slip op, p 5.⁶ The majority reasoned:

The two types of proceedings in juvenile court, adjudicative and dispositional, form a continuum at the end of which the parental rights of a respondent may be permanently terminated on the basis of a child’s neglect as brought about through some blameworthy act or omission by the respondent. If, at the adjudicative phase of a proceeding, there is absolutely no requirement to show blameworthiness or culpability on the part of the respondent to support the petitioner’s allegations of neglect under MCL 712A.2(b)(2); MSA 27.3178(598.2)(b)(2), then probate courts will be free to assume jurisdiction over children in parental rights termination cases in which there is correspondingly absolutely no possibility at that time of terminating parental rights on the basis of neglect under MCL 712A.19a(e); MSA 27.3178(598.19a)(e). We do not believe that probate courts are permitted under the jurisdictional statute to assume jurisdiction over a child based on the non-culpable neglect of a respondent and then to conduct a judicial fishing expedition in search of some evidence of culpability to serve as a basis for the termination of the respondent’s parental rights. [Id., p 7.]

Visiting Judge T. K. Boyle dissented, stating that "the majority has seriously erred in reading into jurisdictional § 2(b) the judicial interpretation of the term 'neglect’ created in the context of terminating an individual’s parental rights under the Michigan juvenile code.” Id., p l.⁷_

On June 22, 1988, we granted leave to appeal. 430 Mich 892 (1988).

ii

At the time of the adjudicative hearing in the instant case, MCL 712A.2(b); MSA 27.3178(598.2)(b) provided that the juvenile division of the probate court may acquire jurisdiction over any child under eighteen years of age found within the county:

(1) Whose parent or other person legally responsible for the care and maintenance of the child, when able to do so, neglects or refuses to provide proper or necessary support, education as required by law, medical, surgical, or other care necessary for his or her health or morals, or who is deprived of emotional well-being, or who is abandoned by his or her parents, guardian, or other custodian, or who is otherwise without proper custody or guardianship.

(2) Whose home or environment, by reason of neglect, cruelty, drunkenness, criminality, or depravity on the part of a parent, guardian, or other custodian, is an unñt place for the child to live in. [Emphasis added.][⁸]_

"Neglect” is not defined in the juvenile code, although the term appears in both the jurisdictional provisions quoted above and the subsection governing the termination of parental rights, MCL 712A.19a(e); MSA 27.3178(598.19a)(e).⁹ In our view, a comparison of these jurisdictional provisions sheds light on the proper construction of "neglect” in § 2(b)(2).

According to § 2(b)(1), jurisdiction may be conferred upon the probate court if a parent, "when able to do so,” neglects or refuses to provide necessary support or care. This subsection, which uses "neglect” as a verb, is subjective on its face. By inserting "when able to do so,” the Legislature has created a "built-in” culpability requirement.

Subsection 2(b)(2), on the other hand, uses "neglect” as a noun and speaks to the objective condition of the home. Jurisdiction may be conferred under this subsection if the home is in fact an unfit place for the child to live. This subsection, by its own terms, mandates an inquiry into the objective state of being neglected rather than an examination of the individual causes or reasons for the neglect. We agree with Judge Boyle that § 2(b) contemplates the assumption of jurisdiction in both situations.

The respondent asserts that because "neglect” is not expressly defined in the act, the term should be given "its plain and ordinary meaning.” According to Webster, the verb "neglect” means "to give little attention or respect to: Disregard: to leave undone or unattended to esp. through carelessness.” Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (1985), p 791. The respondent interprets this definition to suggest that a person may only neglect something intentionally or carelessly. We disagree. In our view, this definition is devoid of any requirement of specific intent or culpability. In any event, as stated previously, "neglect” as used in § 2(b)(2) is a noun, which is defined by Webster as "the condition of being neglected.” Id. This definition contains no element of mens rea.

The respondent further contends that because "neglect” is given as a basis for jurisdiction along with "cruelty, drunkenness, criminality, or depravity” in § 2(b)(2), the Legislature must have intended to incorporate an element of culpability. According to the respondent, each of the enumerated conditions suggests some degree of fault or blameworthiness on the part of the parent. Thus, because "neglect” was included in this list, that condition must also imply a certain degree of culpability. We disagree. In our view, had the Legislature intended to require "culpable neglect” or "intentional neglect” in § 2(b)(2), it could have readily stated so.

III

In requiring a finding of culpable neglect at the jurisdictional stage, the Court of Appeals relied on a line of recent decisions interpreting "neglect” in § 19a(e). In re Bedwell, 160 Mich App 168; 408 NW2d 65 (1987) (involving an emotionally disturbed mother); In re Tedder, 150 Mich App 688; 389 NW2d 149 (1986), lv den 426 Mich 874 (1986) (involving a paranoid schizophrenic parent); In re McDuel, supra (involving a parent inflicted with multiple sclerosis and confined to a wheelchair); In re Bailey, 125 Mich App 522; 336 NW2d 499 (1983) (involving mentally retarded parents). See also In re Kellogg, 157 Mich App 148; 403 NW2d 111 (1987) (involving a parent with a history of alcohol abuse, manic depression, and attempted suicide). But see In re Sterling, 162 Mich. App 328; 412 NW2d 284 (1987), certified conflict declined 429 Mich 1210 (1987) (involving parental drug and alcohol abuse).

Except for Sterling,10 each of these cases holds that to be neglectful under the termination statute, a parent must "have committed some act or omission which is blameworthy. We cannot assign blame to one who is incapacitated by disease.” McDuel, supra, p 486.¹¹ Given this interpretation of "neglect” in § 19a, the Court of Appeals in the instant case reasoned that culpability must also be read into "neglect” in § 2(b)(2):

A provision should be read in connection and in harmony with the rest of the statute. Cliffs Forest Products Co v Al Disdero Lumber Co, 144 Mich App 215, 222; 375 NW2d 397 (1985), lv den 424 Mich 896 (1986). It would be anomalous, inconsistent, and unwise to define "neglect” in two different ways within the same statute. We consider logic, fairness, and common sense to require congruity in the judicial interpretation of the term "neglect” as it appears in the jurisdictional and permanent custody provisions of the probate code .... [Jacobs, supra, slip op, p 7.]

We reject this construction of § 2(b)(2). The Court of Appeals cites no authority for its proposition that "neglect” in § 2(b)(2) must be interpreted in the same manner as "neglect” in the termination statute. In our yiew, because the jurisdictional and termination provisions serve completely different functions in the juvenile code,¹² the meaning of "neglect” in each statute should be explored independently.

In any event, the Legislature has recently eliminated any ambiguity regarding the requirement of culpable neglect in § 19a(e). 1988 PA 224, which became effective April 1, 1989, modifies several provisions of the juvenile code. See, e.g., n 8. Pertinent to our analysis is newly amended § 19b(3)(d):

(3) The court may terminate the parental rights of a parent to a child if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, 1 or more of the following:

(d) The parent, without regard to intent, fails to provide proper care or custody for the child and there is no reasonable expectation that the parent will be able to provide proper care and custody within a reasonable time considering the age of the child. [Emphasis added.]

In our view, permitting final termination on the basis of neglect (or, according to the new statutory language, for the "fail[ure] to provide proper care”) without regard to intent supports our conclusion that culpable neglect need not be shown at the jurisdictional phase of the proceeding. If culpability or blameworthiness is not required for final disposition, it certainly would not be required at the initial adjudicative stage, where the court merely decides whether or not to assume jurisdiction over the affected children.

Mandating a finding of culpability at the jurisdictional phase contravenes the established purpose of the statutory scheme which is to protect children from an unfit home environment and to preserve the existence of the family unit, if the latter alternative is at all possible. Sterling, supra, p 339; Jacobs, supra, p 3 (Boyle, J., dissenting).

The newly amended juvenile code provisions illustrate these legislative goals. For example, MCL 712A.1; MSA 27.3178(598.1) instructs the probate courts to construe the juvenile code liberally "to the end that each child coming within the jurisdiction of the court shall receive the care, guidance, and control, preferably in his or her own home, as will be conducive to the child’s welfare . . . (Emphasis added.) Furthermore, § 18f of the act mandates that if an agency, in a § 2(b) proceeding, advises the court against placing the child in the custody of the parents, that agency must prepare a report setting forth, among other things, the "[ejfforts to be made by the agency to return the child to his or her home.” MCL 712A.18f(3)(c); MSA 27.3178(598.18f)(3)(c) (emphasis added). Similarly, according to § 19, if a child is placed in foster care, the court must hold a regular "review hearing” (every ninety-one days) in order to evaluate "the performance of the child, the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, the juvenile worker, and other persons providing assistance to the child and his or her family.” MCL 712A. 19(2); MSA 27.3178(598.19)(2). This section also requires that the court, at each review hearing, determine "[wjhether there is a reasonable likelihood that the child may be returned to his or her home prior to the next review hearing . . . .” MCL 712A.19(8)(b); MSA 27.3178(598.19)(8)(b). (Emphasis added.)

As illustrated by these provisions and by the record in the instant case, when the state intervenes at the adjudicative (jurisdictional) stage, substantial effort is expended to improve the home situation and, if at all possible, to return the child to the custody of the parents. In the instant matter, when Jeffrey and Forest were originally placed in foster care, the dss immediately assigned two social workers to the case. The workers interviewed and evaluated all of the involved parties. In fact, because of her serious health problems, the dss required the respondent mother to be examined by various medical doctors and psychologists. Later, at the dispositional hearing, one of the workers presented a fair and workable placement plan whereby the children would be returned to the custody of their parents within a month approximately. This plan was, in fact, adopted by the probate court. See n 5.

In our view, requiring "a finding of culpable neglect before the state’s resources may be employed” to help remedy unsatisfactory living conditions would undoubtedly frustrate the Legislature’s established goals. See Jacobs, supra, p 3 (Boyle, J., dissenting). We also believe that requiring a finding of culpable neglect at this early stage would improperly shift the focus of the proceeding from the child to the parent.

IV

Having examined the record in the instant case, we are persuaded that the probate court properly assumed jurisdiction over the respondent’s children. According to MCR 5.908(A)(1)(a) and (C)(1), a court’s exercise of jurisdiction must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence. See, e.g., In re Riñe, supra, p 669. In the instant case, however, because the children are members of the Chippewa Tribe, the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC 1901 et seq., applies¹³ and the appropriate standard, therefore, is "clear and convincing evidence.”

Section 1912(e) of the act provides that a child may not be placed in foster care unless there is "a determination, supported by clear and convincing evidence, including testimony of qualified expert witnesses, that the continued custody of the child by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child.” (Emphasis added.)¹⁴

Having observed the admissions and testimony at the adjudicative hearing, the probate court determined that it should assume jurisdiction over the Jacobs children and that they should remain in temporary foster care. The probate court expressly stated that its determination was supported "by clear and convincing evidence.”¹⁵ Respondent Smith admitted that she had suffered a stroke and that the resulting physical limitations severely impaired her ability to provide proper or direct care to her sons. The respondent also testified that she would require live-in assistance in caring for her children and that she had not yet secured a home for the family. Apparently, at the time of the hearing, the respondent father was also unable to care for the children because his mother, with whom he was then living, was recovering from surgery._

We disagree with Justice Levin’s assertion that there is no evidence of "neglect” in this case. Post, p 42. The respondent herself admitted that her children had not been receiving "proper” care and that the family was, at the time, without a place in which to live. These facts, in our view, provide adequate evidence of "neglect” for purposes of jurisdictional § 2(b)(2).

We acknowledge the distressing nature of the respondent’s situation and commend her for coming forward to the dss when she was unable to care for her children. We recognize that the respondent has not intentionally or culpably neglected her children. The purpose of the juvenile code, however, is to protect children from an unfit home, "not to punish bad parents.” Sterling, supra, p 339. Were we to require a showing of culpable neglect before a probate court may exercise jurisdiction, an entire class of children, i.e., those neglected by blameless parents, would remain neglected.¹⁶

Accordingly, we hold that culpability is not a prerequisite for probate court intervention under § 2(b)(2). In light of the respondent’s admissions and other evidence presented at the adjudicative hearing, we find that the home environment was unfit for Jeffrey and Forest and that the court’s exercise of jurisdiction pursuant to § 2(b)(2) was supported by clear and convincing evidence. The decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed.

Brickley, Griffin, and Archer, JJ., concurred with Riley, C.J.

1 The petition also maintained that the father was unable to care for the children. Apparently Mr. Jacobs was living with his mother, Donna Jacobs, who was scheduled to undergo surgery in November and therefore would not be in a position in the immediate future to help care for the children.

2 The preliminary hearing was conducted on October 13, 1986, the same day the dss filed its petition in the probate court.

3 The dss filed an amended petition on November 20, 1986.

4 The respondent met the eighteen-year-old woman in October of 1986. The woman had been a volunteer at the domestic violence shelter.

5 At the dispositional hearing, the court observed the testimony of Ms. Smith, two dss social workers assigned to the case, a medical doctor who had evaluated the respondent, and the friend with whom the respondent was then living. At the conclusion of this hearing, the court decided to adopt the placement plan of one of the case workers. Under the plan, the children would remain in their present foster home for approximately four weeks, at which time they would be reunited with their father in the grandmother’s home (assuming the grandmother had recovered satisfactorily). The current visitation schedule would remain intact.

The court entered a six-month order and mandated that the case be reviewed in ninety days. According to the case worker, the plan would allow the dss to render additional services to the father and grandmother in caring for the children. However, the court admonished Mr. Jacobs that he should accept more responsibility for the care of his children. Finally, the court ordered Ms. Smith to cooperate with the dss and to obtain a neuropsychological evaluation. (Testimony indicated that Ms. Smith had neglected to inform the dss of her numerous address changes and failed to keep administrative and medical appointments.)

6 The Court of Appeals ordered the probate court to hold a new adjudicative hearing "after which a determination of jurisdiction will be made based on the interpretation of the term 'neglect’ as set forth in this opinion.” Id., p 9.

7 I am unable to agree that either the language of jurisdictional § 2(b) or the evident legislative purpose of the juvenile code permits [the majority’s] conclusion. [Id., p 2 (Boyle, J., dissenting).]

8 Section 2(b) of the code was amended by 1988 PA 224 as follows:

(b) Jurisdiction in proceedings concerning any child under 18 years of age found within the county:

(1) Whose parent or other person legally responsible for the care and maintenance of the child, when able to do so, neglects or refuses to provide proper or necessary support, education, medical, surgical, or other care necessary for his or her health or morals, who is subject to a substantial risk of harm to his or her mental well-being, who is abandoned by his or her parents, guardian, or other custodian, or who is without proper custody or guardianship. As used in this subparagraph:

(A) "Education” means learning based on an organized educational program that is appropriate, given the age, intelligence, ability, and any psychological limitations of a child, in the subject areas of reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, writing, and English grammar.

(B) "Without proper custody or guardianship” does not in-elude the situation where a parent has placed the child with another person who is legally responsible for the care and maintenance of the child and who is able to and does provide the child with proper care and maintenance.

(2) Whose home or environment, by reason of neglect, cruelty, drunkenness, criminality, or depravity on the part of a parent, guardian, or other custodian, is an unfit place for the child to live in. [Emphasis added.]

As indicated, the primary purpose of the amendment was to define "education” and "without proper custody or guardianship” as those terms are used in § 2(b)(1). Section 2(b)(2), the provision at issue here, remains unchanged.

9 MCL 712A.19a; MSA 27.3178(598.19a) provided:

Where a child remains in foster care in the temporary custody of the court following the initial hearing provided by section 19, the court may make a final determination and order placing the child in the permanent custody of the court, if it finds any of the following:

(e) The parent or guardian is unable to provide a fit home for the child by reason of neglect.

10 In Sterling, the Court of Appeals expressly declined to follow the Bailey-McDuel-Tedder line of cases, holding that "a finding of culpability or intent to neglect is not a legislative requirement for the termination of parental rights under § 19a(e).” Sterling, supra, p 337. In dicta, the panel also stated that culpability would not be required for the initial exercise of jurisdiction. Id., p 339.

11 Other panels of the Court of Appeals have affirmed termination orders under § 19a(e) without even mentioning a finding of culpability or blameworthiness. In re Riffe, 147 Mich App 658; 382 NW2d 842 (1985), lv den 424 Mich 904 (1986); In re Slis, 144 Mich App 678; 375 NW2d 788 (1985); In re Harmon, 140 Mich App 479; 364 NW2d 354 (1985).

12 At the time of the child protective proceedings in the instant case, Michigan Court Rules and case law recognized the clear distinction between the adjudicative phase where the court "determines whether the child comes within the court’s jurisdiction under the juvenile code [§ 2(b)] as alleged in the petition” and the dispositional phase where the court determines “measures to be taken . . . with respect to the child and adults properly within its jurisdiction.” MCR 5.908(A)(1)(a) and (2)(a). Because a dispositional hearing could result in the ultimate termination of parental rights pursuant to § 19a, a higher standard of proof is required. According to MCR 5.908(C)(2), the standard of proof at the termination stage is “clear and convincing evidence” while the standard at the initial jurisdictional level is merely "proof by a preponderance of the evidence.” See also Fritts v Krugh, 354 Mich 97, 110-112; 92 NW2d 604 (1958); In re Riffe, supra, pp 668-669.

13 The probate court acknowledged this fact on the record at the adjudicative hearing:

Before we go any further I should indicate that there is a notification of membership in the Tribe, and one of the allegations admitted to in the petition is obviously the tribal membership, which was admitted, and there is a representative of the Tribe here, Ms. Christine Moody, and that obviously the Indian Child Welfare Act would apply in this particular case. So there is no confusion on that.

14 A higher standard of proof for final termination is similarly required under the act. Section 1912(f) provides:

No termination of parental rights may be ordered in such proceeding in the absence of a determination, supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, including testimony of qualified expert witnesses, that the continued custody of the child by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child. [Emphasis added.]

15 In light of the applicability of the Indian Child Welfare Act in the instant case, we find that the Court of Appeals erroneously applied the “preponderance of the evidence” standard.

16 We disagree with the respondent’s assertion that our holding would have a chilling effect on disabled or handicapped parents whose illnesses interfere with their ability to care for their children. According to the respondent, such parents would be dissuaded from approaching the dss for assistance out of fear that they will lose custody of their children.

This contention, in our view, belies the stated purpose of the juvenile code which is to attempt to improve the home environment and to keep the family unit intact whenever possible. Moreover, as stated above, the respondent’s assertion is wholly unsupported in the record before us. In the instant case, it is quite clear that the dss and the probate court intended to use every possible means to improve the children’s homelife and to reunite them with their parents. In fact, at the conclusion of the dispositional hearing, the court stated on the record that its long-term plan was "to terminate jurisdiction” as soon as the home environment had improved sufficiently.