Woman, DUI, buckles up beer but not baby

They already are, anytime the cops are called in and a child is involved CPS is automatically called in. The police, doctors, hospitals, schools, teachers, fire dept., EMS workers and any other public or private official is required by law to contact CPS. They are what is called a Mandatory Reporting Adult and if they do not call in CPS and something happens to the child they can be sued by the state for not reporting and they can/will loose their jobs. The same is true for the elderly.

The child is probably under the care of someone else at this point, until the mother proves herself. They look for family placement first and the last resort is temporary/emergency foster care until court. They have a set time frame where the parent has to be in front of the courts so a case plan can be drawn up. I want to say 72 hours after seizing the child. From that point on the judge makes decisions based on parental rights and then the well being of the child. If the mother has never been charged before, IF she promises to go to parenting classes and treatment for her "addiction" she can have the child back pretty quick. Reunification is always the first priority of the courts, whether the parent has shown lack of judgment/being unfit or worse they have a right to their child. So unless she has a huge record, has been convicted of other crimes, or gives up her parental rights the child will be returned to her as quickly as they can manage. Addiction isn't a cause for removal of a child, driving while drunk with her not in a car seat will open a case though.

Where it will go from there will all depend on the mother, her pleading her case and the views of the judge.

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