People with felonies adopting?

TexasPuppy · #1 08-04-2007, 03:39 PM

I'm sorry if I offend anyone with this post but am I to understand that babies/children are being adopted by people that have committed felonies and have been to prison?

I was just looking at the new posts for today and someone was asking about her dh having 8 felony charges and being in prison affecting their chances of adoption.

I can understand people wanting to adopt by why would someone with a criminal record be allowed to adopt when so many people without any criminal record are waiting to adopt?

I placed my child for adoption almost 30 years ago and the thought of her going to anything but a normal, loving family never crossed my mind. If I had read something like that post I would never have let her go. Am I the only one who feels that way?

I know people can make mistakes, but 7 or 8 time? When do you draw the line?

jaenelle · #2 08-04-2007, 06:37 PM

That was kind of what I was thinking, too. I know some people make mistakes when they're younger or whatever, but multiple counts indicates a lack of learning experience. The felonies that that poster mentioned were not violent crimes or child abuse related, thankfully, but still, I could see, as a possible birthparent, how knowing things like that would be a very big turnoff. But I doubt that possible birthparents would even be told about those things -- most of the time, I don't even think they're allowed to see things like the homestudy.

BrandyHagz · #3 08-04-2007, 06:54 PM

I find it strangely ironic that convictions like that are often used (and posted about on the forums) when discussing how unfit a birth parent is.

I am talking infant, domestic adoption – and how I often read posts where members talk about how unfit some one is based on their criminal record…and why the child belongs with them, over the birth parent, who has a criminal history.

lahdh4 · #4 08-05-2007, 11:45 AM

I often wonder the same thing. I keep seeing posts where it is said "birthfamily was in jail again for the 3rd/what ever time" but then it is do prove the point that they are an unfit parent but when it is on the other side, it isn't a bad thing. I mean, come on, once or twice fine, but anything over that then you didn't learn anything from the first or second time and there are anumber of other families without criminal histories that are trying to adopt.

TexasPuppy · #5 08-11-2007, 05:26 PM

I'm soryy but I think even one felony charge is too much. and it shouldn't matter what the charge was. I would find it hard to believe that there are no adoptive parents without records out there waiting to adopt and that a child had to be placed with someone that has a record.

My child was a gift for deserving parents. Not something to fill a void for someone so undeserving. How could this happen in this day and age? I always understood that adoptive parents underwent major scrutiny before being approved to accept placement so where is the breakdown? Are these felony parents buying their way into the system? I have a hard time believing they are getting their "child" through legal means.

These are just my thought and opinions.

thanks for listening.

Leigh131313 · #6 08-11-2007, 05:47 PM

I do know that people say that regarding birthfamilies - and it IS meant to show the negative..

But seriously....isn't it JUST as negative when about a hopeful afamily?? I mean, there is a reason the question is being asked - because it does seem unlikely that they'd be allowed to adopt.

BrandyHagz · #7 08-11-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

because it does seem unlikely that they'd be allowed to adopt.

Actually, that isn't true Leigh - it may keep them from adopting from foster care or internationally - but likely not domestic infant adoption.

JPDakota · #8 08-11-2007, 06:28 PM

There is no way we would have passed our homestudy with a felony conviction on either of our records. Our social worker was very clear about that. I don't know about other states, but not the one we lived in at the time. And 8 felony convictions? You have to be kidding me! Why would you even ask the question? And the judge in our case in the state we adopted from read our documentation, including criminal history (which neither of us had) very carefully.
But, you know, sometimes money can open doors better left closed. I don't know.

jaenelle · #9 08-12-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPDakota

There is no way we would have passed our homestudy with a felony conviction on either of our records. Our social worker was very clear about that. I don't know about other states, but not the one we lived in at the time. And 8 felony convictions? You have to be kidding me! Why would you even ask the question? And the judge in our case in the state we adopted from read our documentation, including criminal history (which neither of us had) very carefully.
But, you know, sometimes money can open doors better left closed. I don't know.

I don't believe we'd have passed our homestudy either with even one felony count. The agency that did our homestudy said that minor things -- traffic violations, etc. would not hold us back -- but that basically anything more serious would. I took that to mean that even misdemeanors would get us denied, let alone felonies! I feel so sorry for the birthmoms who unknowingly place their babies with these people, and also for the babies who will grow up in what is likely to be an unhealthy environment.

lonni · #10 08-12-2007, 05:55 AM

I read of a case in Florida where the Mother had convictions and the Father had felony convictions.They did a private infant adoption and passed the HS since it had been 3 years since his felony.(it may have been 5 years, but I am pretty sure it was 3)
I was shocked, really...

zxczxcasdasd · #11 08-12-2007, 09:32 AM

I couldn't believe this myself, but I found the thread she's referring to, and there are several replies that said "no problem!" about adopting with felony convictions. They indicated that you just have to shop for an agency that doesn't care about the convictions and avoid the ones who will reject you for it. One poster even said her husband has 5 convictions for forgery and they passed their HS "with flying colors." I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read it myself.

Leigh131313 · #12 08-12-2007, 09:43 AM

Here it's nothing to do with the Agencies policies...you wouldn't get approval from the gov't - who has to approve every adoptive parent.

BrandyHagz · #13 08-12-2007, 09:45 AM

Gosh it'd be awesome if our US Federal Government took a more active role in adoptions and adoption policy oversight...

*sigh*

Another way we fall short.

Canada eh?

Leigh131313 · #14 08-12-2007, 09:47 AM

Brandy - they aren't terribly active.

We have a minister of childrens welfare - basically she and her office are responsible for giving the ok or not for you to proceed with adopting. If you have a criminal record - it would be up to them. If you have any sort of child related record (or anything pending) you would not be able to proceed.

eta- it is not a federal office, it's provincial (same as state for you)

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