Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
    • The Best of Reason Magazine
    • Why We Can't Have Nice Things
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Civil Liberties

Free-Range Meitiv Family Beats Charges for Good

Sanity prevails

Lenore Skenazy | 6.22.2015 8:45 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
Large image on homepages | Dreamstime
(Dreamstime)
Kids
Dreamstime

From Danielle Meitiv's Facebook page comes this glorious news:

We received the notice about CPS' findings in the second, horrible incident when the kids were picked up on April 12th. They "ruled out" neglect, which means BOTH cases have been decided in our favor and are now closed. There is more to do to make sure this doesn't happen to other families, but at least for now we can breathe a little easier.

Now that the Meitivs have prevailed, it's going to be harder for CPS officials to charge parents with neglect for letting kids walk or play outside. So we can all breathe a little easier (but just a little). 

Kudos to Maryland for swallowing its pride and admitting that this was never a case of bad parenting or endangering kids. And in honor of this historic day: Parents, please, send your children outside.

Read more about the Meitiv family and Free-Range Kids here.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Jacob Sullum on the Medical Marijuana Activist Who Faces Decades in Prison Because Her Son Questioned Anti-Pot Propaganda

Lenore Skenazy is president of Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience, and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement.

Civil LibertiesCultureFree-Range KidsParenting
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (26)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. UnCivilServant   10 years ago

    So, who's been fired for malfeasance?

    Noone?

    Where's the disincentive to act like this again?

    1. Juvenile Bluster   10 years ago

      There is none, so this will continue to happen. As the recent goings on with Reason prove, you can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride, and they'll use the ride to punish you.

      (and while this is good news, every time I see good news on Reason it just makes me think they're getting read for a running nut kick)

      1. Unable2Reason   10 years ago

        Roshambo.

    2. rudehost   10 years ago

      This^ Maryland will be worthy of praise when the castle walls are festively decorated with heads on spikes.

      1. Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair   10 years ago

        Wait -- what happened to the wood chippers? Are they so soon forgotten?

        1. Reverend Draco   10 years ago

          Woodchippers are so. . . small.

          Think bigger.

          http://www.claasofamerica.com/.....uar980-930

          1. Reverend Draco   10 years ago

            http://www.claasofamerica.com/.....knife-drum

  2. Rich   10 years ago

    They "ruled out" neglect, which means BOTH cases have been decided in our favor and are now closed.

    FTFY

  3. Idle Hands   10 years ago

    I hope they learned their lesson and leave the state.

    1. Juvenile Bluster   10 years ago

      And go where? This insanity is happening all over.

      1. GamerFromJump   10 years ago

        Hong Kong's nice.

  4. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    Now that the Meitivs have prevailed, it's going to be harder for CPS officials to charge parents with neglect for letting kids walk or play outside.

    This statement seems naive.

    1. jester   10 years ago

      What fool would let their children play outdoors with ISIS planning attacks on the homeland daily? You trust our inept government to protect us!!!!

  5. jester   10 years ago

    I would relate my own experiences as a child except that ex-post facto laws are all the rage right now and Reason is under scrutiny.

  6. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

    Parents, please, send your children outside.

    Don't tell me how to parent!

  7. Careless   10 years ago

    Got into a fight last night with my wife over the idea of sending our 7 year old alone on a flight

    *sigh*

    1. Ye Olde Kaptious Kristen   10 years ago

      I was sent alone on a flight at age 5, which would have been 1977, before computer tracking of passengers an any sort of "unaccompanied minor" system existed. As long as they don't have to change planes, they should be good to go!

    2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

      I was flying by myself at 8. Divorce sucks.

      1. jester   10 years ago

        Children behave so much better when their parents accompany them.

      2. Careless   10 years ago

        Yes, this is because my daughter's best friend's parents are divorcing.

        1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

          The only problem I ever had was when I had an Estes model rocket in my carry on. Didn't want the fins to break off. Took a bit of explaining to get the guy to understand that a cardboard tube with balsa fins isn't going to take down the plane. That was back in the 80s. I imagine I would be arrested if I tried that today.

    3. jester   10 years ago

      Fight or flight is deeply ingrained in our DNA.

    4. dan'o, waster of ammo   10 years ago

      We weren't able to send our 4 year old on a flight because airline policy makes 5 the minimum age for solo travel.

  8. Ye Olde Kaptious Kristen   10 years ago

    I don't see where the state of Maryland admitted to anything. Unless there's a quote from some official I missed? Dropping the charges doesn't mean they admitted anything. It just means that their trial balloons suggested they couldn't win.

  9. Rasilio   10 years ago

    "Now that the Meitivs have prevailed, it's going to be harder for CPS officials to charge parents with neglect for letting kids walk or play outside. So we can all breathe a little easier (but just a little)."

    UM, no it won't. It won't be a single bit harder and stop lying and saying it will.

    The fact is CPS and the police are utterly free to completely ignore the precedent set by this case and abduct other children for the exact same cause. Sure, IF the parents have the financial and educational resources to fight the case they will win because of this precedent but there will be absolutely no negative repercussions to the officers/case workers and the majority of parents WON'T have both the money to fight it and the knowledge that their actions have already previously been ruled legal and not evidence of neglect so that they can fight it in any way short agreeing to anything the case worker says to get their kids back.

  10. adolphowisner   10 years ago

    It was interesting. I didn't mind the fact that there was no romantic interest. Gives you more time for action but you more nice video check this way and comment me
    Best Home Deal ?????? http://www.BuzzReport20.com

  11. Alan@.4   10 years ago

    Sanity prevailing in Maryland is a good title. The fact of such a happening there, on the other hand, is truly amazing.

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Latest

A Federal Inmate Had a Limb Partially Amputated After Being Kept in Restraints for Two Days

C.J. Ciaramella | 7.2.2025 2:12 PM

The First Amendment Protects CNN's Reporting on ICEBlock and Iran

Jack Nicastro | 7.2.2025 1:26 PM

New York City Tried To Seize Lucy the Pig. Mayor Eric Adams Says the Family Can Keep Her—If She Leaves Town.

Sophia Mandt | 7.2.2025 12:00 PM

Ed Clark, RIP

Brian Doherty | 7.2.2025 11:34 AM

Trump Visits $450 Million 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Suggests Taxpayers Should Fund More of Them

Autumn Billings | 7.2.2025 10:23 AM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2024 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

Do you care about free minds and free markets? Sign up to get the biggest stories from Reason in your inbox every afternoon.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This modal will close in 10

Reason Plus

Special Offer!

  • Full digital edition access
  • No ads
  • Commenting privileges

Just $25 per year

Join Today!