A Denver child protective services caseworker is now facing criminal charges after allegedly fabricating child abuse allegations and filing false reports in multiple family investigations, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
The worker, identified as 47-year-old Anita Palmer, was arrested and charged with three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and three counts of official misconduct. Investigators say she knowingly filed false reports and misrepresented key details in active child protection cases.
According to the District Attorney, Palmer’s actions not only violated official protocols but may have contributed to unnecessary child removals and emotional harm to the families involved. In at least one case, she allegedly claimed a child was at risk of harm despite having no verified evidence. These accusations triggered invasive investigations and caused significant disruption to the family’s life.
Denver Human Services released a statement confirming Palmer was no longer employed as of April 12. The department did not clarify whether she was terminated or resigned but stated that internal policies are under review to prevent similar incidents in the future.
But for the families already impacted, the damage is done.
A System With Too Much Power and Too Little Oversight
This case highlights what many families across the country already know: child protective workers are often given sweeping power with limited oversight. When that power is abused, the consequences are severe, especially for innocent parents who are wrongfully accused and children who are wrongfully removed.
Charges like these are rare, but they confirm a growing concern. Families from across the nation have reported similar stories: caseworkers exaggerating risk, misreporting facts, or refusing to document evidence that supports the parents. The difference is that in Denver, someone is finally being held accountable.
As this case moves forward in court, advocates and families alike are watching. Because if a system built to protect children allows corruption to thrive unchecked, it is not just broken. It is dangerous.
