They take the child out of class. They close the door. They ask questions the child does not understand. Alone. No parent present. No legal counsel. No warning. This is not a scene from a courtroom....

When Alabama Deputy Commissioner Karen Smith was asked if everyone on the state’s abuse registry deserved to be there, she answered without hesitation: “I do.” With no requirement for trial, no guarantee of notice, and no clear path for removal, Alabama’s registry functions as punishment by accusation. This investigation explores the real cost of that system and the chilling indifference of the official defending it.

Moment by Moment, Day by Day Families across Alabama from Houston County to Baldwin, from Limestone to Lowndes are being quietly drained of everything they have, just to keep the hope of reunification alive. This system...

When DHR Sends a Letter — Pay Attention. Your Rights and Your Family May Be on the Line. Families across Alabama are often blindsided by a letter in the mail marked from the Department of...