S.D. v. Shelby County Department of Human Resources
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REL: 08/05/2011 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS SPECIAL TERM, 2011 2100456 S.D. v. Shelby County Department o f Human Resources Appeal from Shelby J u v e n i l e Court (JU-08-647.05) THOMAS, J u d g e . S.D. ("the m o t h e r " ) a p p e a l s from a judgment o f t h e S h e l b y J u v e n i l e C o u r t t e r m i n a t i n g h e r p a r e n t a l r i g h t s t o L.A. child"). We a f f i r m . ("the 2100456 On her May 24, children 2004, the mother p l e a d e d t o be used i n the guilty p r o d u c t i o n of to pornographic m a t e r i a l and t o p r o d u c t i o n o f p o r n o g r a p h i c m a t e r i a l a minor child. convicted which, of The violating first was statute § that 13A-12-196, the Ala. at the time of the mother's c o n v i c t i o n , allowing involving mother Code was 1975, provided: "Any p a r e n t o r g u a r d i a n who k n o w i n g l y p e r m i t s o r a l l o w s t h e i r c h i l d , w a r d , o r d e p e n d e n t u n d e r t h e age o f 17 y e a r s t o engage i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f any obscene m a t t e r c o n t a i n i n g a v i s u a l r e p r o d u c t i o n of s u c h c h i l d , w a r d , o r d e p e n d e n t u n d e r t h e age o f 17 y e a r s e n g a g e d i n any a c t o f s a d o - m a s o c h i s t i c a b u s e , sexual excitement, masturbation, breast nudity, g e n i t a l n u d i t y , o r o t h e r s e x u a l c o n d u c t s h a l l be g u i l t y of a C l a s s A f e l o n y . " The s e c o n d s t a t u t e t h a t t h e m o t h e r was was § 13A-12-197, A l a . Code 1975, mother's c o n v i c t i o n , c o n v i c t e d of v i o l a t i n g which, at the time of the provided: "Any person who knowingly films, prints, records, photographs or otherwise produces any obscene matter t h a t c o n t a i n s a v i s u a l r e p r o d u c t i o n o f a p e r s o n u n d e r t h e age o f 17 y e a r s e n g a g e d i n any a c t of s a d o - m a s o c h i s t i c abuse, s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e , sexual excitement, masturbation, breast nudity, g e n i t a l n u d i t y , o r o t h e r s e x u a l c o n d u c t s h a l l be g u i l t y of a C l a s s A f e l o n y . " The v i c t i m s o f t h e m o t h e r ' s c r i m e were h e r two o l d e r c h i l d r e n , who a r e h a l f s i s t e r s t o t h e c h i l d ; t h e c h i l d had n o t b e e n b o r n at the time of the mother's convictions. 2 The mother was 2100456 sentenced to 10 years sentences running in prison concurrently. s p l i t ; t h e m o t h e r was ordered f o r each o f f e n s e , The with m o t h e r ' s s e n t e n c e s were to spend 2 years i n prison with the remainder of the 10-year sentences suspended p r o v i d e d the mother s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e t e d 3 years m o t h e r was also ordered to attend the that of p r o b a t i o n . The a sexual-health c l i n i c at t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f A l a b a m a a t B i r m i n g h a m upon h e r r e l e a s e f r o m prison. The mother's c o n v i c t i o n s 13A-12-196 and § 13A-12-197 N o t i f i c a t i o n Act, c o d i f i e d 1975 ("the the CNA"). mother notify mother f a i l e d was One law f o r the offenses subjected her to listed the a t § 15-20-20 e t s e q . , t o comply w i t h this of her Ala. The i n 2008, c o n v i c t e d of v i o l a t i n g the n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n s of the a Class C felony. s e n t e n c e and The Section CNA The m o t h e r was p l a c e d on p r o b a t i o n a l s o bars CNA, g i v e n a f i v e - y e a r suspended for five years. the mother from r e s i d i n g w i t h a 1 5 - 2 0 - 2 6 ( c ) , A l a . Code 1975, provides, child. in pertinent part: "No a d u l t c r i m i n a l s e x o f f e n d e r s h a l l e s t a b l i s h a r e s i d e n c e o r any o t h e r l i v i n g a c c o m m o d a t i o n where a 3 Code i s that residence. r e q u i r e m e n t and, § Community o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e CNA enforcement in 2100456 minor r e s i d e s . N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g the f o r e g o i n g , an a d u l t c r i m i n a l s e x o f f e n d e r may r e s i d e w i t h a m i n o r i f the a d u l t c r i m i n a l sex o f f e n d e r i s the p a r e n t , g r a n d p a r e n t , o r s t e p p a r e n t o f t h e m i n o r , u n l e s s one of the f o l l o w i n g c o n d i t i o n s applies: "(2) The a d u l t c r i m i n a l sex o f f e n d e r has been c o n v i c t e d o f any criminal sex o f f e n s e i n w h i c h any of the offender's minor children, grandchildren, or s t e p c h i l d r e n were t h e v i c t i m . " In this case, crimes, the classifying u n d e r t h e CNA, the CNA with her as an the mother a minor, i n c l u d i n g her half convictions, sisters c a r e ; one of adult adult at the time criminal sex child from e s t a b l i s h i n g own children. the mother's child, the c h i l d was other an of were p l a c e d i n the was placed in two As residence the children, the from the c u s t o d y of her the Thus, a r e s u l t of older removed a her offender and h e r v i c t i m s were h e r m i n o r c h i l d r e n . prohibits mother's the m o t h e r was custody of mother's father, the and mother's brother. The Shelby aware child was b o r n on County Department that removed t h e the child was May of 27, 2008. In Human R e s o u r c e s living with the c h i l d from the mother's c a r e . 4 July 2008, the ("DHR") became mother; i t The juvenile then court 2100456 a d j u d i c a t e d t h e c h i l d d e p e n d e n t i n F e b r u a r y 2009, o r d e r e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r n o t have any c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c h i l d , and d e t e r m i n e d that DHR was not required to make reasonable efforts to r e u n i t e t h e m o t h e r and t h e c h i l d . On O c t o b e r 20, 2009, DHR the mother's p a r e n t a l r i g h t s . t h a t the mother's conduct her unable filed a petition In i t s p e t i t i o n , 1 to terminate DHR alleged a n d c o n d i t i o n was s u c h as t o r e n d e r to care f o r the c h i l d . S p e c i f i c a l l y , DHR alleged t h a t the mother had " p l a c e d t h e c h i l d i n c l e a r and p r e s e n t d a n g e r o f b e i n g t o r t u r e d , abused, c r u e l l y beaten or o t h e r w i s e m a l t r e a t e d as e v i d e n c e d b y t h e t r e a t m e n t of a s i b l i n g o r s i b l i n g s , t o w i t [ : ] on o r a b o u t May 24, 2004, [ t h e m o t h e r ] was c o n v i c t e d o f v i o l a t i n g § 13A-12-196, Code o f A l a b a m a (1975), P a r e n t s o r guardians permitting children to engage in p r o d u c t i o n o f o b s c e n e m a t t e r , and § 13A-12-197, Code of Alabama (1975), P r o d u c t i o n of obscene matter c o n t a i n i n g v i s u a l d e p i c t i o n o f a p e r s o n u n d e r 17 y e a r s o f age i n v o l v e d i n o b s c e n e a c t s , where t h e v i c t i m s o f s a i d c r i m e s were t h e c h i l d r e n o f [ t h e m o t h e r ] and t h e s i b l i n g s o f [ t h e c h i l d . ] As s u c h , [ t h e m o t h e r ] i s a R e g i s t e r e d S e x O f f e n d e r and i s p r o h i b i t e d from e s t a b l i s h i n g a r e s i d e n c e w i t h [ t h e c h i l d ] p u r s u a n t t o § 1 5 - 2 0 - 2 6 ( c ) ( 2 ) , Code o f A l a b a m a (1975). Furthermore, [ t h e m o t h e r ] has f a i l e d t o provide stable housing and maintain stable DHR a l s o p e t i t i o n e d t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t t o t e r m i n a t e t h e p a r e n t a l r i g h t s o f B.T. ("the f a t h e r " ) . The j u v e n i l e c o u r t t e r m i n a t e d t h e f a t h e r ' s p a r e n t a l r i g h t s ; t h e f a t h e r has n o t a p p e a l e d from t h e judgment. 1 5 2100456 employment, h a s a h i s t o r y o f n e g l e c t a n d / o r abuse o f c h i l d r e n and has f u r t h e r f a i l e d t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e m a t e r i a l needs o f s a i d c h i l d . " DHR also registered alleged that, sex offender make reasonable child. DHR the a n d was p r o h i b i t e d e s t a b l i s h i n g a residence to because with efforts further the c h i l d , to reunite alleged that mother was a b y t h e CNA f r o m i t was n o t r e q u i r e d t h e mother and t h e suitable relative no r e s o u r c e s were a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e p l a c e m e n t o f t h e c h i l d . I n r e s p o n s e t o DHR's p e t i t i o n , t h e m o t h e r f i l e d that CNA she i n t e n d e d t o c h a l l e n g e as i t a p p l i e s general the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y of the t o h e r ; t h e mother with her notice. denied her equal constitutionally control of her c h i l d . effected rights, a protection, protected statutory served the h e r o f due p r o c e s s , and t h a t filed that i t v i o l a t e d her r i g h t t o the care, custody, and The m o t h e r f u r t h e r a l l e g e d t h a t t h e CNA p e r se termination of her i n v i o l a t i o n of the separation-of-powers The m o t h e r a l s o attorney The m o t h e r a l l e g e d t h a t t h e CNA was vague a n d a m b i g u o u s , t h a t i t d e p r i v e d it a notice parental doctrine. a "motion f o r d i r e c t e d v e r d i c t o r , i n the a l t e r n a t i v e , [ a ] motion t o d i s m i s s , " w h i c h was i n e s s e n c e a m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t , b a s e d on t h e same g r o u n d s . 6 2100456 The attorney general filed a response i n opposition to the m o t h e r ' s m o t i o n , d e n y i n g t h a t t h e CNA was u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . Before held a r u l i n g on t h e m o t h e r ' s m o t i o n , t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t trial parental on DHR's p e t i t i o n r i g h t s on M a r c h to terminate 26, 2010. The the mother's only witness t e s t i f i e d a t t h e t r i a l was L a B r e n a F r i e n d , t h e DHR assigned t o the case. The m o t h e r was p r e s e n t h o w e v e r , she d i d n o t t e s t i f y . court held a hearing who caseworker at the t r i a l ; On A p r i l 22, 2010, t h e j u v e n i l e on t h e m o t h e r ' s m o t i o n c h a l l e n g i n g t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e CNA as i t a p p l i e s t o h e r . On J a n u a r y 3, 2 0 1 1 , t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t e n t e r e d a j u d g m e n t t e r m i n a t i n g t h e mother's and t h e f a t h e r ' s p a r e n t a l r i g h t s . On t h e same it the entered an order determining that CNA date, i s not u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l as i t a p p l i e s t o t h e m o t h e r a n d d e n y i n g h e r m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t . The mother filed a postjudgment motion on J a n u a r y 14, 2011. W h i l e h e r p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n was p e n d i n g , t h e m o t h e r filed a first time t h a t placement of the c h i l d w i t h the c h i l d ' s h a l f sister, the supplemental postjudgment motion, arguing f o r the T.C., was a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e t e r m i n a t i o n o f mother's parental rights. 7 The mother's postjudgment 2100456 m o t i o n was d e n i e d by appealed to t h i s On the unconstitutional rights termination Code terminate listed a on per a However, that the first i t applies se and to argues her statutory basis of p a r e n t a l 1975. determine mother as i t effects parental of law, the mother other reviewing juvenile the court because, the CNA the is mother of her grounds for i n § 12-15-319, A l a . facts had the termination than r i g h t s provided that of this case, we sufficient bases to the mother's p a r e n t a l r i g h t s pursuant to the grounds i n § 12-15-319; t h e r e f o r e , because the c o u l d have t e r m i n a t e d provisions timely court. appeal, argues, operation of the CNA, juvenile court the mother's p a r e n t a l r i g h t s absent we i s s u e r a i s e d by t h e m o t h e r . need not As reach the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l t h e A l a b a m a Supreme C o u r t held: "'"A court has a duty to avoid c o n s t i t u t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s u n l e s s e s s e n t i a l to the proper d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e c a s e . " ' Lowe v. F u l f o r d , 442 So. 2d 29, 33 (Ala. 1983) (quoting t r i a l court's order citing D o u g h t y v. T a r w a t e r , 261 A l a . 263, 73 So. 2d 540 ( 1 9 5 4 ) ; Moses v. T a r w a t e r , 257 A l a . 361, 58 So. 2d 757 ( 1 9 5 2 ) ; and Lee v. Macon C o u n t y Bd. o f E d u c . , 231 F. Supp. 743 (M.D. A l a . 1964)). '"Generally courts are reluctant to reach constitutional q u e s t i o n s , and s h o u l d n o t do s o , i f t h e m e r i t s o f the case can be s e t t l e d on non-constitutional g r o u n d s . " ' Lowe, 442 So. 2d a t 33 ( q u o t i n g trial 8 the has 2100456 c o u r t ' s o r d e r c i t i n g W h i t e v. U.S. P i p e & F o u n d r y Co., 646 F.2d 203 ( 5 t h C i r . 1 9 8 1 ) ) . "'No m a t t e r how much the p a r t i e s may desire a d j u d i c a t i o n of important questions of c o n s t i t u t i o n a l law, broad considerations of the appropriate e x e r c i s e of j u d i c i a l power p r e v e n t [ ] s u c h d e t e r m i n a t i o n s u n l e s s a c t u a l l y compelled by the l i t i g a t i o n b e f o r e the c o u r t . " ' Lowe, 442 So. 2d a t 33 ( q u o t i n g t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r c i t i n g T r o y S t a t e U n i v . v. D i c k e y , 402 F.2d 515 ( 5 t h C i r . 1 9 6 8 ) ) . " C h i s m v. J e f f e r s o n C n t y . , 954 So. 2d 1058, 1063 ( A l a . 2006). S e c t i o n 12-15-319 p r o v i d e s , i n p a r t : " ( a ) I f t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t f i n d s f r o m c l e a r and convincing evidence, competent, material, and r e l e v a n t i n nature, t h a t the parents of a c h i l d are unable or unwilling to discharge their r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o and f o r t h e c h i l d , o r t h a t t h e c o n d u c t o r c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p a r e n t s r e n d e r s them u n a b l e t o p r o p e r l y c a r e f o r t h e c h i l d and t h a t t h e c o n d u c t o r c o n d i t i o n i s u n l i k e l y t o change i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e , i t may t e r m i n a t e t h e p a r e n t a l r i g h t s of the p a r e n t s . In d e t e r m i n i n g whether or not the parents are unable or u n w i l l i n g t o d i s c h a r g e t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o and f o r t h e c h i l d and t o terminate the p a r e n t a l r i g h t s , the j u v e n i l e court s h a l l consider the f o l l o w i n g f a c t o r s i n c l u d i n g , but not l i m i t e d t o , the f o l l o w i n g : " "(3) T h a t t h e p a r e n t h a s t o r t u r e d , abused, c r u e l l y beaten, or otherwise m a l t r e a t e d the c h i l d , or attempted t o t o r t u r e , abuse, c r u e l l y b e a t , o r otherwise maltreat the c h i l d , or the c h i l d i s i n c l e a r and p r e s e n t d a n g e r o f b e i n g t h u s t o r t u r e d , a b u s e d , c r u e l l y b e a t e n , o r o t h e r w i s e m a l t r e a t e d as evidenced by the treatment of a s i b l i n g . 9 2100456 "(4) felony." Conviction Section of and imprisonment 1 2 - 1 5 - 3 0 1 ( 2 ) , A l a . Code 1975, for defines a abuse as: "Harm o r t h e r i s k o f harm t o t h e e m o t i o n a l , p h y s i c a l h e a l t h , or w e l f a r e of a c h i l d . Harm o r t h e r i s k o f harm t o t h e e m o t i o n a l , p h y s i c a l h e a l t h , o r w e l f a r e o f a c h i l d can o c c u r t h r o u g h n o n a c c i d e n t a l physical or mental i n j u r y , s e x u a l abuse, or a t t e m p t e d s e x u a l abuse o r s e x u a l e x p l o i t a t i o n o r a t t e m p t e d sexual exploitation." In t u r n , § 12-15-301(12), d e f i n e s sexual abuse: "Sexual abuse includes the employment, u use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or c o e r c i o n of any c h i l d t o engage i n , o r h a v i n g a c h i l d a s s i s t any p e r s o n t o engage i n , any s e x u a l l y e x p l i c i t c o n d u c t o r any s i m u l a t i o n o f t h e c o n d u c t f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p r o d u c i n g any v i s u a l d e p i c t i o n of the conduct. Sexual abuse also includes rape, molestation, p r o s t i t u t i o n , or o t h e r forms of s e x u a l e x p l o i t a t i o n o r abuse o f c h i l d r e n , o r i n c e s t w i t h c h i l d r e n , as t h o s e a c t s a r e d e f i n e d i n t h i s a r t i c l e o r by A l a b a m a law." Sexual e x p l o i t a t i o n i s defined by § 12-15-301(13) thusly: "Sexual e x p l o i t a t i o n includes a l l o w i n g , p e r m i t t i n g , o r e n c o u r a g i n g a c h i l d t o engage i n p r o s t i t u t i o n and a l l o w i n g , p e r m i t t i n g , encouraging, or engaging i n the obscene or p o r n o g r a p h i c p h o t o g r a p h i n g , f i l m i n g , or d e p i c t i n g of a c h i l d . " The mother's c o n v i c t i o n used i n the p r o d u c t i o n her conviction for for allowing her c h i l d r e n to of obscene, p o r n o g r a p h i c m a t e r i a l s production 10 of obscene, be and pornographic 2100456 materials sexual involving abuse therefore, and her children sexual meet the exploitation her c o n v i c t i o n s also f a l l abuse as d e f i n e d b y t h a t s e c t i o n . d e f i n i t i o n s of under § 12-15-301; under the d e f i n i t i o n of The e v i d e n c e i s a l s o c l e a r t h a t t h e m o t h e r ' s c o n v i c t i o n s were f o r f e l o n i e s and t h a t t h e m o t h e r was the i m p r i s o n e d as a r e s u l t o f h e r c o n v i c t i o n s . juvenile court had before evidence, i . e . , evidence sufficient for i t to determine mother's been the child of the determinations a b u s e d , as e v i d e n c e d b y t h e m o t h e r ' s child's half child the CNA siblings. Because these are s u f f i c i e n t to support a determination grounds e x i s t e d t o t e r m i n a t e the the convictions, had treatment that convincing mother i n danger of b e i n g whether the and o f and i m p r i s o n e d f o r f e l o n i e s and t h a t convicted was of i t clear Thus, the mother's p a r e n t a l u n d e r § 1 2 - 1 5 - 3 1 9 ( a ) , we rights to need n o t a d d r e s s w h e t h e r provides further the i s unconstitutional CNA grounds that to support as termination i t applies to or the mother. The m o t h e r terminating of the next argues t h a t the j u v e n i l e court her p a r e n t a l child with T.C. r i g h t s b e c a u s e , she s a y s , was a 11 viable erred i n placement alternative to the 2100456 termination Friend, of t h e mother's p a r e n t a l t h e mother provided DHR rights. with 2 According t h e names to of s i x r e l a t i v e s who p o s s i b l y c o u l d s e r v e as r e l a t i v e p l a c e m e n t s f o r the child. the T.C. was n o t among t h e names p r o v i d e d mother. A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e mother t o DHR b y d i d not r a i s e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f T.C.'s s e r v i n g as a r e l a t i v e p l a c e m e n t a t t h e trial on DHR's raised this motion. termination petition. argument f o r t h e f i r s t Instead, t h e mother time i n her postjudgment We have h e l d t h a t , "'[a]lthough DHR has a responsibility to i n v e s t i g a t e a l t e r n a t e r e l a t i v e placements f o r a c h i l d , t h a t o b l i g a t i o n does n o t e n t i r e l y a l l e v i a t e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e p a r e n t who p u r p o r t s t o oppose t h e t e r m i n a t i o n o f h i s o r h e r p a r e n t a l r i g h t s o f m a k i n g DHR s o c i a l w o r k e r s aware o f a l t e r n a t i v e placement p o s s i b i l i t i e s . ' " J . F . S . I I I v. M o b i l e 78 C n t y . Dep't o f Human R e s . , 38 So. 3d 75, ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 9 ) ( q u o t i n g B.S. v . C u l l m a n C n t y . o f Human R e s . , 865 So. 2d 1188, 1197 ( A l a . C i v . App. Because t h e mother d i d n o t p r o v i d e concerning T.C.'s possibly serving DHR w i t h Dep't 2003)). any i n f o r m a t i o n as a r e l a t i v e resource T.C. was removed f r o m t h e m o t h e r ' s c a r e a f t e r t h e m o t h e r ' s c o n v i c t i o n s i n 2004; T.C. was a v i c t i m o f t h o s e crimes. T.C. t u r n e d 19 y e a r s o l d 2 weeks b e f o r e t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t h e l d a t r i a l on DHR's t e r m i n a t i o n p e t i t i o n . 2 12 2100456 until after the juvenile court had entered i t s judgment t e r m i n a t i n g h e r p a r e n t a l r i g h t s , we c a n n o t h o l d t h e j u v e n i l e court i n error alternative rights. to f o r determining the that termination of the were mother's no viable parental See J . F . S . I I I , 38 So. 3d a t 78-79. B e c a u s e t h e m o t h e r has f a i l e d juvenile court the there t o show any e r r o r b y t h e i n t e r m i n a t i n g h e r p a r e n t a l r i g h t s , we a f f i r m judgment o f t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t . AFFIRMED. Thompson, P . J . , and P i t t m a n and B r y a n , J J . , c o n c u r . Moore, J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e r e s u l t , w i t h o u t w r i t i n g . 13
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