Working for the Department of Children's Services can entail going into homes and spending time alone with families or individuals in that home environment. Any kind of alleged misconduct while on a home visit may be difficult to refute or prove in any way. One former caseworker for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services is currently under investigation for an alleged incident that took place during a home visit.
The 42-year-old man was on duty and at a residence where he was to assess the living conditions. During that visit, a woman in the home says he made sexual contact with her without her consent. The man has since been arrested.
The man has been jailed on one count of sexual battery. He is being held on $25,000 bond. He also no longer works for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.
Allegations of sexual battery are fully investigated and taken very seriously in Tennessee and can often hinge on the testimony of victims or become a case of he said, she said, which makes any physical evidence or other evidence proving innocence extremely valuable. Because of the possible criminal consequences of being charged with a sexual crime, anyone charged should understand the legal process and defense options that may be afforded to him or her as an investigation unfolds. Being charged with a sex crime can lead to loss of employment and jail time, as was the case with this man, as well as other consequences that can impact a person's future, family life, and livelihood.
Source: tennessean.com, "Former DCS worker charged with sexual battery", Natalie Neysa Alund, July 16, 2015