The Accused

Colorado keeps an extensive list of suspected child abusers, but is anyone checking it twice?

A A A Comments By Julie Jargon Thursday, Nov 1 2001

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But Susan and Clifford will never be foster parents again. Although Clifford's name has been cleared and they could reapply for a foster-care license, they have no desire to do so.

"Emotionally and financially, it was just too hard to go through, and we can't afford to risk something like this happening again," Susan says. "How many people have the assets to hire an attorney? We're not wealthy, but at least we owned a home we could borrow from. What about people who rent their homes or who don't have savings? Their name gets placed on the Central Registry, and that really bothers me.

James Bludworth

Susan and Clifford Brown say they'll never be foster parents again because of the Central Registry.

James Bludworth

Attorney Rowe Stayton has worked on more than 300 Central Registry cases.

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"It does a lot to you inside when you're trying to help someone and you get slapped in the face," she adds. "It makes you not want to stick your neck out and help people anymore. When I hear people talking about wanting to be foster parents, I tell them not to, because all it takes is for one kid to get mad at you and say you touched them. If you don't have $20,000 lying around ready to fight the Central Registry, don't be foster parents."