New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services searches homes without a warrant

An investigation in partnership with NBC News uncovers the unequal treatment of poor families and parents of color by the child welfare system.

The allegations against L.B., made by an anonymous caller at 4:45 a.m. that day , were false.

Over the past three years , the agency either has inspected her home or examined and questioned her son at school more than two dozen times.

She says she has never been found to have committed any type of child maltreatment.

L.B. says her son now suffers from severe anxiety, a doctor’s note confirms.

A judge denied the agency's request for a warrant, saying it was a "horrible intrusion" and a "waste of state resources" Advocates for families facing ACS say the agency has “no discretion” if hotline operator deems the call worth passing along.

The new legislation would require that callers at least provide basic details about themselves.

Hotline and ACS staff would still be legally required to keep the caller’s identity confidential.

The bill would seek to reduce false and malicious calls to the state child welfare hotline by no longer allowing these tips to be anonymous.