SHADOW OF DOUBT

Like anyone who wonders about the Johnsons’ innocence (“Shadow of Doubt,” by Barry Siegel, Nov. 19), I had to ask the inevitable question: Is it worth it for a few innocent people to get caught in the web of a system in order to protect defenseless children? I once thought so. But the harrowing truth is that the real abusers know how to circumvent the system, while the accused innocent, out of fear and the shame of being accused, open their doors and walk right into the arms of the all-too-powerful Children’s Services.

The system is too sure of itself. It believes in its own infallibility because it has a singular mission to protect innocent children at any cost. That price, viewed by detective Sullivan as an “imperfection” of the system, destroys happy, healthy families.

No, it isn’t worth it. Because the abusers are still out there. They’re the ones who don’t let the DCS caseworker in the door, because they’re not “shocked” when they show up.

SUSAN RUSH

Long Beach