In re Jasmine L. CA2/2

FACTS

Mother and Father are the parents of Jasmine L., born in 1998. In January 2013, police went to the family home, where yelling and screaming were heard. Father told officers that Mother asked him to physically discipline Jasmine because she was not listening to Mother. He spanked Jasmine on her “butt” and arm several times with an open hand. Jasmine’s older sibling L.L. mentioned that Mother and Father hit her when she was younger. Jasmine said that whenever her parents “are upset with her, they resort to physical discipline,” striking her “all over her body.” In response, “Mother admitted that Jasmine’s statement was true.” The incident was reported to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). When reached by telephone, Father declined to “cooperate with the investigation because they have already been through this with DCFS.” Later, Father stated that Jasmine was “disrespectful” so he spanked her with an open hand, denying that he would ever hurt her. Mother telephoned the social worker and said that “Jasmine just received a good spanking from her father” for being disrespectful. Jasmine informed the social worker that Mother became angry when Jasmine failed…