It isn't the police who have this power to throw people into jail. It is DSS, or CPS, or whatever they call it in your state. It is the greatest abuse of government power we have now - even greater in prominence than the "eminent domain" cases that get quite a bit of press.
Child Protective Services has no ability to throw anyone in jail. In fact, it is a constant source of frustration for workers that many serious (with plenty of supporting evidence) sex offenders get away with it repepatedly because there is no will to prosecute them if there is no guaranteed win. And this seems to be the norm in many states.
Yep.
And the sad thing is that most people do not realize that under the U.S.Constitution, you have the right to refuse to let an agent of the state into your home without a search warrant. CPS thrives on that ignorance.
They show up and say "We just want to ask you a few questions..." The freaked out parent (who wants to appear "cooperative") lets them in. Once they are over the threshhold, you have voluntarily conceded to a search and siezure - as far as the courts and police are concerned.