Cost of a False Alarm

This report analyzes the volume and impact of unfounded Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations in Monroe County in 2024. Direct administrative data specific to Monroe County were used where publicly available. However, certain dimensions of impact—particularly long-term psychological harm, erosion of institutional trust, and broader socioeconomic consequences—are not tracked at the county level. As a result, portions of this analysis draw on peer-reviewed research, statewide data, and comparative models to estimate likely human and social impacts. These figures should be understood as evidence-informed projections rather than Monroe County–exclusive audited totals.