Opinion ID: 2521422
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Unfitness of parent

Text: NRS 128.106(6) provides that, when determining parental unfitness, a court may consider felony convictions of the parent if the facts of the crime are of such a nature as to indicate the unfitness of the parent to provide adequate care and control to the extent necessary for the child's physical, mental or emotional health and development. The district court noted that, despite a case plan tailored to treat Vincent's problems with anger management and domestic violence, at the time of the termination hearing, Vincent was serving a sentence of imprisonment for his third domestic violence conviction, a felony under NRS 200.485(1)(c). Vincent's felony conviction was especially relevant given the district court's determination that Vincent was often unable to control his temper. Vincent's contact with DCFS, in which he verbally attacked social workers on the telephone, was also probative of his aggressive tendencies and inability to manage his anger. Thus, the district court properly considered Vincent's felony conviction. The district court also found that the children had witnessed several of these domestic violence incidents, had become involved in at least some of them, and that the children behaved inappropriately by acting like their parents. Vincent argues that the district court failed to consider that he was being brushed off by DCFS, in that DCFS was not promoting reunification, and that DCFS was not concerned with his rights as a parent. We need not address these allegations, however, because Vincent did not counter the evidence demonstrating the negative effect of his behavior on the children's emotional well-being. Moreover, the district court found that Vincent had failed to consistently communicate with the children while they were in foster care and, therefore, failed to provide proper guidance and support. The district court found that, for much of the children's lives, Cristan had abused drugs. [11] Moreover, the district court determined that Cristan's drug use often rendered her unable to provide the appropriate care for the children and, at times, put the children in danger, such as allowing the children to wander the streets unsupervised and abusing drugs while pregnant. Additionally, the district court found repeated incidents of domestic violence in the home, which often placed the children at risk of harm. The district court found by clear and convincing evidence that neither Cristan nor Vincent were able to offer continuous care to the children, whether the interruption arose from violence in the home, drug use or neglect. The district court further concluded that, because of their respective faults, both parents had failed to provide [the children] with proper care, guidance and support. [12] We conclude that substantial evidence supports the district court's finding of parental unfitness.