Madison County District Attorney Seth Banks in an undated photo. Picture courtesy of his office.
DA Seth Banks says he will ‘coordinate with appropriate law enforcement agencies and request an investigation’ if state makes him aware of criminal conduct
Here’s an update to the Madison DSS story, please share to help inform as many families and children possibly affected.
Madison County District Attorney Seth Banks said in an email Nov. 5 that he did not receive the state’s letter to county officials last fall reporting concerns alleging that a county employee’s lack of professional boundaries “affected court outcomes.”
The Nov. 26, 2025 letter from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said, upon investigation, the state further found seven violations by Madison County Department of Social Services.
Madison DSS had to be put under a 12-month Corrective Action Plan to avoid being taken over the state.
Banks said the letter was not addressed to him or his office because, quote “This was likely due to the fact that the letter makes allegations of violations of the law but does not make allegations of criminal conduct.”
I had sent Banks’ a copy of the letter received after an email request to DHHS, as seen in this earlier in-depth story on Madison DSS.
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In the letter, the state noted consistent violations of parents’ constitutional rights, and an investigation found that missing documentation and information prevented full record reviews and that the “practice of social workers in Madison County is not in line with law, rule and policy. The constitutional rights of parents are not upheld when family service agreements are not in place to identify what must be done to achieve reunification with their children.”
I asked Banks, What recourse will the DA’s office take, or has been taking, to look into any affected cases?
In response, Banks said, quote “The distinction between violations of the law that might result in fines, state administrative action, or civil damages and violations of the law that would rise to the level of criminal conduct is an important aspect of our law. In the event that DHHS makes me aware of specific allegations of criminal conduct, I will coordinate with the appropriate law enforcement agencies and request an investigation.”
I have sent follow-up emails to DHHS and the DA for further clarification, but have not heard back by publication. I have also submitted public records requests regarding employees, budget and policies to the county and state regarding Madison DSS.
Numerous people have contacted me since the original story aired, and further stories are in development.
Anyone wishing to share their experience with Madison DSS, please send a timeline focusing solely on facts, for now, and relevant documentation corroborating those facts to my email at sarahscully31@gmail.com, with Madison DSS in the subject line.
