Hi, my name is Preston Turner, and I’m a father who’s been trying to hold it together — for my son, and for my family — while the system tries to tear us apart.

For the past 7 months, my son hasn’t been allowed to come home.

He hasn’t been allowed to sleep in the bed he shares with his little brother.

He hasn’t been allowed to wake up to the smell of breakfast in my kitchen.

He hasn’t been allowed to just be a kid in the home he loves — surrounded by his siblings, his stepmom, and his father who would do anything for him.

We’ve cried. We’ve prayed. And every time he sees me, he asks the same question:

“Daddy, why can’t I come home?”

I don’t know how to answer that without breaking down.

I’ve never been to jail. I’ve never harmed my child. I don’t have a criminal record — not even close.

I’m not an alcoholic, I’m not a drug addict, however, I’m being accused of such.

Yes, I’ve struggled with mental health. But who hasn’t?

I got help because I love my family. I reached out because I want to be the best version of myself for my son. That shouldn’t be a reason to take him away — it should be a reason to trust that I’m doing the work to be the father he deserves.

But instead of support, I’ve been punished.

I’ve been showing up to court as a pro se, representing myself because I simply can’t afford an attorney.

Every time I walk into that courtroom — it’s just me. A Black father, standing alone, trying to be heard.

On the other side: his mother (my ex-wife), her attorney, and the judge.

And no matter how much I speak from the heart, I feel invisible.

Now the court is demanding that if I want to see my own child, I must:

    •    Pay $157.75 an hour for supervised visits at a facility

    •    Visit only 3 hours on Saturdays and Sundays, on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends

    •    Pay over $200/month for a SoberLink alcohol monitor

    •    I must begin testing 24 hours before any scheduled visit

    •    I must submit to testing four times daily during those periods:

8–9 AM

12–1 PM

4–5 PM

9–10 PM

    •    If I miss even one test or test positive, I must forfeit visitation — even mid-visit if she comes to take him away

    •    Pay for random drug and alcohol tests out of pocket — because his mother requested it

    •    Attend therapy and comply with all treatment

    •    And on top of all that — pay $6,000 to his mother’s attorney, not even mine.

Even after doing all of that, I can’t just return to a normal life with my son. I’m required to go through four strict phases before I’m allowed back to what used to be our standard visitation:

Phase I:

Supervised visits by Keeping the Peace from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays and Sundays.

Only after 8 consecutive weekends with no missed or positive SoberLink tests, I can I move forward.

Phase II:

Visits expand to 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays only, still supervised.

Again, 8 weekends are required to advance.

Phase III:

Visits grow to 9:00 AM Saturday through 6:00 PM Sunday.

8 more weekends without incident are needed to proceed.

Phase IV:

Full weekend visits return: Friday 6:00 PM through Sunday 6:00 PM.

But even then, if I miss or fail a single SoberLink test, I’m sent back to Phase III — and the whole cycle starts again.

I work full-time. I support my household. I pay child support. But now I’m being forced to spend thousands of dollars just to be allowed to be a parent.

My son misses home. His little brother idolizes him — copies everything he does. That bond is being destroyed by the court’s barriers. This is not in the best interest of my child. It’s not right.

We have a hearing on July 31st at 9:00 AM, where this order will be finalized unless I can retain an attorney to stand beside me.

So I’m asking — from the bottom of my heart — for help.

Not for sympathy. But for a real shot at justice.

To hire someone who will stand with me and fight for my right to be a father.

Because my son deserves to know that his father never gave up on him.

If you believe in second chances…

If you believe Black fathers matter…

If you believe children deserve both parents…

If you believe mental health shouldn’t be treated as a stigma…

Please help.

Every dollar matters. Every share counts. Every show of support reminds me I’m not alone in this fight.

With all my heart,

Preston Turner