Child Abuse

When children are abused, the human costs are high, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : Children who were physically, sexually or psychologically abused are more likely to have poorer health, social and emotional difficulties and lower economic productivity. But the abuse also substantially impacts the nation's health care, education, criminal justice and welfare systems - the costs from abuse and neglect are approximately $124 million just from one year's worth of cases over the abused lifetimes, the CDC says in a new report.

A Baltimore grand jury indicted a 29-year-old woman Monday on attempted murder and seven other charges in connection with the brutal stabbing of her 8-month-old daughter during a supervised visit at a city social services office in April. Kenisha Thomas, who is being held without bail in the incident, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in district court Tuesday, but the indictment will move the felony case into circuit court. An arraignment on the new charges is set for July 17. According to police, Thomas smuggled a large kitchen knife into a Baltimore social services office April 24 and repeatedly stabbed the infant, named Pretty Diamond, in the head and neck as office staff fought back, with one man throwing a chair at her. The baby, who previously was removed from Thomas' care, survived.

The scandal currently rocking Penn State and its beloved football coach Joe Paterno sheds important light on how we respond to child abuse. It's a reminder that the impact of remaining silent in the face of sexual abuse can be devastating. We mourn the humiliation of the university and the coach, but let's give equal attention to the suffering of the victims. Some of the abuse was likely preventable had adults in the know, at the time, put their foot down. Children depend on adults to protect them.

In this part of the country, the Ravens are white hot. All things NFL make people sit up and pay attention. For the most part, this area gets to see some of the best of the NFL - millionaire football players doing good things. That was the case last weekend when Ed Reed (and for those who don't know who he is, this probably isn't the editorial for you) and some of his teammates descended on Harford County. The Jarvis Appliance Ed Reed Flag Football Classic was one of the attractions of the seventh annual Race Against Abuse of Children Everywhere foundation's fundraiser.

As Maryland's leading child-abuse prevention organization, we at The Family Tree know that Senate Bill 689 will help protect Maryland's children from maltreatment. By providing clear guidance about how a parent may discipline his or her child, the bill both teaches parents appropriate behavior and protects children from dangerous abuse. The Family Tree wholeheartedly endorses Senate Bill 689 and applauds its co-sponsors, Sens. Jamie Raskin and Richard Madaleno. Child abuse takes a tremendous toll in the United States.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — The mother of a 2-month-old girl who was fatally beaten at her home in Brunswick has pleaded guilty to second-degree child abuse for failing to protect her daughter from the girl's father. Twenty-one-year-old Jessica Peavy entered the plea Tuesday in Frederick. Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith says the state will seek a one-year jail term, with 14 years suspended, at Peavy's sentencing Oct. 27. He says prosecutors also will ask for supervised probation with drug treatment.

In response to the story about alleged child abuse at John Archer School ("John Archer parents address abuse allegations," March 14), it's unbelievable something like this could happen in Harford County. If the school's teachers are at fault they should be punished severely. If the county board of education doesn't take this seriously, it could happen in other schools. The idea that special needs children allegedly were restrained in chairs for hours is absurd. What has this world come to, and what's next?

A man who has been tried three times in the death of a 3-year-old girl has been denied a chance at a fourth trial with a ruling by the state's highest court affirming his latest conviction for involuntary manslaughter and child abuse. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that 31-year-old Erik Stoddard's conviction and 40-year prison sentence will stand in the 2002 fatal beating of Calen Faith Dirubbo in her Northeast Baltimore home. Police said the suspect was angry because he had been unable to toilet train the girl.

Children need protection from adults who sexually abuse them, and adults should report abuse when they suspect it ("A better way to help kids," Feb. 6). It should be as simple as that. But although Maryland law requires everyone to report suspected cases of abuse - not just educators, health practitioners and social workers - unlike 47 other states, there is no penalty for failure to meet this important obligation. Those of us on the front lines in investigating child abuse cases see a need for significant penalties for failing to report child abuse.

Today we have witnessed a complete and total failure of the American higher education system ("Paterno fired," Nov. 10).  I am embarrassed that the educational system that I am a part of was responsible for affecting the lives of children in a negative way, not the positive ways that the good people in my field strive to do on a daily basis. This appalling scandal is not about touchdowns, a coaching legend's fall from grace, or money, this about breaching the trust that every parent that sends their child to college expects from us as educators.  Every person in higher education has a moral responsibility and expectation to protect the young men and women we interact with on a daily basis.

City police say they have made an arrest in the killing of a 44-year-old woman found handcuffed and bound by the feet in her bedroom at the McCulloh Homes housing project.  Cheryl Thomas was found May 3 in the 400 block of Cummings Court at about 5 p.m. after police received a call for an assault, according to police spokesman Sgt. Anthony Smith. Officers found Thomas dead in her bed, the victim of an apparent asphyxiation. She was partially clothed, and was handcuffed with her feet bound, police said.

President Barack Obama's recent decision to zero out funding for the Victims of Child Abuse (VOCA) Act in the fiscal 2013 budget shows profound disregard for America's children. Since 1994, each U.S. president - no matter his political party - has appropriated money for VOCA every year. According to the National Children's Alliance (NCA), just over 279,000 American children entered the doors of a children's advocacy center (CAC) in 2011 to tell their stories, and the majority of these cases involved child sexual abuse.

A shooting death in the Hamilton Hills neighborhood overnight and an infant death have been added to the city homicide count, according to police.  The shooting in the Hamilton Hills neighborhood occurred in the 6200 block of Pioneer Drive. Police initially said via their Twitter account that the victim was a juvenile, but this morning said his name and age are unknown and that investigators now believe he may be an adult.  The infant who was killed was identified as Aaron Evans, who was just five months old. Police said the incident dates to January 30, when officers were called to the 3000 block of Baker St. in the Rosemont neighborhood for a non-breathing infant.

In response to the story about alleged child abuse at John Archer School ("John Archer parents address abuse allegations," March 14), it's unbelievable something like this could happen in Harford County. If the school's teachers are at fault they should be punished severely. If the county board of education doesn't take this seriously, it could happen in other schools. The idea that special needs children allegedly were restrained in chairs for hours is absurd. What has this world come to, and what's next?

Republican senators sent strong signals Tuesday that they intend to put up a fight over a bill that would ban smoking in a vehicle occupied by a child under 8 -- a proposal some GOP lawmakers see as an intrusion into people's private space. The legislation, sponsored by Montgomery County Democratic Sen. Jennie Forehand, won 7-4 approval last week from the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, but the bill ran into skeptical questioning as it made its first appearance on the Senate floor for the adoption of amendments.

Children need protection from adults who sexually abuse them, and adults should report abuse when they suspect it ("A better way to help kids," Feb. 6). It should be as simple as that. But although Maryland law requires everyone to report suspected cases of abuse - not just educators, health practitioners and social workers - unlike 47 other states, there is no penalty for failure to meet this important obligation. Those of us on the front lines in investigating child abuse cases see a need for significant penalties for failing to report child abuse.

The Baltimore Sun has, along with other media, followed closely the trial of two brothers accused of animal abuse ( "Mistrial in case against twins accused of burning pit bull," Feb. 8). The pictures of the badly burned dog have generated outrage by concerned citizens throughout our community. The same response occurred recently when cats were also intentionally injured. Our previous mayor created a Task Force on the Prevention of Animal Abuse. While this is an important problem in our community, a far greater problem is the abuse of children of all ages.

Reports of child abuse are nearly overwhelming the Carroll County Department of Social Services. The number of reports of suspected child abuse this year is 64 percent greater than the total number of cases for all of 1992. Because state law requires all valid reports of suspected child abuse to be investigated within 24 hours, the department's staff is struggling to keep up.Whether more child abuse is occurring in Carroll today than last year or even 10 years ago is not the appropriate question.

When children are abused, the human costs are high, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : Children who were physically, sexually or psychologically abused are more likely to have poorer health, social and emotional difficulties and lower economic productivity. But the abuse also substantially impacts the nation's health care, education, criminal justice and welfare systems - the costs from abuse and neglect are approximately $124 million just from one year's worth of cases over the abused lifetimes, the CDC says in a new report.

Maryland First Lady Catherine Curran O'Malley announced Monday that Baltimore City, Talbot and Worcester counties have been selected for a new statewide initiative to prevent child sexual abuse by training adults. The Family Tree, a Baltimore non-profit, was granted $25,000 in private funding to replicate the Enough Abuse Campaign, which originated in Massachusetts. The Family Tree will provide free training to child advocacy organizations in the three communities. The program emphasizes educating adults to recognize abused children, to communicate with children about appropriate interactions with adults, and to advocate for victims.