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Letter: Children failed by system

April 29, 2007

Dear Editor,

I am concerned about a case in the social services and justice systems. Since there are minors involved, plus since apparently young minors are not "reliable witnesses" against possible perpetrators, I must leave names out of this letter. This case began in Henry County, and due to the biological mother moving when the heat is on, it has traveled through Lincoln, Mercer, Jefferson and Garrard counties.

The "rest of the story" deals with small children who act out, and at least one talks of beatings and sexual molestation. Interviews by child behavioral specialists and law enforcement substantiate the "likeliness of molestation." No charges have been filed, nor likely will it happen.

The agency has a primary goal of "family reunification." That is fine in many cases, but a child who is accusing someone in the home of sexual or other abuse should be given the benefit of the doubt until there is a high percentage of satisfaction that the allegations are untrue.

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The biological father has had to fight and complain for the meager amount of advice and assistance he has received from the state. It seems state officials would be falling over themselves to try to help this young man, instead of making it so easy for the alleged perpetrators of these problems to repeat the alleged abuses.

The charges were meager. Plus, the accused were allowed to "stipulate" to the charges. I understand the definition of "stipulating" as: "Yeah, we'll say we are guilty, so you don't have to investigate us any further."

And why have we, the public, and we the family and extended family of the child(ren) not heard about the mother's abuse charges against the father/stepfather? Is this one of those situations that is shrouded in the secrecy of the Family Court?

We will fight, scratch and claw until one child is out of this mess. We wonder who cares enough to help the other two. Garrard County was not the beginning of this ordeal. Our little girl carries permanent scars of being burned in Lincoln County, and the system failed her then, too.

Caroline Cox

Port Royal, Ky.

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