Bill would keep child abuse death probes open
Friday, March 2nd, 2007Tracy Swartz, News-Leader Feb. 20, 2007
From the News-Leader site
Jefferson City — The state Senate approved measures Monday that would revise requirements for child-abuse investigations.
One bill, sponsored by Sen. Norma Champion, would prevent the children’s division of the state Department of Social Services from closing a child abuse investigation if the child dies. The investigation would remain open until the division completed its review.
Current law requires investigations to be completed within 30 days of an oral report of child abuse or neglect unless there is good cause the review could not be finished.
“We don’t want that past record closed. It looks like you’re trying to hide something and nobody’s trying to hide anything,” said Champion, a Springfield Republican.
Champion pointed to the case of Dominic James, a 2-year-old Springfield foster child who died in 2002. The boy’s foster father was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he was convicted of fatal child abuse.
Access to foster care records came under fire after Dominic’s death, which spurred reform in the state’s child-welfare system.
A second Champion initiative would modify the rules for background checks for emergency placement of a child in a private home to comply with FBI regulations.
The legislation would require the criminal background check to be made within 15 calendar days instead of 15 business days, and grandparents also would be subject to the checks.
“I wouldn’t think any grandparent would mind the check if they didn’t have anything to hide,” Champion said.
Champion said child abuse in the Springfield area is “obviously a problem.” The News-Leader explored the topic in a weeklong series that detailed local cases and proposed solutions to curb abuse.
The Senate approved both of Champion’s measures without opposition. They now advance to the House.