March 23, 2006

            LANSING – In the wake of the death of 7-year old Ricky Holland of Ingham County, Attorney General Mike Cox today called for a series of legislative changes to safeguard Michigan children and provide an early warning system to potential child abuse and neglect.

            "There is a problem with Michigan's system of protecting children who are at risk of child abuse," Cox explained.  "Research, including studies done by my office, indicates that children living in households with ongoing domestic violence are more likely to be abused.  Yet, in spite of this link, agencies that exist to protect children are not informed of domestic violence incidents in households where children are present, unless the children show actual physical or outward signs of abuse.  And as a result, no follow-up investigations to check on the health and well-being of children take place. 

            "In short, children at risk of abuse are falling through the cracks. 

            "To solve this problem, I am calling for legislative changes that will require greater notification by and among government agencies, and then require follow-up investigations by those agencies.

            "First, in cases of domestic violence, I propose legislation requiring the arresting or investigating agency to notify the Department of Human Services, or more specifically, Child Protective Services, of domestic violence incidents where there are children present in the household. 

            "Second, I propose legislation requiring Child Protective Services (CPS) personnel to follow-up on those notifications by investigating all reports of domestic violence for potential impact on the children present in the household.

            "There is a wide, and growing, body of research, including statistics from Wayne County compiled by my office, demonstrating a strong correlation between domestic violence and child abuse:

·        A study by my office revealed that since 1998, Wayne County Juvenile Court Child Protective Proceedings recorded 58 child fatalities.  Of those, 34 (58%) had issues of domestic violence involving one or more of the adult parental members of the household.

·        An additional study by my office shows that, of the 1,760 new abuse and neglect cases opened in Wayne County between January 1, 2005 and March 16, 2006, 469 (27%) involved domestic violence cases, PPOs or stalking orders.

·        A national study (Jeffrey Edelson, 1995) found that in 32-to-53 percent of all families where women are beaten, the children are also abused by the same perpetrator.

·        The Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U. S. Department for Health and Human Services (2003) found that there are child and adult victims in 30-to-60 percent of families experiencing domestic violence. 

·        A 1988 study (Stark and Flitcraft) reported 45 percent of hospitalized abused children had mothers who demonstrated the physical characteristics of being beaten.

"Incidents of domestic violence provide an early-warning system for the potential for child abuse," Cox noted.  "But early-warning systems only work if someone is warned, and if something is done."

"We now know that the adoptive parents of Ricky Holland had a long history of domestic violence – allegations ranging from assaults that resulted in cuts and bruises, to the throwing of sharp objects and household appliances. 

"Sometimes domestic violence precedes child abuse.  Sometimes child abuse precedes domestic violence.  But clearly, there is a relationship.  Government needs to pick up on these signals, so that more violence or abuse can be prevented.

"Nothing we say or do can bring Ricky Holland back," said Cox.  "But the tragedy of Ricky's death will be compounded if we do not learn from the circumstances that led to his death and institute changes to help protect Michigan's most valuable resource – our children.

"I look forward to working with Representative Law's subcommittee in enacting the necessary changes to Michigan law in order to ensure our children are able to live and thrive in a safe, secure and supportive home environment," Cox concluded. 

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Child Abuse and Domestic Violence

Fact Sheet 

Wayne County Statistics

            A study by the Attorney General’s office of child fatalities and the link to domestic violence revealed the following:

• Over the last eight years, families have been brought before the Wayne County Juvenile Court system for 58 child fatalities. 
• Thirty-four of these families have had a history of domestic violence.  This bears out to 58% of these fatalities came from homes with a history of domestic violence.   

            An additional study by the Attorney General’s office of child abuse and neglect and the link to domestic violence revealed the following:

• Of the 1,760 new abuse and neglect cases opened in Wayne County between January 1, 2005 and March 16, 2006, 469 involved domestic violence criminal cases, Personal Protection Orders or stalking orders.
• This amounts to 27% of the abuse and neglect cases from homes with known domestic violence histories. 

National Statistics

            National research also indicates children living in households with ongoing domestic violence are more likely to be abused:

• Jeffrey Edelson (1995) has found in 32% to 53% of all families where women are being beaten the children are also abused by the same perpetrator.
• The Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services (2003) has found there are child and adult victims in 30% to 60% of families experiencing domestic violence.
• Another study reported 45% of hospitalized abused children had mothers who demonstrated the physical characteristics of being battered (Stark and Flitcraft 1988)