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INDIANAPOLIS – The Democratic candidate running for attorney general unveiled her first policy proposal Tuesday – a promise to crack down on child abuse.
Linda Pence detailed a four-point plan to do so at a sparsely attended Indianapolis news conference.
She is running against Republican Greg Zoeller to replace outgoing Attorney General Steve Carter.
“I will fight for and protect our children and families,” Pence said. “And make no mistake – these are not just words – I will take concrete actions to ensure our children’s safety and well-being.”
Data covering July 2006 through June 2007 showed 36 children died of abuse or neglect during that time – down from 53 in 2006 and a high of 69 in 2002.
One of Pence’s main proposals is to have the attorney general’s office conduct an unbiased, independent investigation when a child dies while in foster care or under the protection of the state.
Over the past year, two infants have died in Marion County foster homes, and she said the Indiana Department of Child Services investigates when this occurs. But employees of this same agency make decisions on removing and placing a child in a foster home.
“When a child dies, the same department cannot, should not, investigate itself,” Pence said.
Zoeller said there is a possible conflict in having the attorney general’s office investigate such situations because the attorney general is obligated to defend the agency if a lawsuit is brought regarding a death.
Pence also would work to enhance the State Child Fatality Review Team put in place in 2004.
She said the team is limited to the review of abuse cases selected and identified by the Department of Child Services.
She wants the team to do a basic review of all child deaths and report findings to the State Department of Health for statistical tracking.
She also would create a Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Investigative Team within the attorney general’s office – a group of prosecutors and experts who can help local authorities prosecute Hoosiers who intentionally harm children.
Zoeller, chief deputy for the attorney general, said it is the prosecutor’s job to put criminals in jail and his job to keep them in jail when the cases are appealed.
“We support them where they feel like they need our assistance, but if she is suggesting that the AG be a prosecutor, I disagree,” he said. “I’m not proposing to be a prosecutor.”
Pence’s last idea was to educate the public to better recognize signs of child abuse and neglect.
Zoeller’s only specific policy proposal at this point in the election campaign is to help schools defend lawsuits filed over school discipline.
nkelly@jg.net
