As reported by WPEC, a South Florida mother accused of keeping her adoptive son locked in an 8×8 box in the garage pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment and neglect of a child. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation with one year of house arrest.
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Author ArchiveNavigating A Path Forward: Steps to Take in Suspected Child Abuse CasesAs Justice for Kids marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s imperative that we shine a spotlight on this critical issue affecting Illinois and the broader nation. Statistics unveiled by the Department for Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the US Department of Health and Human Services paint a stark picture of the magnitude of child abuse and neglect within our communities. With over 231,000 calls to the DCFS hotline last year and an annual victim count reaching over 35,000 in Illinois alone, the urgency for awareness and action has never been more pressing. April: A Month of Awareness and Action for Children’s RightsAs the flowers in spring bloom, we should not forget that April has been designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when we collectively turn our attention to the silent struggles of countless abused, neglected and catastrophically injured children who face trauma and unimaginable circumstance within what should be the safety of their homes and foster care. At Justice for Kids, our commitment to uphold and protect children’s rights is not just our mission; it’s a promise—a vow to stand in the gap for the voiceless and the vulnerable. Oregon Capital Chronicle: DHS offers record $40 million to settle lawsuit from abused foster childrenAs reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, the Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit filed by four former foster children who were sexually and physically abused in a foster home, court records show. Read more here. Prominent Children’s Rights Attorney Howard Talenfeld Named to Forbes Top 200 American LawyersHoward M. Talenfeld, a leading children’s rights attorney and Business Unit Leader of Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, has been recognized on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers. He is one of only six lawyers on the list nationally selected for Civil Rights Law. According to Forbes, this list highlights the finest practitioners in the profession—lawyers with stellar track records in their specialties, those who have broken barriers to emerge as leaders in their fields, and those most respected by peers and clients. Sun-Sentinel: Four relatives face charges in Margate teen’s decade of alleged abuse. Police expect more arrests.As reported by the Sun-Sentinel, “It took one text message to a teacher to uncover years of alleged abuse that a 15-year-old girl said she suffered at the hands of her caregivers.” Family Awarded $13.5 Million for Adoption that Led to Molestation Following a Trial Led by Justice for KidsFollowing a seven-day trial led by the Justice for Kids Team, a jury awarded $13.5 million to a family that suffered harm after the adoption agency Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) failed to warn them about psychological problems that make their adopted son unsafe to be around their daughters, one of whom was later molested. The $13.5 million dollar verdict against JFCS validated claims by the boy’s adoptive parents that the nonprofit failed to convey how risky it would be to place the boy in their home. “They cannot escape accountability,” attorney Justin Grosz told jurors during final arguments for the seven-day trial, which centered on whether Jewish Family staff failed before adoption to alert the couple to behavioral problems that could last a lifetime. WPLG: Relative who worked at child abuse nonprofit is latest arrest in Margate teen torture caseAs reported by WPLG Local 10, authorities arrested a former worker at a child abuse prevention organization in connection with an investigation into an alleged house of torture. This happened in Margate, FL where multiple family members are accused of brutalizing, caging and starving a 15-year-old girl for years. Orlando Sentinel: Jury orders Florida to pay $15 million to Volusia girl tortured by parentsA young girl has been awarded a $15 million verdict against the Florida Department of Children & Families for negligently investigating abuse reports. Stacie Schmerling and Lisa Elliott, attorneys with the Justice for Kids Division of Kelley Kronenberg, represented the eight-year-old girl, who was tortured and suffered permanent traumatic brain injury and quadriplegia from repeated episodes of abusive head trauma. Justice for Kids Leader Howard Talenfeld Honored at Keiser University Choice AwardsHoward M. Talenfeld, a leading children’s rights attorney and Business Unit Leader of Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, was recently recognized as an honoree at the Keiser University Choice Awards – Minority Community Leaders Gala on November 17. This special event recognized and celebrated the achievements of individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to minority communities, fostering a sense of community and empowerment. It also brought together leaders from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and resources to strengthen their collective impact. Miami Herald: Teen was tortured in Broward home for a decade, police say. A sex offender lived there, too.As reported by the Miami Herald, a 15-year-old girl suffered close to a decade of horrors at a Margate home where new court records reveal that a sex offender also lived. Horace Crawley, 74, was arrested on Sunday and is now charged with failure to register as a sex offender. Days prior, Shankyria Latricia Clayton, the girl’s 20-year-old sister, was charged with aggravated child abuse and child neglect with great bodily harm in connection with the teen’s case. WPLG: Teacher accused of abusing special needs 4-year-old boy at Broward schoolA Broward County, FL teacher has been accused of abusing a special needs pre-kindergarten student. Read more from WPLG Local 10 here. |
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