Change & Death of a minor

How do you change the status quo?

The first step is to care enough to do something.

Most people I know are really good at gripping.  They won’t do it to the person or entity that are upset with, but they are really good at doing it.  They have practiced….

Nothing but negative comes from their mouth, but when face to face with the person they are not happy with, they act like they are in a love fest.   This is the problem.  If you are doing it, you are the problem.

If you disagree with someone, have enough backbone to stand.  Conflict is not evil.  If you don’t like something, stand alone first and then see if anyone will stand with you.  Have some guts.  Has everyone been so conditioned to not upset someone that they are not capable of doing this???  Is this the side effect of  pc?

That is what this blog is about.  The current system is broken.  Who we think have our backs and we expect to do their jobs, don’t .  If WE don’t hold them accountable no one will.

I do not like and will not accept how the death investigation of Alec was handled.

• There are laws that were ignored.
• There are standard procedures that were not followed
• There was a lack of response from public officials that SHOULD have helped

Here is the thing,  I don’t know what the reopening of Alec’s case will find in the end, but I know what I have found along the way.   No matter how this ends up, there are several things I will continue to fight for change in.

1. The fact that nothing was done to the individuals whom, being adults and condoned activity that was not legal on their property had NOTHING done, known pattern, while others face charges in similar situations.
2. How death scene investigations are performed in comparison to established standards.
   1. The scrutiny applied originally to the investigation.  No matter the outcome of the follow up investigation, no reasonable person could conclude the original investigation followed any protocol or standard.
3. The laws surrounding circumstances involving the death of a minor.   This is the issue I wish to address at this time.   IF what I have been told IS accurate, which I am not convinced:  WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW

Yes this is personal because my son was insulted because the same care and attention was not applied to him as would have someone else’s child.

I have spoken to numerous others that have a similar story to share and I offer this blog as a medium for you to put forth your story.

Are you going to wait till something happens to someone you care about and you are in my situation before you stand up to these atrocities ?

Today we are going to review the Death of a minor and established laws surrounding this:

If  you review the Crimes Against Children (MINORS) Division of the Arkansas State Police :

•  Coroners, Law Enforcement Officers and Prosecuting Attorneys are defined as mandatory reporters

  • Neither the Coroner, Prosecuting Attorney nor any of the Hempstead

    County Sheriff’s department reported per the state law.

• Lt. Lafferty of the State Police was notified of the failure of the Coroner to report.

  • He advised that this was a misdemeanor and that the statute of limitations had expired. He also stated that from his conversations this was not maltreatment therefore investigation will not be initiated through the crimes against Children Division.

  • Upon notification of the inability to respond due to lack of reporting at the time and refusal to take this call as notification, a call to the hot line was placed per website guidance and a report was taken 

  • Calls were placed to the district representative who never followed up

• See 2015 Arkansas Code, Title 12, Subtitle 2, Chapter 18 Child Maltreatment Act 12-18-402 (2015)

  • (a) An individual listed as a mandated reporter under subsection (b) of this section shall immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline if he or she:

  •  (C) (i) Died suddenly and unexpectedly.

                (ii) As used in subdivision (a)(1)(C)(i) of this section,

    “died suddenly and unexpectedly” means a child death that was not caused by a known disease or illness for which the child was under a physician’s care at the time of death, including without limitation child deaths as a result of the following:

  •  (c) An accident;

  •  (d) A suicide;

  •  (e) A homicide; or

  •  (f) Other undetermined circumstance;

  • (b) The following individuals are mandated reporters under this chapter:

  • o (2) A coroner;

  • o (13) A law enforcement official;

  • o (18) A peace officer;

  • o (20) A prosecuting attorney;

 

Apparently there is a gap in the implementation of this law.

IF Alec’s death had been reported per 12-18-402 then the State Police would have been involved and required to investigate.

This is a misdemeanor and you know, those don’t really matter.

I made a reference to Lt. Lafferty arguing that Alec’s death did not fit the definition of MALTREATMENT which will be argued, to the point I believe you will see that he does fit the definition, in a latter blog post.

I am in need of support to put forth clarity surrounding this law, that if an individual allows alcohol, drugs, illegal activity,  etc…   to be allowed on his/her property, then they are clearly responsible and subject to this law.

If we do not voice disagreement then we condone,

Whatever we condone, is our standard.

God bless and good night.