Issue Position: Child Abuse
Issue Position
As Attorney General, one of my top priorities is protecting our children and our families from violence and abuse. Kentucky has one of the highest physical child abuse and child abuse death rates in the country. Nationally, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victims of child sexual abuse. [1] And, a 2008 study found that as few as 1 in 10 instances of child abuse are actually verified by a social services agency. [2] That is why I wake up every day not just thinking about the safety of my children, but of all Kentucky's kids.
As the father of two I cannot live with this reality. And I cannot think of a better mission for Kentucky's next Attorney General than addressing our child abuse epidemic.
If elected, I pledge to create a Child Abuse and Exploitation division within the Attorney General's office. The division will be staffed with specially trained investigators, prosecutors, and policy experts, and will work with local prosecutors on a statewide mission to vigorously and aggressively prosecute child abusers and sexual predators. The division will further team with our non-profit community to continue to educate parents, caregivers, and our childcare and broader communities about prevention.
But I will not stop there. As Attorney General, I will be a fierce advocate for changes in state law to better protect our children. For example, in Kentucky, an adult has to pass a stronger background check to work for the state lottery than they do to run a daycare or work at a summer camp. That is why I am committed to putting Kentucky on the path toward ending child abuse and will push to expand the use of technology and regulation to screen those who work with children.
Addressing Kentucky's child abuse epidemic will not be easy, and there is no simple solution. I pledge to work every day to make this Commonwealth safer for your kids and for mine. Only through stronger families and safer communities can we continue to build a better Kentucky for all.
[1] "Child Sexual Abuse Statistics." National Center for Victims of Crime
[2] "Study: Most child abuse goes unreported." Tiffany Sharples, Time Magazine, 12/2/08
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