Arkansas hides details about childrens' deaths
The Arkansas Times writes about the state's Department of Human Services keeping secret basic details about the death of four children kept in foster care under the agency's responsibility. The agency hides behind a state law that says information regarding ongoing investigations can be kept secret. Yet, case law in the state says that some information in pending investigations should be public, such as basic information from police reports. When it comes down to it, the agency's secrecy defies common sense and folks in Arkansas should use that to shed light on an agency that is responsible for thousands of children.
The solution? The Times and other newspapers should sue and also work to change the law. It worked in Arizona last year. The Arizona Daily Star and Arizona Republic investigated a series of child deaths to find bungling in Child Protective Services. At the time the state also hid behind state law to supposedly protect people's privacy, but in reality they were out to hide massive problems in their agency. Both papers sued the state over records involving child deaths and they won. Then the Legislature approved a new law this year specifically making the case files public when a child dies in the care of CPS. It wasn't that difficult garnering public support given the atrocities some children face and the need for a strong system to protect them. Last week a federal audit of CPS showed massive failings in the system. Don't let these folks hide problems behind "privacy." Fight for openness. Fight for the children!