Today's headlines | E-edition | Subscribe
Contact Us | Sign In
May 26, 2013
5-day Forecast Tulsa World  
NEWS SECTIONS
 
COLUMNISTS
 
CONTINUING COVERAGE

Funeral services held for Moore tornado victims

Graduation ceremonies for area high school seniors were held at the same time as some of the funerals.

Moore Tornado 2013: Find all the coverage from the Moore tornado, including photo slideshows and a video from the World's award winning photographers.
Fallin signs bill to aid tornado recovery
How to help those affected by the Moore tornado

 
NEWS BLOGS
COLLEGE SECTIONS
 
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
 
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
 
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
 
SPORTS TV/RADIO SCHEDULE

Ricketts, Sooners win emotional Super Regional game with sister of tornado victim in dugout

You bet Casey Angle had a favorite part of Friday night's softball game.

 
PRO SECTIONS
 
OTHER SECTIONS
 
SPORTS BLOGS
BUSINESS SECTIONS
 
COLUMNS

Clary Sage College forms franchise division

By the end of summer, anyone seeking a new salon and spa experience will be able to walk into Clary Sage Salon & Spa in Broken Arrow.

 
BUSINESS BLOGS
 
SPECIAL REPORTS
OPINION SECTIONS
 
COLUMNS
 
EDITORIAL CARTOONS

Drone Rules

SCENE SECTIONS
 
COLUMNS
 
 
CONTINUING COVERAGE

We have two pair of Paul McCartney tickets to give away. Want 'em?

Here’s your (two) chance(s) to win one of two pairs of tickets to see Paul McCartney perform May 30 at the BOK Center.

 
SCENE BLOGS
CLASSIFIEDS SECTIONS
 
SERVICE DIRECTORY
 
PETS
 
HOMES
 
AUTOS
 
OTHER VEHICLES

Continuing
Coverage

Photos and stories from the 2013 Moore tornado. Who is Tulsa's next mayor?
CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS

CONTINUING COVERAGE

Oklahoma Crisis: Child Abuse and Neglect


Jessica Martin, a DHS child abuse investigator at the Justice Center, said she is not sure how many child deaths she has seen. "There have been so many," she said. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

Overview:
In Oklahoma last year, there were 8,110 abused or neglected children -- 83 percent neglected, 12 percent physically abused and 5 percent sexually assaulted.

About 4,700 of those children were removed from their homes, bringing the total number in foster care to 8,974 children.

The Tulsa World has been scrutinizing the Oklahoma Department of Human Services after several high-profile child deaths from abuse and the filing of a federal class-action lawsuit alleging failures in its child welfare division.

In the past year, Oklahomans have read about weekly arrests of adults accused of harming children.

Some are horrific - children being whipped, forced into sexual acts, scalded in unattended hot bath water, beaten and shaken to death.

Those are cases the public knows about because an arrest has been made.

"For every one of those you read about, there are hundreds of others suffering from abuse and neglect you never hear about," said attorney Barbara Sears, who represents children in deprived cases.

With about 30 referrals a day coming into the offices of Tulsa County's front-line child welfare workers, the media reports represent between 1 percent to 5 percent of cases, officials estimate.

This page will feature ongoing coverage including individual abuse and neglect cases and efforts to reform the agency.
HEADLINES
Tulsa man charged with molesting 7-year-old

Tulsa man charged with molesting 7-year-old   5/22/2013

Dwight Rake, 63, was arrested Friday and remains in the Tulsa Jail.
Charges filed in case of Tulsa couple accused of tying boy with belts

Charges filed in case of Tulsa couple accused of tying boy with belts   5/17/2013

Investigators noted more than 30 injuries on the child that were inflicted with belts or cords.
Reported bruises on student lead to BA woman's arrest

Reported bruises on student lead to BA woman's arrest   5/15/2013

Charity Grace Wrather, 30, is charged with abusing a 6-year-old boy.

Child-neglect charges filed after toddler found in 'unsanitary' home   5/8/2013

Prosecutors say the Owasso home was 'filled with feces, filth and debris.'

McAlester-area couple arrested in abuse of 2-month-old   5/8/2013

The infant had bruises, broken ribs and a traumatic brain injury, authorities said.
Tulsa father charged with child abuse

Tulsa father charged with child abuse   5/2/2013

A witness said he pulled the boy by the hair and pushed his head into a wall.
Broken Arrow man gets 8 life terms for molesting child relative

Broken Arrow man gets 8 life terms for molesting child relative   4/25/2013

The judge made it clear that he thinks Eric Lahrman should never get out of prison.
Tulsans march against child abuse and neglect

Tulsans march against child abuse and neglect   4/23/2013

The abuse began with touching by a well-respected high school baseball coach, who was like a second father to Ann Walta.
Ginnie Graham: Women hope others learn from their tragedy

Ginnie Graham: Women hope others learn from their tragedy   4/17/2013

Jace Burgess lives forever as a 3-year-old in pictures on mantles and in photo albums.
Tulsa woman charged with toddler's repeated abuse

Tulsa woman charged with toddler's repeated abuse   4/15/2013

Angelina Ruth Cicone is accused of injuring her toddler multiple times over a three-month period.
Glenpool woman charged with sex abuse of 4-year-old

Glenpool woman charged with sex abuse of 4-year-old   4/3/2013

Samantha Jo Bryant, 23, is charged in Tulsa County District Court with child sexual abuse and permitting child sexual abuse.
Tulsa man accused of using stun gun on 5-year-old

Tulsa man accused of using stun gun on 5-year-old   2/27/2013

In interviews with Department of Human Services social workers and police, the boy said Phillip Hudson Jr. hit him with a board on the shoulder and elbow and shocked him with a stun gun for failing to do his homework.
Perkins man charged with abusing son for not liking OSU

Perkins man charged with abusing son for not liking OSU   2/20/2013

The boy told investigators that he was disciplined by his father on Jan. 29 for telling a fellow student that “he didn’t like OSU,” a court affidavit indicates.
Dewey man found guilty of murdering 15-month-old step-daughter

Dewey man found guilty of murdering 15-month-old step-daughter   2/1/2013

Marcus Trinidad Mitchell was convicted Friday evening of killing his step-daughter, Emma Beth Warmerbrodt.
Tulsa man charged with sexually abusing child relative

Tulsa man charged with sexually abusing child relative   1/31/2013

Octaviano Flores, 47, was arrested Jan. 24 after a 14-year-old girl told police that he had forced her to have sexual intercourse with him between December 2011 and July 2012.
Tulsa man admits sexually abusing child, arrest report says

Tulsa man admits sexually abusing child, arrest report says   1/24/2013

Octaviano Flores, 47, was arrested after a 14-year-old girl told police that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
Load More
HOTLINE
To report suspected child abuse or neglect,
call 1-800-522-3511.
STATS
Oklahoma child abuse and neglect
Fiscal year 2011

66,541: Reports to the Department of Human Services

29,468: Cases accepted for an assessment or investigation

8,110: Oklahoma children confirmed to have been abused or neglected

9,344: Tulsa County reports to DHS

4,362: Tulsa County cases accepted for an assessment or investigation

1,023: Tulsa County children abused or neglected

WHAT THE LAW SAYS
The state law puts the responsibility of reporting on all individuals who suspect the abuse or neglect of a child. The statute specifically mentions medical personnel, teachers and "other" persons.

It states "no employer, supervisor or administrator shall impede or inhibit the reporting obligations of any employee or other person." The law forbids any retaliation against a person for making a "good faith" report.

A person failing to report abuse or neglect could be charged with a misdemeanor.

DHS staff have found some employers, primarily child-care centers and schools, have policies requiring only supervisors make a report. However, this violates the law.

"We rely on the public to let us know what is going on," said Julie Merritt, DHS Tulsa County director in child protection services. "Those rules and policies at schools and day cares do not absolve the teacher or provider from making that referral."

CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS
View Full Site

© 2013 Tulsa World. All rights reserved.