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

Charges allege creation of pornography involving children, including toddler and infant 10/4/2012

Ricky Lewis, 31, of Tulsa is charged with procuring the participation of a 2-year-old in child pornography, attempting to procure such material involving a 3-month old, manufacturing child pornography featuring an 8-year-old, and manufacturing obscenity featuring a dog.

Tulsan arrested on child sexual abuse charge 10/1/2012

Investigators allege that Brian Dane Bradshaw, 49, touched inappropriately and molested a 12-year-old girl at a residence in the 1900 block of North Kingston Avenue.

Child welfare experts from U.S., Israel share ideas at conference 9/12/2012

Child welfare experts and social workers from the U.S. and Israel came together Tuesday at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa campus to trade information.

Couple plead guilty to Tulsa child-neglect charges 9/10/2012

Police asserted that Kristen Swatzell and Cody Minko Miller neglected their children by letting them live in an unsafe and unsanitary home and by not seeking medical attention for burns on two of the children.

Tulsan charged with injuring infant, failing to get medical care 8/21/2012

James Darnell Wilks, 19, was charged Tuesday with child abuse by injury and child neglect in connection with an infant who is less than 2 months old.

Tulsa-area DHS official sees bright future with reforms 8/13/2012

For the past five years, Kelly Johnson has been in charge of everything in Tulsa having to do with the state Department of Human Services.

DHS seeks names of Children's Rights' sources 8/11/2012

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is trying to find out the identities of the confidential sources used by a New York-based nonprofit, which filed a federal class-action lawsuit that was settled in January.

Former Tulsa foster parent sent to prison for child sex-abuse 7/19/2012

Donald Ellis Lehmbeck, 65, pleaded guilty to five felony counts — four counts of child sexual abuse and one count of possessing obscene or indecent writings.

Panel reviews DHS patterns in child death cases 6/25/2012

Twenty-one Oklahomans have come together for eight hours once a month to understand why children are dying from abuse and neglect in the state.

Volunteer attorneys help abused, neglected children in court 6/22/2012

Attorney Paul Naylor met the teenage brothers at the Laura Dester Shelter as they were playing basketball a few years ago. They just came in the night before, and Naylor was appointed as their lawyer.

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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

Key Documents

Read the filings about attorney fees paid.

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."