Many Texans, including Texas family law attorneys, are surprised to hear that deaths related to child abuse and neglect have risen by 31 percent in the last fiscal year. The Dallas Morning News reports that the statistics from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services show that the largest increase in child abuse deaths comes from Houston and Harris County.
The county saw 67 child abuse deaths last year, which account for nearly one quarter of the state’s 280 deaths. Houston residents are surprised to hear that Harris County saw a 90 percent increase from 2008 among child deaths from abuse or neglect.
Now many questions arise as to why the county has seen so many of these tragic deaths among children. Some people blame Houston’s poor economy for the increase, but Child Protective Services Spokesman Patrick Crimmins has dispelled that notion. He told Dallas Morning News that the theory was “pure speculation” and that there is no data to prove or disprove that particular notion.
With over one million children, Harris County has the largest child population in the state. Most of the cases in the county were known to involve some sort of substance abuse. All parents in Texas should know that child abuse is not only cruel, but it’s also treated as s very serious criminal matter in the state. Policy analysts at the Center for Public Policy Priorities say that the state’s high level of poverty and high teen birth rates may contribute to Texas’ increase in child abuse and neglect deaths.
If you have any questions about child abuse, you may want to contact a Texas family law attorney.
Related Resources:
- Child Abuse Information by State (FindLaw)
- Child Abuse (LawBrain)
- Locate Texas Family Law Attorneys (FindLaw)
ShareThis
