Policy Day: Part 1

Okay. I said today was a policy day!

Did you know Oregon has no torture law? Well, it does but it only applies to animals - not humans. After becoming incredibly frustrated by a child torture case, where the law really limited my options, I began trying to change the law.

You want to know the problems with our current law? Look at criminal mistreatment in the Oregon statutes. (ORS 163.205) Just reading those statutes, it should be clear that we retrofitted abuse in nursing home rules to include child abuse. That is....... Not enough.

Despite section leads from the DA's office in Washington county, detectives, and even me trying to meet with Leaders in the legislature on this issue, we've not been able to get any traction! My meeting ended with a no show by the legislator. Others end with sorry, we're not going to support.

To be clear, this means that children who are routinely locked up, told to kill themselves, made to stand naked against a wall for hours, deprived normal treatment like bedding ( yes - I mean simply a blanket and a pillow), or even soap. They CANNOT BE PROSECUTED! One of the policy issues I've been working on and will continue working on, is. This. Statute.

This issue has been in front of the Oregon State legislature at least twice. I'm hoping to make it a third time and make it successful!