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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Ind. Courts - Files from Kalab Lay tragedy released by state child welfare chief

Here are earlier ILB entries on the Kahlib Lay death, from reports in the Evansville Courier & Press.

Today Libby Keeling reports in the Courier & Press in a lengthy story headed "File details tragedy: Thousands of pages of documents released Tuesday paint a stark picture of a 3-year-old allegedly beaten to death at the hands of his parents." A second story by Keeling, headed "File lays out states' deal on Kalab, says Indiana child welfare chief," begins:

Nearly three months after Kalab Lay's death — allegedly from a savage beating delivered by his parents, the Indiana Department of Child Services has released a roughly 3,000-page file on its investigation.

"I've tried to look at this every way I can to see what can we do, what should we have done, and I come to the conclusion that the sending state has the primary responsibility here," said Jim Payne, director of the Indiana department at a news conference Tuesday at the local DCS office.

A sidebar available online with both stories, answers the question: "Why are Kalab Lay's files public record?"
* In 2004, state Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville, pushed for passage of House Bill 1194, which brought change to the way the Indiana child protection system operates after the death of a child.

* While much that takes place regarding child protection and custody is kept out of the public arena, this bill required public disclosure of information relevant to establishing the facts and circumstances concerning the death or near fatality of a child that is determined to be the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect.

* It required that such cases become public record, but that the records would be redacted to protect the identify of any surviving children involved.

* To obtain Kalab Lay's file, the Courier & Press submitted formal requests to the local juvenile court judge and to Indiana Department of Child Services officials.

* Once Kalab's death was determined to be a fatality because of neglect or abuse, child welfare officials began the process of gathering and redacting thousands of pages of paperwork documenting Kalab's life in the system.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 25, 2008 09:31 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts