Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
It feels like my heart has died a thousand times with the recent “Baby Angel” child abuse case.
I remember back to 2002 when something unimaginable occurred in my very own community of Las Cruces. In 2002 baby Briana Lopez, a six-month old infant, was found horrifically beaten and raped countless times by her family members, bitten by her own mother, bruised throughout her entire body, and thrown hitting the ceiling and dropping to the floor. Briana Lopez died July 19, 2002 from the brutal abuse.
In 2005 I passed SB166 – a bill known as the “Baby Briana Bill” that created life sentences for child abuse resulting in death. Baby Briana’s death was the impetus for this piece of legislation, and back then I thought perhaps child abuse would be substantially reduced in New Mexico.
Unfortunately, we still hear stories such as the child that was smothered by his mother and buried in a playground in Albuquerque.
Over the Independence Day holiday weekend, as I was writing this editorial, I learned a man from Taos has been indicted for allegedly fatally stabbing his 1-year-old son.
And now in Doña Ana County, almost to the anniversary date of Baby Briana’s death, we are faced with the tragic death of 5-year-old baby Angel from Anthony, N.M. Like Baby Briana, she was presumably bitten, badly bruised throughout her body, and had severe bleeding in her brain.
The public and I have had enough with innocent children dying from this type of criminal child abuse. I am calling for the state, law enforcement, local government, municipalities, nonprofits, and everyone in the community to work together to use all available resources to combat this problem.
Taking child abuse seriously
I feel very strongly that we need to take the crime of child abuse as serious as we have DWI. Throughout New Mexico we see many billboards and commercials related to anti-DWI campaigns. There is also a sophisticated website managed by the DWI Resource Center that shows valuable statistical information and outreach programs. If you look for a similar website for criminal child abuse you will not find one. We need the same level of urgency, awareness and commitment for criminal child abuse as we have put forth for DWI.
Public awareness informing citizens on services and how to identify child abuse is crucial. The public should have firsthand knowledge on how to detect the physical signs of child abuse. Additionally, we need to increase awareness of laws such as the Safe Haven Act, which allows children to be left at hospitals and churches if parents are unable to care for them or if they are inclined to harm them. La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services is trying to establish a child abuse center where parenting and anger management skills can be taught. We must help them make the child abuse center a reality.
My legislative efforts on this issue will not stop. In 2010 we unanimously passed Senate Memorial 55, which I sponsored, that directs the Legislative Council to establish a task force on child abuse and domestic violence. I will do everything I can to make sure the task force works swiftly on this issue.
In 2009, I also sponsored SB22 that would have required family members to report child abuse in the home. This bill increased the penalty for failure to report child abuse. The bill was met with a lot of resistance and it failed to pass. I will be revisiting this issue in the upcoming legislative session.
We all need to report child abuse when we see it. We cannot be afraid of reporting a friend or a family member when a child is being abused. We must step in right away before it is too late. If you currently suspect child abuse please call CYFD at (800) 797-3260. You can also call me personally at (575) 526-5048 if I can help in any way.
My deepest sympathy and prayers are with all affected by child abuse.
Garcia is a state senator from Doña Ana and the Senate majority whip.