Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Police departments and law enforcement agencies are using text messaging to help solve crimes. Anderson Software is a company that provides software / technology that allows text messengers to anonymously send in a text message crime tip. The text message goes through a third party computer server, assigned an encrypted alias and then finally forwarded to the police. Many people feel that they will be identified as a snitch when informing the police of important information. By using this technology, some police believe that more people will help police in solving old crimes and preventing new ones from taking place. You can read more about this technology at Text a Crime Tip Programs Assist Police.
In Maryland, a father was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison based on child abuse charges brought by the State. Andre Nathaniel Robinson, age 31, was accused of the crime of child abuse for burn injuries to his baby son. Mr. Robinson maintains his innocence of a crime and stated that the injuries were accidental in nature. The baby treated at Baltimore Washington Medical Center for burn injuries to the chest, right arm and face. While Mr. Robinson had a right to an attorney and to defend himself at trial, he entered an Alford plea to the charges. This type of plea in Maryland allows a Defendant to maintain his or her innocence with a plea that there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.
In Davenport, Iowa, two month old (Chase Kloppenberg) was taken off of life support at Iowa City Hospital according to Sergeant Frankie Wilson with the Davenport Police Department. Brian M. Fix, the mother’s boyfriend, has been charged with the crime of child endangerment causing serious injury. In criminal of this nature, the extent of the criminal charges could be amended in light of the fact that the child died.
In Maryland and other States, schools should be a safe haven for children. Schools should be a place where children are able to learn and grow in an environment that protects their safety and well being. Unfortunately, at times, schools are crime scenes where children are assaulted, beaten, and robbed. In Cambridge, Maryland, 
Chesnee, South Carolina daycare operator, Gena Lynn Grigg, was arrested by officers of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office after police said she abused a child in her care. She has been charged with unlawful neglect of a helpless person.
Troy Helms, an 11-year-old from Grove, Oklahoma was attending the Strut Your Mutt dog walk sponsored by the Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake when he accidentally fell on the ground. A Great Dane attacked the child, biting down on his face and neck. The boy received more than 100 stitches.
It took less than one hour for a Tulare County jury to return a guilty verdict in this shocking California case. Nancy Ortiz, 24, of Orosi, California was found guilty on second degree murder and felony child abuse charges after she abandoned three of her children.
A newly released US government survey, Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey, has revealed that 60% of American children under the age of eighteen have been exposed to violence in the last year. For nearly 50% of the children, the violence came in the form of an assault. The other 10% were subject to physical and emotional child abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse and even parent abduction. Frighteningly, the study revealed that once a child was exposed to violence, they were more likely to be exposed to additional violence.