ALBERT LEA, Minn. - There may soon be harsher punishment laws on the books for child abuse cases in Minnesota.
Recent cases in our area as well as across the country are prompting state lawmakers to take action.
State Senator Dan Sparks from Austin is planning to meet with Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen next week. There they'll discuss introducing legislation that would create harsher punishments for child abusers, a topic Sparks says he's heard a lot about recently from constituents.
“The prevention is more of where our goals are at,” said Kim Nelson, executive director of The Children’s Center in Albert Lea.
Nelson and her staff work to educate parents about child abuse prevention.
“We put things in our newsletter every month just on the stresses of being a parent and dealing with behaviors dealing with societal issues those types of things,” said Nelson.
Even though her first goal is prevention, Nelson agrees changes to child abuse laws are necessary.
“Sometimes I think that we're a little more lenient on people that have done something so yes I think reform does need to happen,” said Nelson.
So do many other Minnesotans. After a judge sentenced Brian and Charity Miller of Dexter, Minn., to one year in prison for chaining their child to his crib, state lawmakers heard the outcry.
“When children are involved I think people do really get engaged,” said State Sen. Dan Sparks.
Sparks says listening to suggestions from local officials and voters helps lawmakers bring ideas to Saint Paul.
“In the past we've been able to work very closely with police and sheriff's offices and if they see a law or something that needs to be changed we've been very willing to sit down and listen to them,” said Sparks.
Even though the legislative session just ended, Sparks is getting to work now so when law makers reconvene he can hit the ground running.
“We want to try and make sure we can prevent these cases, but when we can’t we want to make sure the penalty is tough enough that people are held accountable for their actions,” said Sparks.
Something Nelson echoes.
“I'm happy that they're doing something because in some situations those people shouldn't be able to have the rights as parents that they have,” said Nelson.
Brian and Charity Miller were both charged with gross misdemeanors for their child abuse crimes.
In closing statements at their sentencing Assistant Mower County Attorney Christa Van Gundy said the Millers should have been charged with felonies, but Minnesota Statute prevented that charge because what the state deems as substantial bodily hard did not occur.
The Millers faced a maximum of two years in jail; however they were only sentenced to one year. Their two children are currently in protective care.
