Abused kids should be given to relatives

A recent bill in the state legislature would create felony categories for child abuse, allowing courts to give abusive parents up to 20 years in prison for this form of domestic violence.

Although it is commendable that child abuse is being taken more seriously, greater consideration must be given to the way the abused children are handled after such a criminal case. If this bill is to be enacted, appropriate changes to this system must also be made.

While taking abused children away from their parents is an unfortunate measure, giving them back has proven to be disastrous at times.

Traditional rules state that children should be returned to the parents as a first option, taken away as a second. Yet, extended families are a resource that has long gone untapped.

Abused children whose parents are jailed should first be offered to immediate family members. If none are available or willing to take the children in, only then should options of foster homes and adoption be explored.