Lawmakers Urged to Help Prevent Child Abuse

By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A handful of state lawmakers and child welfare advocates met with the Oklahoma County District Attorney at the Capitol Wednesday to discuss ways to prevent child abuse.

Last month, at an event commemorating the state's victims of child abuse, District Attorney David Prater publicly chastised the legislature, saying what they're doing is "talking garbage rather than doing the people's business."

Prater and most of those attending the meeting said they think the state needs to do more to prevent child abuse and neglect, and worry less about increasing punishments for those guilty of such offenses.

"Child abuse, domestic abuse, the issues that we talk about that we have such problems addressing in the state of Oklahoma...are issues that we can never incarcerate our way out of," Prater said.

Representative Richard Morrissette (D-District 92) organized the meeting. He said he's disappointed more lawmakers didn't attend, but said there were still plenty of good ideas, and he plans to include some of them in legislation for next year's session.

Other ideas include working with schools to ensure kids get proper nutrition, health and wellness assemblies at schools to educate parents on available resources. Morrissette said each would easily pay for itself over time.

"If you get a child early in life, that is healthy, strong and educated, then you prevent all the misery down the end of the line," Morrissette said.

Prater hopes constituents will pass that message on to the rest of the legislature.