A Tragedy in Chattanooga. What is the Proper Response?
Yesterday, a 15 month-old child was left in a car all day in the sweltering heat which, inside the vehicle, reached an estimated 142 degrees. Local news reports the child was pronounced dead after being found late in the afternoon:
My first question is why didn't the daycare center call the parents when the child failed to arrive at the center? It has been the practice of the two preschools we have used that the office calls to find out whether or not our son is supposed to be there when absent. I am not trying to shift blame onto the daycare center, I am merely pointing out how that is a good policy, one that would have perhaps saved this young child's life had it been implemented.
The real question is whether or not it is appropriate to bring these charges against the father. Now, as a father, I am torn. On the one hand, it is difficult to imagine being so preoccupied that you end up leaving your child in a car, so I understand the outrage that comes when these sorts of things happen as, tragically, they tend to do from time to time.
On the other hand, throw three more children in the mix and, whether we like to admit it or not, the craziness of the morning can cause a great deal of stress leading to even the most A.R. people among us to forget our names. I find it difficult to believe that this father was intentionally negligent and bent on abuse (and death) of his child. As a matter of fact, I would imagine he is devastated beyond belief. If I were to try and put myself in his place, I can only imagine dying of grief. I cannot imagine the torture that father is likely going through right now.
So, is it right that he should be charged for murder or should this be considered a horribly tragic accident? Should he be put in prison for years to come or would mandatory counseling, community service, or something of that nature be more appropriate? Perhaps it depends on the exact circumstances of the particular case, but it seems to me that this tragedy will only be compounded if the man is put in prison as a result. For instance, what will happen to the remaining three children? What about his wife? What will come of his family if he is no longer able to provide income for the family?
Some may say that the kids will perhaps be safer and, thus, better off without this man as a guardian. I suppose they may have a point, but I have a difficult time believing that to be true.
Police say Robert Reid found his one-year-old son in his car yesterday afternoon. Police say Reid took his six-, ten- and 12-year-old children to school yesterday morning and intended to drop off the baby at a daycare center.Emergency responders say Timothy Reid was dead when they arrived at the shipping business where Robert Reid works. The child had been in the car for nearly seven hours.According to news this morning, Mr. Reid has now been arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide and aggravated child abuse and neglect.
My first question is why didn't the daycare center call the parents when the child failed to arrive at the center? It has been the practice of the two preschools we have used that the office calls to find out whether or not our son is supposed to be there when absent. I am not trying to shift blame onto the daycare center, I am merely pointing out how that is a good policy, one that would have perhaps saved this young child's life had it been implemented.
The real question is whether or not it is appropriate to bring these charges against the father. Now, as a father, I am torn. On the one hand, it is difficult to imagine being so preoccupied that you end up leaving your child in a car, so I understand the outrage that comes when these sorts of things happen as, tragically, they tend to do from time to time.
On the other hand, throw three more children in the mix and, whether we like to admit it or not, the craziness of the morning can cause a great deal of stress leading to even the most A.R. people among us to forget our names. I find it difficult to believe that this father was intentionally negligent and bent on abuse (and death) of his child. As a matter of fact, I would imagine he is devastated beyond belief. If I were to try and put myself in his place, I can only imagine dying of grief. I cannot imagine the torture that father is likely going through right now.
So, is it right that he should be charged for murder or should this be considered a horribly tragic accident? Should he be put in prison for years to come or would mandatory counseling, community service, or something of that nature be more appropriate? Perhaps it depends on the exact circumstances of the particular case, but it seems to me that this tragedy will only be compounded if the man is put in prison as a result. For instance, what will happen to the remaining three children? What about his wife? What will come of his family if he is no longer able to provide income for the family?
Some may say that the kids will perhaps be safer and, thus, better off without this man as a guardian. I suppose they may have a point, but I have a difficult time believing that to be true.
Labels: Abuse, Child Safety, David C. Price, Family, Neglect, Parenting
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 5/02/2007 10:42:00 AM
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5 Comments:
I'm just as mixed about cases like this as you seem to be, David - and don't think I have any more answers than you, either.
As a society, we've ingrained ourselves with this belief that anytime a person dies unnaturally, there has to be some retribution, some penalty "that fits the crime." I think in cases like this, everything needs to be analyzed - did the father truly just forget, is this a repeated pattern, etc.? - on a case-by-case basis, no blanket "zero-tolerance" policies.
That said, I wonder if this is just formality - him being arrested and charged. Just a thought.
Good question. I can only say that they waited until today to arrest him.
The article said that the car was equipped with an internal motion detector and that the alarm went off several times!! The 'father', from inside his office, not seeing anyone around the vehicle remotely turned off the alarm. I feel really sick about how this child must have suffered, I can't even imagine. And clearly the little boy did suffer as he must have been (at least periodically) conscious enough to trigger the car's internal motion detector. If this isn't criminal negligence on the father's part, I don't know what is!
'anonymous,' thanks for the comment but please leave us some info about yourself--name and valid email--next time (see "House Rules" on the left sidebar).
I have not seen that information about the motion detector. Certainly, if true, that speaks to the "exact circumstances" I referred to in my post and could very well be considered negligence. Perhaps I'll see that article to which you referred today.
Still tragic for everyone involved.
The article 'anonymous' addressed is here: http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/tennessee-toddler-left-in-car-by-dad/n20070502174209990036
For balance, this is also a part of the article: Reid, 43, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and aggravated child abuse and neglect, Lt. Tim Carroll said Wednesday.
"The punishment is done regardless of what happens in court," Carroll said. "He is torn up. He reacted the way a parent should react who has lost a child."
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