DEE: Child still not home

As of today, Dee has been incarcerated for 30 days. Although this may not include iron bars, it amounts to the same. Dee is not allowed to return to her home. Worse yet, she is forbidden visitation by the only people in her life she has ever known to provide love and kindness: Her mother, her extended family, her friends. She is not even allowed possession of her favorite toys. Still.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Yet the worst abuse now occurring is at the hands of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. If we are not able to stop child abuse perpetrated by the state, how can we ever make progress with the other children suffering out there?

Please, Governor Otter, please send little Dee home. Grant her a full pardon. You are the last person in this state who may provide clemency for this child. Please do not be the last public official to fail her.

And when she is home, and reunited with her loved ones, please do your best to assure the Department of Health and Welfare does not abuse any more children.

MIKE CARLSON

Coeur d’Alene