Trevor Casey accuses two Toledo police officers of beating him

The fourteen year-old boy, Trevor Casey, whose arrest sparked national controversy faces a judge for the first time today. The youth,Trevor Casey, accuses two Toledo police officers of beating him and the video of the alleged incident was posted on the internet, attached below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jZ0Iz2ws9I

"Casey's family says he didn't resist and the officers used excessive force. The family also says he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress and vision loss in one eye after the incident."
http://www.wtol.com/global/Story.asp?s=10531942

NY court strikes down city youth curfew

"In a 5-2 ruling, the state Court of Appeals said the September 2006 ordinance gives parents too little flexibility and autonomy in supervising their children. The curfew also violates the children's rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and association, and equal protection under the law, it said. "
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--rochestercurfew-c0609jun09,0,1760453.story

Termination of Parental Rights, Abandonment, Intent to Abandon

The Nebraska Court of Appeals finds that the juvenile court erred in terminating parental rights of the child’s father because, in the Court’s de novo review, they ruled the father had no intention of abandoning the child. The dissent warns that the slippery slope established here where a married man would be able to abandon a child of the marriage “based upon the physical features of a child that are substantially different from his own physical features.”
In re Interest of Chance J., 17 Neb. App. 645 (2009)
Filed June 2, 2009. No. A-08-962.

Child rape survivor saves 'virgin myth' victims

Hope was 14 years old when her uncle raped her. Like many young girls in Zimbabwe, Hope was the victim of a widely held belief that if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease. This so-called virgin myth, perpetuated by Zimbabwe's traditional healers, has led to the rape of hundreds of girls, according to UNICEF. Some of those victims are too young to walk, much less protect themselves.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/06/04/cnnheroes.betty.makoni/index.html

4 teens charged as adults in locker room sexual assault case

Hillsborough County, Florida, prosecutors allege the four boys repeatedly raped the 13-year-old boy multiple times over two months with a broomstick and hockey stick in their locker room. Incredibly, numerous boys witnessed the multiple attacks, but no one reported incidents to school officials.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/04/florida.sexual.assault/index.html

Names of accused juveniles are released

ABILENE -- Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman on Wednesday released the names of the juveniles accused of stealing a car in Junction City and going on a three-county crime spree. http://www.salina.com/news/story/juveniles-named-6309

Recent news articles about NE children/juvenle issues

* Nebraska Falls Short of Standards in Child Welfare Report <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/03/28/nebraska-falls-short-of-standards-in-child-welfare-report/> , Lincoln Journal Star

* A Mother’s Unspeakable Choice <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/03/30/a-mothers-unspeakable-choice/> , CBS News

* Protecting Our Innocent: Reducing the Risk <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/03/31/protecting-our-innocent-reducing-the-risk/> , KOLN KGIN

* Group Forged by Children, Family Crises Meets with Senators <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/09/group-forged-by-children-family-crises-meets-with-senators/> , Lincoln Journal Star

* Judge Blasts HHS Over Delay in Teen’s Care <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/13/judge-blasts-hhs-over-delay-in-teens-care/> , Omaha World Herald

* Safe Haven-inspired Efforts are Shrinking <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/16/safe-haven-inspired-efforts-are-shrinking/> , Omaha World Herald

* Kush Mansion May Soon be Treatment Center for Youths <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/17/kush-mansion-may-soon-be-treatment-center-for-youths/> , Omaha World Herald

* After Losing Freedom, Some Immigrants Face Loss of Custody of the Their Children <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/22/after-losing-freedom-some-immigrants-face-loss-of-custody-of-their-children/> , New York Times

* Lawmakers Advance Bill to Help Troubled Children <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/30/lawmakers-advance-bill-to-help-troubled-children/> , Omaha World Herald

* Safe-haven Problems Addressed by Neb. Lawmakers <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/04/30/safe-haven-problems-addressed-by-neb-lawmakers/> , KMEG 14

* Some Good Coming from Safe-Haven Flap <http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/05/01/some-good-coming-from-safe-haven-flap/> , McCook Gazette

Courtesy of June 2009 E-Newsletter: Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative

In re Interest of Dakota L.., et al (Unpublished opinion, March 24, 2009)

It is a violation of procedural due process to proceed with a hearing on the termination of parental rights in the absence of the parent and the parent’s attorney, more so when the parent’s attorney has been suspended from the practice of law. Full Opinion http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/03/24/in-re-interest-of-dakota-l-et-al-2/

NE caselaw--In re Interest of Enrique G. (Unpublished opinion, March 24, 2009)

The child comes within the meaning of 43-247(3)(a) because he is at risk for harm due to the father’s failure to pay child support and lack of any evidence that he provided the child with proper parental care and support. Full Opinion http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/03/24/in-re-interest-of-enrique-g/

NE caselaw--In re Interest of Dannon C. et al., (Unpublished opinion, March 24, 2009)

The father’s testimony as to his paternity of the child was sufficient to establish paternity. Reasonable efforts were not required to be proven in the termination of parental rights as the bases for termination were 43-292(1) and (7) Full Opinion
http://www.throughtheeyes.org/articles/2009/03/24/in-re-interest-of-dannon-c-et-al/

Sotomayor Stands Up Against Unreasonable Strip Searches

by Judith E Schaeffer Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 11:35:44 AM PDT
The Fourth Amendment of our Constitution expressly gives every person in this country the right to be free from "unreasonable searches and seizures." Sometime in the next few weeks, the Supreme Court will decide whether that fundamental guarantee was violated by public school officials who strip searched a 13-year-old girl -- an 8th grade honor student with no disciplinary record -- on the basis of an unsubstantiated tip from another student that the girl might be in possession of the headache remedy ibuprofen (commonly known as Nuprin or Advil). The precise legal question the Court will need to determine in Safford Unified School District v. Redding is whether, under the circumstances, school officials violated the young girl’s Fourth Amendment right not to be subjected to an "unreasonable" search when they had her strip to her underwear and pull her bra and underpants out and shake them in front of school employees searching for a headache pill. Legitimate and important competing interests bear on that decision -- the interest of school officials in maintaining the safety of all students in their care, as well as the privacy and human dignity interests of the young girl who was subjected to the strip search (which turned up nothing).
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/2/738060/-Sotomayor-Stands-Up-Against-Unreasonable-Strip-Searches