Many Carroll residents turn a blind eye to child abuse in their communities, a judge said.
“Let?s face it: Nobody wants to know that there?s abuse and neglect in their neighborhoods,” said Master Peter Tabatsko, a Carroll Circuit Court judge who has specialized in juvenile cases for 18 years. “It?s human, but child abuse and neglect are everywhere.”
Tabatsko spoke at a fundraiser for Voices for Children, Carroll?s Court Appointed Special Advocates, who are volunteers trained to investigate child abuse cases and help find safe homes for youths.
Little community donations and grants keep Voices strapped for cash. Last year, the Westminster-based nonprofit could help only one-third of the children in need.
“[Baltimore Ravens coach] Brian Billick gets a $4.5 million extension,” Tabatsko said, yet Voices is struggling.
“We have to redirect resources to our children for real,” said Master Kathryn Brewer Poole, another Carroll juvenile judge. “We say we?re helping to protect kids, but we?re not.”
The two judges see a cross section of residents in court, from the affluent with the best houses to homeless people who provide a license plate number when questioned about their addresses.
The number of juvenile cases, including delinquents, has increased nearly sixfold in the past 16 years, with 2,128 cases in fiscal 2005, up from 366 in fiscal 1989, according to the court administrative office.
Voices Executive Director Anna Williams said she hasn?t totaled how much money Friday?s luncheon and silent auction raised, but she estimated that 70 tickets, worth $1,750, were sold.
Voices for Children board President Wanda Dixon founded the organization in 2001 after helping an abused boy in her family whom the court had placed in a mental institution.
