Chairman Miller Statement on Not Guilty Verdicts in Martin Lee Anderson Case

Friday, October 12, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after learning that eight employees of the Bay County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office Boot Camp facility were found not guilty in the 2006 death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson:

“When a Florida court sent Martin Lee Anderson to a county-run boot camp in 2006, the court didn’t intend to sentence him to death. But tragically, a death sentence is what Martin Lee Anderson got. The boot camp has since closed and the state of Florida has revised its policies. While these are welcome steps, Anderson’s family deserves every opportunity to see that those involved are held criminally responsible for their actions. That is why I am encouraged that the U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the case to see whether charges of federal criminal civil rights violations are possible.

“Sadly, this type of child abuse has happened before and continues to happen in many states throughout the U.S., because of a lack of sufficient safeguards to prevent it. Earlier this week, investigators for the Government Accountability Office reported that they had found thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect in residential treatment programs for children, including boot camps and wilderness programs. In many cases where a child died, none of the adults entrusted with the child’s care was ever held responsible.

“Such cases show the urgent need for stronger laws. Congress will act to stop these abuses of children once and for all. In cases involving privately-run facilities, which often lack regulations of any kind, we will establish standards to keep children safe. In cases involving county- or state-run facilities, we will act to strengthen existing standards. We have no mandate more urgent than the health and safety of children.”

In 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to monitor the Martin Lee Anderson case. Click here for more information.

On Wednesday, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on cases of child abuse and neglect at privately-run residential treatment programs for children. Click here for more information.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853