A Petition in Behalf of the
Forsaken Children
of Texas to the
Governor and the 76th Legislature
Cover Letter
F. Scott McCown
Judge, 345th District Court
Travis County Courthouse
P.O. Box 1748
Austin, Texas, 78767
October 14, 1998
The Honorable George W. Bush
Governor of Texas
The Honorable Bob Bullock
Lt. Governor of Texas
The Honorable Pete Laney
Speaker, House of Representatives
Re: Child Abuse and Neglect
Dear State Leaders:
I am writing to keep a promise to a deputy sheriff-a detective assigned to criminal investigations of child abuse and neglect. This deputy works on our county's child protection team alongside other criminal investigators from the police and civil investigators from the Child Protective Service.
I had never met the deputy, but he called me on the telephone months ago. He was angry and frustrated about the lack of civil investigators in the Child Protective Service. He knew I presided over civil child abuse and neglect cases and had been critical of the lack of investigators on the job in our county. He wanted me to do something about the problem.
So I promised him I would look into it. That promise nagged at me until it was kept. The enclosed petition sets out what I found. To my way of thinking, Texas has a serious problem with regard to child abuse and neglect.
Before discussing my conclusions, however, I want to say a word about the leadership of the Child Protective Service. Governor Bush has made outstanding appointments to the Board of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, as did Governor Richards before him. These men and women have brought needed stability and sound management to a troubled agency. Perhaps the best thing they have done is hire Jim Hine as Executive Director. Mr. Hine knows his business. I have no quarrel with the leadership of DPRS. The problem is one of state policy and resources, not of agency management and accountability. The problem is one that only you can address.
The enclosed petition sets out why. I wrote it to be read, and I hope you will read it. I have provided a brief executive summary, which is not offered in place of that reading but to tempt you to do it.
At my request, Mr. Hine has arranged for me to present my views to the DPRS Board at their meeting on October 23. If I can provide further information to you, please let me know. In any event, I appreciate your consideration of my views.
Respectfully yours,
F. Scott McCown
Enclosures (2)
C: Members of the Senate and House
Board and Director, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
Board and Director, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Board and Director, Texas Youth Commission
Board and Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Director, Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council
Board and Commissioner, Texas Department of Health
Board and Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Board and Commissioner, Texas Education Agency
Texas Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care
Children's Justice Act Texas Task Force
