child abuse

Published
March 2, 2023

Commentary: Fulfilling Maine’s commitment to keeping children safe

DHHS, the AG’s Office and the Maine Child Welfare Action Network can all keep families strong by improving systems, services, connections and prevention.
Published
February 10, 2023

State did not mishandle case of child who died from overdose, report says

Three-year-old Hailey Goding overdosed on her mother's drugs after state caseworkers had investigated a previous report of drug exposure.
Published
February 8, 2023

Stockton Springs woman sentenced for lying during 3-year-old’s murder probe

Sherry Johnson, 59, was given a suspended sentence Tuesday after pleading guilty. Her daughter, Jessica Trefethen, was convicted and sentenced to 47 years for the death of Maddox Williams.
Published
January 31, 2023

Youth center abuse scandal presents New Hampshire with complex challenges

While law enforcement and the legal system grapple with the Manchester facility’s troubled past, lawmakers are still figuring out its future.
Published
January 19, 2023

Commentary: Collective action required to improve safety of all Maine children and families

Maine currently has no statewide plan or coordinated system for preventing child and neglect. Let’s change that.
Published
January 18, 2023

Utah man who killed 7 family members was investigated for child abuse

In a 2020 interview with authorities, the family's eldest daughter detailed multiple assaults, including one where she was choked by her father.
Published
January 4, 2023

Maine’s child protection system failed to recognize risks to children, report says

The Maine Child Welfare Services Ombudsman's annual report cites 'substantial issues' with more than half of the child welfare cases reviewed and a 'downward trend in child welfare practice.'
Published
December 3, 2022

Commentary: Maine child sexual abuse survivors must be supported – whenever they come forward

We want fellow survivors to hear this: You are not defined by your abuse. You deserve to be heard and believed.
Published
November 29, 2022

Musk’s job cuts decimated Twitter team tackling child sexual abuse

Last week, Musk tweeted that 'removing child exploitation is priority #1.' The team now has fewer than 10 specialists to review and escalate reports of child sexual exploitation.
Published
October 18, 2022

Jury finds Stockton Springs mother guilty of murdering son

Jessica Trefethen, 36, is convicted of depraved indifference murder in the death of her 3-year-old son, Maddox Williams.