child welfare

Published
May 31, 2023

How and when to remove children from their homes? A federal lawsuit raises thorny questions

A couple whose young children were taken by social workers and police in the middle of the night are suing, arguing they were unconstitutionally removed without a warrant or court order.
Published
May 26, 2023

Critics say report on child’s death sidestepped state’s failures

A legislative committee heard emotional testimony about the state's oversight of 3-year-old Maddox Williams, who was killed in 2021.
Published
February 27, 2023

White House promises crackdown on migrant child labor

Concerns are mounting that migrant children have been discharged from shelters and out of federal custody too quickly, pushing them into vulnerable situations where they’re more likely to become victims of child labor.
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 13, 2023

Lawmakers will appeal court ruling denying access to child protection records

The Government Oversight Committee voted to appeal a court ruling that lawmakers are prohibited from viewing confidential child protection records.
Published
December 27, 2022

Investigation continues into death of 3-year-old Edgecomb girl on Christmas Day

A neighbor said police wanted to know whether anyone heard banging or screaming before someone called 911 to report the girl was not breathing.
Published
December 5, 2022

Judge denies legislators access to child protection files

Members of the Legislature's Government Oversight Committee do not have the right to see confidential files regarding four children who were killed last year, the ruling says.
Published
October 19, 2022

Maine lawmakers vote to sue state agency to gain access to child death records

A committee takes the unusual step of suing Maine's Department of Health and Human Services after agency officials did not comply with a subpoena seeking records of four children who have died from abuse or neglect.
Published
July 29, 2022

Aroostook County woman charged with manslaughter in death of 1-year-old boy

State police release few details about the child's death in Easton in March, including his relationship to Mariah Dobbins, 28, who was indicted on July 14.
Published
May 18, 2022

Child safety advocates look to keep heat on state agency throughout the summer

Advocates said Wednesday that they will keep pressuring state officials to reform practices and the culture within the state's beleaguered child protection services.