Child Abuse Advocate Takes Story Public

Child Abuse Advocate Takes Story Public


Reported by: Brian Miller

Melanie Doty is a self-described child abuse advocate. She has taken her battle against the state to the courtroom. This mother of five has been battling state and local government over what she calls a broken system.
"When we cannot depend on these agencies that are set up to protect children and give the best justice we can do the we have to seek action," Doty said.
In 2008-- Doty sued the Indiana Department Of Child Services-- the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office and the Evansville Police Department.
The suit claims information had been withheld about a child who had been abused.
The suspect in that case was the same person who had previously been accused of abusing one of Doty's children.
Doty won a settlement in the case but that case has since moved to appeals court.
"There is a systematic failure going on at all levels local state and federal," she said.

"Basically I waited and hoped the agencies put in place would do the right thing and they have to get to do that there was no investigation of the crimes that have been committed against our children there has been a lack of communication."


Doty organizes a weekly meeting with others united in her cause to raise awareness for what national statistics show is a growing trend. She has been working mostly behind the scenes-- until now. She says she can longer stay quiet and is taking her cause public.
"This is a community problem we have to do something..not one person can do everything but somebody can do something."
Doty says her child advocate group is planning a 40 day march which is being planned for September.
She is drawing on the community to help support what she calls a march for children's justice.

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