Show Reader feels that Jan G Graham aham is the right choice for Attorney General Dear Editor The future of the state of Utah is in our children and we need to do all we can to ensure that they are protected from abuse and have their rights as individuals preserved Utah needs to protect its children by bypassing bypassing bypassing passing stiffer laws to punish perpetrators and provide greater legal protection for vic vic- vic vic- tims Amendments to the Child Abuse Act were a step in the right direction The amendments amendments amend amend- men ments ts redefined serious ser ous physical injury to include both physical and emotional injuries Now even injuries to children that may not be permanent permanent permanent per per- manent or result in the loss of bodily functions will result in prison time for the per per- The creation of the Childrens Children's Justice C Center in Utah has also been a big help The staff at this center provide emotional support referral resources and family support services as well as a safe environment environment environment en en- for children to report and discuss what has happened to them The number of reported child abuse cases has risen in the last 6 years Child abuse cases are very difficult to prosecute and the increasing number does not make it any easier The very young victims if they are even able to testify are forced to endure the tra traumatic matic experience of recounting what has happened to them Even then the admissibility admissibility admissibility and validity of the child the social worker or the counselors counselor's testimony is qu ques ques- s- s tion The office of the Attorney General created the Child Abuse Protection Unit to help with the increased number of cases and have devoted time to training prosecutors and officials w r. dials dais to make sure the perpetrators perpetrators perpetrators per per- are punished and children protected It is important that Utah have an Attorney General who is committed and dedicated to protecting our children Jan Graham the current Solicitor General has developed the skill to prosecute abusers and make sure convictions stick Since Jan Janis is a mother I would expect that she has strong convictions about sensitive and difficult matters such as child abuse Jan Graham is a candidate who will protect the rights ts of Utah's of-Utah's Utah's children The people of Utah need Jan Graham to be our next Attorney General Rene Clarke |