Mental Health Concerns, School Safety, Gun Laws

(Wilmington, DE) The Governor issued the following statement in response to troubling questions raised by the Connecticut school shooting :

As the father of two, I, like so many others around the country, have spent the last few days thinking about the issues that this awful incident raises. In homes, in businesses and in government, we are having conversations about what this means and what we need to do. What is clear is that we have a culture of violence in this country, coupled with ready access to guns, and we continue as a society to fail adolescents struggling with mental illness.  That reality is deeply concerning to me, as I know it is to others.  I see three areas of discussion taking place:

Mental Health

When skilled mental health professionals are present in the schools, they provide the best possible opportunity we have to identify young people who are in need of services and to connect those young people and their families with appropriate services.  We must work to remove more of the stigma associated with mental illness and recognize it for the disease that it is.  Access to treatment is critical, and my administration is preparing plans to expand that access, especially for children and teens.

School Safety

This year we created a new statewide protocol for comprehensive school safety plans in every public school.  Schools are now in the process, working with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and with local emergency responders, of creating those plans.  To date, 30 schools have completed these plans and we have funded creation of school safety plans for the next 50 schools.  We need to make sure that we complete the effort to have comprehensive school safety plans completed for all schools. And it is important to recognize – and this is already inherent in the plans that are being created — that teachers and school officials are going to be the true first responders in an incident like this.

Guns Laws

In 2011, I proposed, and the General Assembly passed bills designed to strengthen enforcement around existing gun laws, including legislation to make sure Delaware does its part to keep those with disqualifying mental illnesses from obtaining guns. I am on the record as supporting  a ban on assault weapons with large magazines. As we move forward, I think and hope there are measures that reasonable gun owners can agree with — and in fact have started to voice support for in the last few days.

As we talk about access to mental health, and school safety, and access to guns, we also need to talk about family and social responsibility.  Too many kids are spending countless hours on video games and television shows and movies that glorify violence and treat human life as cheap and dispensable.  As parents, we need to exercise judgment.   As a society, we need to provide young people with other opportunities that will teach them to value themselves rather than devalue others.

These are the areas we need to discuss as a state – and in which we need to do a better a job for our citizens and our kids.

Week-long economic development and goodwill visits documented via real-time technology

(Wilmington, DE)  As part of his week-long economic development and goodwill trip to Japan and Korea, and in lieu of his regularly scheduled weekly message, Governor Markell participated in two Google+ Hangout events while overseas. On Tuesday, December 11, he participated in a hangout from Japan with Japanese language students at Appoquinimink High School and members of the media. The Governor discussed the purpose of his international trip and the exchange with Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai, which acknowledged 15 years of sister state relations between Delaware and Miyagi.

“The way we do business has fundamentally changed with the increasing use of these technologies,” said Governor Markell. “The more familiar our young people are with these tools and the more they are given the opportunity to use them in the classroom, the greater their chance of success will be when they go to compete for jobs in a global economy.”

Later that week, on Friday, December 14, he and Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee participated in a hangout from Korea with University of Delaware staff, members of Delaware’s agriculture community and media at the University of Delaware’s Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown, DE. The Governor discussed his visit with Harim Group, the leading agribusiness in Korea, which bought Delaware-owned Allen Family Food in 2011. He also discussed a visit he had with leaders and members of the Korean Chamber of Commerce.

“We are part of a global market,” said Governor Markell. “In order to make sure Delaware companies have as many opportunities as possible to export and expand their products, we must continually work to strengthen relationships with others around the world.”

“Nearly one-third of the world population lives within the band that includes Korea, Japan, China and Indonesia,” said Secretary Kee. “As we, in Delaware, continue to explore new ways to service that population with our exports, it is important we take advantage of opportunities to conduct business and communicate with our global customers.”

Beyond business development and goodwill opportunities for Delaware, this trip also offered a chance to try new technology. In addition to the Google+ hangout sessions, the Governor officially launched his Instagram account on this trip, posting photos of various scenes; and he used a Google Map to document his whereabouts with photos, videos and pinpointed information.

In addition to previously announced judicial nominations, Markell to nominate two lawyers to serve as Family Court Commissioners and one Superior Court Commissioner for reappointment

WILMINGTON – Governor Jack Markell announced Tuesday that he will call the Delaware State Senate into a special session to consider various judicial nominations on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.  This special session of the State Senate will be the first meeting of either chamber of the 147^th General Assembly.    

The Governor is calling the special session so that the Senate may consider nominations for various judicial vacancies.  As previously announced, Governor Markell will be nominating Judge Eric M. Davis, currently of the Court of Common Pleas, and Chief Deputy Attorney General Charles E. Butler to fill two vacancies on the Superior Court.  He will nominate Deputy Attorney General Paula T. Ryan, who currently serves as the Chief Prosecutor for Sussex County, to fill the vacancy on Family Court.  He will also nominate Vice Chancellor John Noble for reappointment to an additional twelve-year term as a Vice Chancellor of the Court of Chancery. 

Markell also announced Tuesday three additional nominations for consideration by the Senate at the special session.  Markell will nominate Dawn M. Williams of the Office of the Public Defender and James J. Maxwell of the Department of Justice to fill two vacancies as Family Court Commissioners.  Markell also will nominate the Honorable Lynne Parker for reappointment as a Commissioner of the Superior Court. 

“Jim Maxwell and Dawn Williams have decades of experience in Family Court and reputations for hard work and problem solving,” said Governor Markell.  “If confirmed, I know they will be great additions to the Court.” 

Maxwell is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Widener Law School.  He has served as a Deputy Attorney General since 1990.  During his career with the Department of Justice, Maxwell spent ten years representing the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families.  Since 2008, Maxwell has prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases, child protection registry cases, and termination of parental rights cases in Family Court.  

Williams is also a graduate of the University of Delaware and Widener Law School.  After graduation, Williams spent a year working as a judicial law clerk on the United States Court of Federal Claims before returning to Delaware to join the Department of Justice as a prosecutor in Family Court.  She joined the Office of the Public Defender in 1999.  Since 2009, Williams has been the statewide supervisor of the Family Court unit within the Office of the Public Defender.  In that capacity, she represents the interests of the Office of the Public Defender in Family Court in all three counties and in various committees related to criminal and juvenile justice, such as the Juvenile Justice Collaborative and the Supreme Court Mental Health Task Force.

In addition to Maxwell and Williams, Governor Markell will nominate the Honorable Lynne M. Parker for reappointment as a Superior Court Commissioner.  Commissioner Parker has served on the Superior Court in New Castle County since July of 2008. 

The two vacancies among Family Court Commissioners were caused this summer by the retirement of the Honorable Frederic H. Kenney and the expiration of the term of the Honorable Bernard V. Pepukayi.

To summarize, the following seven nominations will be made during Special Session:

• The Hon. John Noble for reappointment as Vice Chancellor of the Court of Chancery;
• The Hon. Eric M. Davis to fill a vacancy as a Judge of the Superior Court – New Castle County;
• Charles E. Butler to fill a vacancy as a Judge of the Superior Court – New Castle County;
• Paula T. Ryan to fill a vacancy as a Judge of the Family Court – Sussex County;
• The Hon. Lynne M. Parker for reappointment as a Superior Court Commissioner – New Castle County;
• James J. Maxwell to fill a vacancy as a Family Court Commissioner – New Castle County; and
• Dawn M. Williams to fill a vacancy as a Family Court Commissioner – New Castle County.

Wilmington – With the strong possibility Hurricane Sandy will significantly affect Delaware, Governor Markell is urging residents and visitors to prepare for the storm.  A combination of rain, wind and tides indicate the Hurricane Sandy could impact the entire state.

“Evacuation is something I don’t take lightly, given the effect it can have on people’s lives and on people’s business.  A mandatory evacuation of the coastal areas is something that is likely if the storm stays on its current path.  We have not declared a state of emergency but will when it become necessary to declare one,” said Governor Markell.   “Many agencies are planning for our state’s readiness. In the meantime, I am encouraging residents to prepare for their families’ safety.  That means making plans to remain at home for long periods of time, possibly without power or evacuate quickly, if needed.   In other words, be prepared to stay and be prepared to leave.”

“I ask people around Delaware to spend Saturday making sure storm drains are clear and to try to get any leaves up that might get washed into storm drains.  The difference between some neighborhoods flooding or not is going to be whether or not storm drains are clogged by leaves on the ground or leaves that will come down during this storm,” said the Governor.

The Governor talked to reporters by phone late this afternoon from his Wilmington Office, advising residents to fill prescriptions, gather emergency items and get households in order.

Watch/hear the Governor’s comments.

The Governor said residents should have an evacuation destination in mind, especially if they live in a flood-prone or coastal area.   The State, Red Cross, local schools and the counties and City of Wilmington will be working together to identify possible shelter locations and activate them when it becomes necessary.

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and relevant partners statewide are in communication with the National Weather Service and will continue to regularly monitor conditions.

Up-to-date information from State agencies is available online.

For information on making a household emergency plan and building a supply kit, visit www.prepareDE.org, Ready.gov or Listo.gov . For regional weather updates, visit http://weather.gov/phi.

###

Wilmington – Taking bold action to ensure that Delaware law protects children from abuse and neglect, Governor Jack Markell today signed legislation spearheaded by Attorney General Beau Biden and child advocates that enacts tougher penalties against child abusers.   

 “To be effective in protecting children our laws must recognize that child victims, especially very young children and those with intellectual and physical disabilities, are especially vulnerable and need extra protection,” Attorney General Biden said.  “Along with the ongoing efforts among law enforcement, parents, advocates, and ordinary citizens across our State to recognize, report, and prevent child abuse, the protections and tough penalties in this law will go a long way to help keep kids safe.”

 “The safety and well-being of our children is paramount,” said Governor Markell. “While we already have many protections in place, this bill further strengthens and expands those efforts. Our children rely on us to shield them from harm and hold those who hurt them accountable, and we continue to work together to live up to that expectation.”

Senate Majority Leader Patricia Blevins, a longtime advocate for Delaware’s children, sponsored the measure, which she thinks will give children greater protection.

“Creating a crime of child abuse will better tailor our laws to meet the needs of children, especially infants and toddlers as well as children with developmental disabilities,” said Blevins, D-Elsmere. “We need this law because it will help our police and prosecutors build stronger cases against people who abuse children.”

Rep. Rebecca Walker is an emergency room nurse and has seen multiple cases of child abuse firsthand – children with broken bones, punctured organs and burns.

“Children, especially the very young, are among the most vulnerable in our society and we have a duty to protect them,” said Rep. Walker, D-Townsend. “Up until now, there has been a gap in our criminal code that many of these child abuse cases I’ve seen have slipped through. Knowing that there are instances of kids being battered and the adult not being held accountable makes this even more of a priority. We need to strengthen our laws. And we need to protect all children from the lifelong and possibly deadly consequences of these vicious acts.”

Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Patricia Blevins, Senate Bill 234 creates the offense of Child Abuse in three levels:
 First Degree Child Abuse: Individuals convicted of recklessly or intentionally causing serious physical injuries to a child will face a maximum of 25 years in prison.

 Second Degree Child Abuse: Adds additional protections for the most vulnerable children by providing a maximum two-year jail term for those who injure children aged three and under or children who have significant intellectual or developmental disabilities.

 Third Degree Child Abuse: Causing physical injury to a child will carry a maximum prison term of one year and a maximum fine of $3,200.

 In addition to providing special protection to infants, toddlers and children who have disabilities, the new law also expands Delaware’s existing Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge to include knowing, intentional, and reckless acts that are likely to cause injury to a child.

Over 3 million kids are reported to be victims of abuse and/or neglect in the US each year.   More than 1,500 of those children lose their lives, most before the age of 4, and the US ranks higher in child abuse fatalities than any other industrialized nation.   Child abuse and neglect produces long-lasting effects, not only for the victims but for their families and communities. Studies have shown that about 80 percent of 21-year-olds who were abused as children meet criteria for at least one psychological disorder, and roughly 30 percent of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own kids. Child sexual abuse is similarly widespread, as one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before they turn 18. And while more than 90 percent of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way, only one in ten cases is ever reported.

Video from the bill signing can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/iY5ExoZkHks