Criminalizing Motherhood?: Who’s to Judge
Should a bad mother be prohibited from having more children?
Twenty year-old Felicia Salazar admitted to a court that she failed to provide protection and medical treatment for her 19-month-old daughter. The baby was beaten by her father and suffered broken bones and other injuries. She recovered and is in foster care. The father was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
But when Salazar—who had no previous criminal record—appeared for sentencing, Judge Charlie Baird gave her a suspended prison sentence and 10 years probation with what he called the “reasonable condition” not to conceive or bear any more children during that time.
“She has a fundamental right to reproduce,” said the judge, “so I couldn’t order her to be sterilized. But she can be forced to forfeit certain fundamental rights.” The judge added that he is “not even preventing her from having intimate sexual relations. I’m only preventing her from becoming pregnant.”
Legal experts questioned the constitutionality of the sentence, while others debated its enforceability. “If Salazar becomes pregnant,” asked a law writer, “must she choose among concealing the pregnancy, abortion, or incarceration? Alternately, could Judge Baird order her to carry a pregnancy to term but then give the child up for adoption?”
The prosecutor, who had not sought the sentence, was surprised. “I think when the average person hears a story of a mom who failed to protect a child,” she said, “their instinct is that she doesn’t deserve to have a child. But we don’t get to decide that for her.”
Tell us what you think: In an effort to prevent future child abuse, should the court be responsible for deciding if a mother can have more children? What about the father in this case—should he be under court order not to father more children?
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mother
The mother is just as responsible if she did nothing to protect her child.
Unfortunately most of the laws protect the parents instead of the children.
How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome which is directly caused by the parent? There is no cure for this so the child doesn’t have much of a chance at a normal life.
At this time there are only 2 states that prosecute the mother for this!
There are so many children in foster care that are sent back to their parents and then suffer abuse again, and again. The goal of the system is to educate the parents, and make them better parents so they can get their children back.
How many times does this have to happen?
Tina | 6 months ago
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It's the right choice
I totally agree that if the government or for that matter a judge has information that a mother is failing to protect her child and especially if they know she is the abuser, he absolutely has the responsibility to protect that child, maybe more people need to realize it is EVERBODYS responsibility to protect a child, any child and stop pretending like it doesnt happen or turn our heads to it, children have the right to well adjusted homes no matter what and we should all feel responsible to have a world where they’re all safe.
Rebeka K Fisher | 6 months ago
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Be a stronger Woman!
If any woman would allow a man to abuse of her children, i belive they are as gulty as the man who is abusing them. I understand when a woman is being abused by her partner why they would be scared to ask for help, but that is her decision the baby cant protect her self. In this case the one person who was supost to protect the baby faild and big time, the baby had BROKEN BONES for god’s sake! She didn’t even take her to get medical attention, i agree with the judge if she was just to walk free as if nothing ever happend, whats going to stop her from letting some other punk do it again.
Woman have the right to do what they want with their body’s, but when it comes to children who are being abused and those people having more of them, their just bring more human beings to suffer. there should be a limit for those people. Not to the ones who are working hard to raise their children and who love their kids. I understand people make mistakes and should get a second chance, if she really is sorry for what happend then she should work hard on getting her child back and prove shes strong enough to protect her baby and raise her correctly.
jacqui06 | 5 months, 2 weeks ago
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I agree with licensing a parent
As a parent of 5 children and past abuse I can tell you I would rather take the beating than my children. Nobody has the right to hurt a child in that manner, that’s why there are child abuse laws.
In regards to licensing a parent, I have sided with this argument for years. Too many people are becoming parents with no skills or knowledge whatsoever!! I myself am regretful that I gave birth to my first child with no real conception of the responsibility to another human beings welfare for life. If it weren’t for teenage parenting classes I would have been lost. yes maybe licensing is a little extreme but we should at least be required to take a course in parenting.
Lisa M. Muniz | 5 months ago
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No babies or???
Wow i really show no love for people like that,like you just made a baby and You should protect her/him with whatever you got.
i really dont get how you could do that to an innocent child.
She deserves worst punishment then that like her daughters going to live with those memories forever no matter what if shes only 19 months old.still you remember stuff like that. And for the father like hes just worthless like how could you even be so cruel to something you made.(daughter)thats just ignorant, LIke your the mother you should care and protect her no matter what happends i was raised if you have a child your life goes to them.so i mean if you was scared of him then you should of tooken the beat for it not your innocent baby.
high school student | 4 months, 2 weeks ago
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single mother of 4
child abuse is child abuse she watched it any good mom would have fought for her child she should be in jail she is lucky all she has to worry about is that she cant have kids for ten years she probably should never have one again wake up this women sat there and watched a man beat her baby under the age of two if she could not beat him with her hands that is what they make cast iron frying pans for !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jessica | 3 months ago
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Something to Ponder?
Today’s society is one of cynicism, lethargy, and apathy. Americans have never been so neglectful of their parental responsibilities. From the lack of scholastic nurturing and monitoring of a healthy diet, to attention, care, and praise, american families are a brittle skeleton of the nuclear families of the past. With the changes in the economy, inflation, higher competition in the job market and coupled with sub-par education, families must now deploy both parents, if they are together in marriage or even just in the same house, into the job market to provide for themselves and their children. This has created a domino effect as neglect has become a common characteristic of parenting. To get to the point, clearly two parents working at minimum wage jobs cannot support their families. This creates a double headed monster. Not only are the parents not at home rearing their children, they are not even able to fully support their children with the income they are bringing in. These kids who have little parenting because of the parents schedules, often fail in the classroom and end up contributing little to society while relying on government handouts. This is where the US’s problems lie. More and more people who have no right to have children, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SUPPORT, FOSTER, OR HELP their offspring, are have multiple children and ask for government help. This is not ethical and should be stopped. We, as a society, need to say it is NOT ok to have children if you cannot provide for them. Minimum standards must be placed on parents. If you try to adopt a child, is there not a rigorous background check to ensure you are capable of supporting the life of another. Correct me if i’m wrong but it seems to me that those looking to adopt are more closely observed, and usually are more aped to be better parents than those who have children because they wanted something to love or more likely to love them, or were just to lazy and irresponsible to use protection. Mull this over and decide for yourself, who’s rights are more important, the unfit parents or the child they have who is now at a great disadvantage to succeed because of their parents incompetence?
Stephen Ham | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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We can drean,can't we?
Dream on. Never happen in your wildest dreams……..ect………
But then there is also the famous saying “only in America.”
In my life I have witnessed and read of tragic situations regarding our mute children. I say that because they truly have no voice. This country returns children to the monsters that are called parents…..to do more of the same if not worse.
Recently in the news a monster-mother left her 2 year old at home so she could go bar-hopping. But wait, she did have the sense to take her infant with her. Since babies were not permitted in this bar she left her in the stoller outside of the bar. This was in Vagas. That night it dropped a record-breaking low of 30 degrees. The children were placed with family. She will get those kids back and then what? Who is to really blame? Both parties are Monsters.
Locally there is a monster-mother who is getting DEATH for arson and murder. To cover up her 2 year old’s physical abuse she threw gas on her house and set it on fire with her son in it. After claiming she tried to run into the house to save her son they found no evidence of soot on her clothing or traces of smoke in her lungs.After an autopsy on the child the coroner reported the child had been fatally beaten and was also clothed and day clothing instead of PJ’s.
(this took place in the a.m.) After finding evidence of gasoline they charged her with arson. I remember when this happened.If this had been a movie she would have received an Oscar nod for her performance. She had me in tears at the time. Think of all the monsters that got away with this?
The monster that drove her car with her 2 kids into a river intentionally to free herself to pursue a baggage-free affair?
The list ges on-and-on-and on-and-on.l
If I had my way you would have to meet a criteria before procreating. Sounds crazy? Well, maybe.but it is just a dream,remember?
You will have to have a plan. Add a life to this world is not a mattter of receiving a punch card and when you have enough children you get a free check pass. (or is it already?) How about having a child with a purpose? Raise this child to be a positive contribution and asset instead of a bloodsucking leech of sorts.
What is so wrong with wanting this world to be a better place by adding not subtracting to it.
The terms and conditions would be like they are for adopting or fostering. Think of the endless kids out there now that are suffering because of unwanted birhts. The unknown deaths and abuse as we speak. Oh, lets us mention the many childless marriages and singles and gays that are denied adoption that would be testbook great partents. That is soooooo sad.
It is again just talk. It may happen one day. Not in my life. I really think there may be a law of sorts in time if the abuse continues and the prisons continue to overflow. That is one of the top causes behind crimes and punishment. Bad parenting or none at all. We can watch and wait but I will not live to see it. My son of 21 may but if that is doubtful.
E. Hall/Ohio
Elizabeth Hall | 1 month, 1 week ago
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