A heartbreaking incident in Port Townsend has prompted a prosecutor to advocate for a change in Washington State law.
The death of a less than one-month-old baby has raised questions about the impact of the “Keeping Families Together Act,” leading to a call for legislative action to better safeguard children.
Prosecutor’s Concerns:
James Kennedy, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney, expressed deep concern over the tragic death, emphasizing that it was both foreseeable and preventable. The baby, born with fentanyl in his system, was placed in temporary custody with his father, who later violated drug testing protocols, eventually leading to the baby’s disappearance and tragic demise.
Controversial Law in Question:
The “Keeping Families Together Act,” enacted in July 2023, is under scrutiny as Kennedy argues it played a role in the incident. The law stipulates that issues like substance abuse or inadequate housing, by themselves, do not constitute imminent physical harm to a child. Kennedy contends that this perspective proved to be flawed in this tragic case.