Video: Drug Related Child Endangerment Cases On The Rise

BOONEVILLE, MISS. (WCBI) – It has been a busy few weeks for Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar.

Several suspects arrested for drug related crimes also face child endangerment charges.

“This type charge has given us more tools in our toolbox to impose penalties on parents that put these children in sensitive situations,” Sheriff Tolar said.

A multi disciplinary task force met at the Prentiss County Government Annex to address the issue.

“If children are present during the sale or use or possession of narcotics, we tend to charge them with child endangerment now, which is an additional penalty, which is pretty stiff,” Tolar said.

The Tupelo based Family Resource Center is another agency in the task force, potential victims of child endangerment cases are brought  to the Children’s Advocacy Center, where they are interviewed, and a team of experts takes their case.

“If a child needs to be placed with a family member or if they have to go to foster care, but the main focus is that child and that family, what we can do immediately in that moment to help them,” said Marie Frison, who directs the Children’s Advocacy Center. She says it takes input from law enforcement, elected officials, social workers and other agencies to do what is best for children caught in the middle when parents or guardians make devastating decisions.
There are multi disciplinary task forces in all 13 counties served by the Family Resource Center.