Burt’s Law Filed to Protect Group Home Residents
RALEIGH – March 26, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest, Senator Buck Newton, Senator Joyce Krawiec, and Senator Andy Wells announced the filing of Burt’s Law, a bill designed to protect residents of group homes and other facilities from sexual predators.
In 2005, Burt, a special needs adult, was sexually abused by a manager at a group home in Conover, NC. Following an investigation, it was determined that the manager at the group home had sexually molested other residents over the years. Unfortunately, employees of the group home had witnessed these offenses but their reports never made it to law enforcement.
In 2012, Burt told his mother, Laurie Powell, about the abuse. Unfortunately, the manager of the group home died before he could be tried. In order to get justice for Burt, Laurie, Burt, and his father, Tom, have worked tirelessly to make people aware of the currently deficient reporting laws and advocate for change.
Under Burt’s Law, those who witness a group home resident being sexually assaulted would be required to report the offense to both the local Department of Social Services and the local District Attorney. Failing to do so within 24 hours would be a Class A1 misdemeanor.
“We have a duty as a people to help protect those who cannot protect themselves,” Lieutenant Governor Forest, Senator Newton, Senator Krawiec, and Senator Wells said in a joint statement. “Burt’s Law will protect the most vulnerable among us and help ensure that those who do these evil acts are brought to justice and stopped before they strike again.”
Burt’s Law would also increase the penalty for those who intentionally injure special needs adults who are at a facility.
For questions or media inquiries, please contact Jamey Falkenbury at (919) 733-7350 or jamey.falkenbury (at) nc (dot) gov.
