The death of a Virginia teenager highlights inconsistent rules on releasing information about child abuse investigations, according to The Washington Post.
Despite a report a neighbor made to the Prince William County’s Department of Social Services that 13-year-old Lexie Agyepong-Glover appeared to have been abused, officials failed to rescue her before she was slain a month later, allegedly by her adoptive mother.
Because of confidentiality rules, records related to cases involving juveniles are sometimes withheld even after a criminal investigation is complete.
Officials argue, however, that privacy rules are necessary to protect the victims and reporters of abuse.
