A New Jersey City daycare worker who was charged with abusing children under her care was sentenced to 5 years in prison for her actions. This came hot on the heels of allegations brought forward by parents in May last year after the teacher was caught on video abusing toddlers under her care. This led to the arrest of the then 26-year-old Ann Bactawar and four additional workers at Sunnyside Academy in Port Liberte.
Ann Bactawar’s arrest was made possible thanks to a surveillance camera which filmed her grabbing, slapping and throwing a child as well as hitting another. The accused is related to the daycare’s assistant director who said he hired her because she was young and had a lot of energy. The assistant director also overlooked her previous criminal history which showed an arrest record for assault.
Ms. Bactawar was sentenced November 14th. The accused pled guilty to 5 out of the 8 counts against her. The judge noted that Ms. Bactawar’s behavior showed a systematic pattern of aggression, and that she should’ve never accepted the job if she did not have the temperament, demeanor or patience to deal with children.
Commentary
Daycare abuse is a serious problem that can affect the lives of children for the rest of their lives. Abuse may range from physical to emotional to sexual, and can lead to a host of behavioral and physical problems that can negatively impact the life of the child as well as their entire family.
If you are worried that your child may be abused, it’s important to look for warning signs in order to confirm your suspicion. Here are some of the red signs that you need to watch out for:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts and bumps on the child’s body.
- Increasing cases of bed-wetting, nightmares and night terrors.
- An increase in a child’s aggression.
- The child may become withdrawn and shy as a way of dealing with the abuse.
- Refusal to go to the daycare center on a daily basis; feigning sickness to get out of attending daycare.
- Involuntary flinching when you reach out to touch your child.
- Loss of appetite.
- Loss of interest in other daily activities.
Daycare workers and administrators are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all children are kept safe at all times. In addition, failing to report instances of abuse may constitute a crime since this can be seen as negligence on the part of the daycare managers.
Because abuse usually happens over a long period of time, you should always be on the lookout for odd behavior. Always speak to your children openly and ask them if they have had any bad experiences at the daycare. You may also request that cameras and other monitoring devices be placed in the premises for accountability. Abused children will need counseling as well as treatment for physical injuries, all of which cost thousands of dollars. By contacting an experienced daycare abuse law firm such as Rasansky Law Firm, you’ll have a better chance at recovering the compensation needed for medical bills, therapy, and future care needs. Please call us today at 1-877-403-9378 for your free consultation or fill in the email form found on this page. We look forward to speaking with you today.