MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - An eastern Minnesota county is reviewing how Minneapolis authorities handled the case of two developmentally disabled twins who were abused for years before one was able to escape and report what had happened.
The now 21-year-old twins told investigators they were deprived of food, beaten and sexually assaulted, Minnesota Public Radio reported .
Records indicate that police were called to the home more than 50 times, starting in 2011. Records also show that Hennepin County child and adult protection workers opened and closed two cases involving the family.
The twins were removed from the home in May after one escaped and reported the abuse. They’re now receiving care at Twin Cities facilities.
The review could spark legislative proposals to change the county’s procedures, said Jennifer DeCubellis, deputy county administrator.
“It really does take a systemic look at the decisions that were made,” DeCubellis said. “’How did the system work? Did it work as we intended it to work? And if not, what is getting in the way?’”
Cases can be overlooked when child or adult protection workers don’t have full access to all the information that other agencies are gathering, she said.
“So the police might have some information, human services might have other pieces, education might have other pieces, neighbors and community might have others,” DeCubellis said. “We have some limitations on where we have visibility to that information, and how can we data share.”
A pilot program in Brooklyn Park hopes to address those limitations by embedding social workers with police.
The girls’ father is jailed on charges of rape, assault and stalking and is set to appear in court later this month. The mother is being held for criminal neglect and will make a court appearance next month.
The Associated Press is not naming the parents to avoid identifying their daughters.
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Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mprnews.org
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