Jeffer

Jeffrey Baldwin was just five years old when he passed away on November 30th, 2002, just under two months from his next birthday (Estate, 2006). Jeffrey had a rough childhood growing up because wherever he went he faced abuse and neglect. His parents were also accused of physical abuse towards him and his sister. In 1998 Jeffrey was moved out of the house by the CCAS and moved into his grandparents’ home. This is when the true horror would come to life for Jeffrey. He would be locked in a room with his sister. They would sit for hours in the crib and would not be allowed out of the room since it was locked on the outside. Forced to stay in the room Jeffrey had no choice but to urinate and relieve himself in his pants and on his bed. Then, he would sit for hours in the cold dark room where the windows were covered and the vents sealed shut (Estate, 2006). Sitting there in his waste waiting for the door to be unlocked, Jeffrey suffered. When Jeffrey and his sister were finally allowed out for what the grandparents called “exercise,” they would be forced to walk in circles around the kitchen or dining room. If either of them slowed down or stopped, heavy and large objects were thrown at them leaving serious tissue, muscular and bone damage (Estate, 2006). Cut, bruised and battered, Jeffery and his sister were forced back into the room and locked away. Jeffrey was not allowed to go to school because he was never taught how to go to the washroom. When it was time for dinner Jeffrey and his sister were forced to sit at what was called the pig wall (Estate, 2006). It was situated on the floor with a rubber matt. When the others had finished eating, Jeffrey and his sister were allowed to eat the scraps of food leftover, and if there were ...

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...sion, no matter what is done or said now Jeffrey is still lost. A poor five year old boy who did not deserve to die the way he did. The grandparents were charged and convicted of second degree murder and faces “22 and 20 year sentences, respectively” (The Canadian Press, 2014). The CCAS needs to step up their standards and screen everyone no matter the reason or cost. The CCAS failed to live up to their mandate and have now tarnished what it means to be an organization that helps children. All the people who could have stopped Jeffrey from dying should have come to police to tell them about the horrors occurring in Jeffrey’s home, should face consequences. Communities, government and most of all parents want to protect their children and with the new recommendations from the Coroner’s Jury, hopefully we will never hear of a case again, like that of Jeffrey Baldwin.