Safe Child Act Aims to Put Child Safety First in Custody Cases

November 09, 2018 10:56 PM

After having been missing from her primary custodial home for 6 months, Tri'reshia Chamberlain is safe tonight.

Police say the investigation into where exactly she's been is still ongoing.

The girl's father, Trimell Chamberlain, was believed to have had her for at least part of that time. He has previously been convicted of multiple violent crimes, including domestic violence against Tri'reshia's mom, but up until two weeks ago he still had joint custody.

It's something a Minnesota mother's group wants lawmakers to examine.

"Where most people look at that and say 'Oh my gosh thats shocking,' it's not shocking," Bonnie Roy said

Domestic Violence Survivors Help Law Makers Draft Safe Child Act in Minn.

Roy is leading the charge in Minnesota to get the Safe Child Act passed this legislative session.

It puts the safety of the child above all else in custody cases, including shared parenting time.

"When people stand up and say, 'You're trying to take by father's rights away or mother's rights away,' people need to just get over that side of it and look at the safety of the child."

More than 150 Minnesota mothers have joined the Stop Abuse Campaign since the group started rallying together three years ago.

"The numbers are getting bigger everyday," Roy said

Roy recently returned from Washington D.C. after getting a new resolution passed. The resolution encourages states to make child safety the first priority in custody cases.

"Now that gives us a stronger foundation for it to pass on state levels, which is going to be huge for us," she said.