One abused child is one too many
Sheriff Shannon Oliver is right.
Even one abused child in Franklin County — or anywhere in Alabama — is one too many. And yet in 2025, Oliver’s deputies investigated 85 cases involving child and sexual abuse.
“For a county the size of Franklin County, that is way too many,” said Oliver.
He’s right. It’s a sobering statistic that should rattle every resident of our county. Even more bothersome is the fact that already in 2026, the Russellville Police Department has made three arrests related to child abuse or neglect.
The stories of sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and even chemical endangerment cut through the souls of parents whose love for their children are boundless.
And they are the main reason community leaders and law enforcement officials step forward each April during Child Abuse Awareness Month to urge the public to get involved and help stop child abuse in all its forms.
That push begins with the annual Walk-a-Mile for a Child event organized by the Franklin Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Franklin County Children’s Policy Council. The number of abuse cases reported here is, quite frankly, staggering.
In 2005, DHR assessed 155 families and 196 children, Oliver said. Child abuse cases ranged from neglect of basic care to substandard living conditions to emotional abuse to sexual abuse. Both boys and girls suffer these abuses, and often it is from a family member or close family friend.
So, what can the public do to help? That’s simple, said District Judge Jamie Sumerel.
“As a community, we’ve got to step up for children and be their voice,” Sumerel said. “If you see something, make a phone call.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also offers suggestions to help parents and caregivers prevent and combat child sexual abuse: Take an active role in your children’s lives.
Learn about their activities and people with whom they are involved. Stay alert for possible problems. Watch for “grooming” behaviors in adults who spend time with your child. Warning signs may include frequently finding ways to be alone with your child, ignoring your child’s need for privacy (e.g., in the bathroom) or giving gifts or money for no particular occasion.
Ensure that organizations, groups and teams that your children are involved with minimize one-on-one time between children and adults. Ask how staff and volunteers are screened and supervised.
Make sure your children know that they can talk to you about anything that bothers or confuses them.
Teach children the difference between touches that are “OK” and “not OK.”
Monitor children’s use of technology, including cell phones, social networking sites and messaging. Review contact lists regularly and ask about any people you don’t recognize.
If your child tells you that he or she has been abused, stay calm, listen carefully and never blame the child. Thank your child for telling you.
Report the abuse right away.
Oliver said coordination between law enforcement agencies and DHR plays a key role in identifying, investigating, and responding to cases of abuse. But neither law enforcement or DHR may know if the abuse goes unreported.
“If anybody has knowledge or has heard of something, please reach out to us or DHR so we can get the investigation started,” Oliver said.
It cannot be said often enough: If you see something, say something.
Awareness is useless without action. We all need to be both vigilant and brave in identifying and reporting the signs of abuse.
