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| "Arkansas' Voice on the Internet" | Previous Features / Investigations |
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 Witnesses in youth abuse inquiry made to take oath RAY PIERCE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE As witnesses appearing before a joint legislative committee hearing Monday prepared to testify, the committee chairman did something unusual for such meetings -- he made them take an oath to tell the truth. The Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth and the House Interim Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee have been holding joint hearings on who knew about alleged abuse of youths in state custody, when they learned of it and what they did -- or failed to do -- about it. The committee's first witness was Gary Staggs, a former security chief at one of the facilities where youths were allegedly abused. Sen. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, made Staggs and later witnesses swear that "the testimony you shall give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." No help from God was asked for. Veteran legislators couldn't remember a time when witnesses were sworn before giving testimony to a committee. "I don't think that's ever happened since I've been here," said Sen. Nick Wilson, D-Pocahontas, who has been in the Legislature since 1971. Sen. Mike Beebe, D-Searcy, a member of the Senate committee, said he knew it was an unusual step. But he said the committee's hearings are a special case. "It reinforces the solemnity and seriousness of what this is all about," he said. Beebe said the Legislature rarely conducts investigative hearings as it is doing now. He said the idea of swearing in witnesses was discussed before Monday's meeting. "Because of the gravity and seriousness of the subject matter and because of potential conflicts in testimony, we thought that it was necessary," he said. The committee's third meeting is scheduled for late August, likely Aug. 24. Scheduled to testify during that day-long hearing are former Department of Human Services Director Lee Frazier, former Division of Youth Services Director Ruth Whitney and Whitney's former deputy, Lloyd Warford, all of whom were in a position to know about the alleged abuses and what was done to try to correct the problems. Arkansas law has long given legislative committees the power to require an oath, issue summons and subpoena witnesses and documents. People who falsely testify to a committee after receiving the oath are subject to perjury charges. This article was published on Thursday, July 30, 1998 Copyright, permissions and privacy policy Copyright © 2008, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. |
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