WEnews Update
(WOMENSNEWS)–New Jersey children who were abused by their parents no longer are required to help pay for the abusive parents’ court-ordered therapy or hospitalization.
The New Jersey Legislature was shocked to learn that Michael McMickle, 21, and his sister, Christina, 18, were legally obligated to help pay for the court-ordered treatment of their father, Nelson McMickle, who had sexually abused them for years. He was committed to a facility for the criminally insane and the children were ordered to help defray the costs.
The Legislature in May passed a law exempting all such victims of sexual and other child abuse from the requirement of paying for an abusive parent’s court-ordered treatment or hospitalization.
Acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco signed the bill into law last week, while Michael and Christina McMickle looked on.
