Child neglect involving 5-day-old baby; West Bend woman reaches plea deal – FOX6 News Milwaukee

Case Report: Child Neglect and its Intersection with Sustainable Development Goals
This report details the legal case of Janet Solis of West Bend, Wisconsin, analyzing the incident of child neglect through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on health, justice, and inequality.
Summary of Legal Proceedings
Defendant and Charges
- Defendant: Janet Solis
- Accomplice: Devin Berg
- Charge: Neglecting a child, resulting in great bodily harm.
Outcome
- On October 13, Janet Solis pleaded guilty to the charge.
- The Ozaukee County court sentenced Solis to two years in prison, followed by four years of extended supervision.
Incident Analysis and Relation to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The case presents a severe breach of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The health of both the mother and the infant was critically compromised.
Health Impacts on the Infant
- The five-day-old infant was diagnosed with two linear skull fractures after being found on the floor of a hospital room.
- The injuries were consistent with a fall from a hospital bed onto a hard tile floor.
- At birth, the infant tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl, and THC.
- The newborn was documented as suffering from withdrawal symptoms, a direct consequence of prenatal substance exposure.
Maternal Health and Substance Abuse (SDG Target 3.5)
The circumstances directly relate to SDG Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”
- The defendant admitted to daily heroin use throughout her pregnancy.
- The defendant did not receive any prenatal care, reportedly due to fear of intervention by Child Protective Services (CPS).
- The neglect incident occurred when the defendant became unconscious from a reported heroin overdose while in the hospital, leading to the infant falling from the bed.
Institutional Response and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The case highlights the role and challenges of institutions in safeguarding vulnerable populations, a core component of SDG 16, which seeks to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.
Child Protection and Systemic Gaps (SDG Target 16.2)
This incident is a direct example of the issues addressed in SDG Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.”
- Child Protective Services reports obtained by investigators showed pre-existing concerns related to drug use by both Solis and her co-defendant, Devin Berg.
- The case underscores the critical need for effective and preventative institutional frameworks to protect children from neglect and harm stemming from parental substance abuse.
Judicial System Action
- The investigation by West Bend police and the subsequent legal proceedings demonstrate the justice system’s function in addressing crimes against children.
- The plea deal and sentencing represent the formal institutional response to hold the perpetrator accountable for causing great bodily harm through neglect.
Broader Social Implications and SDGs
Addressing Inequalities (SDG 10)
- The defendant’s avoidance of prenatal care due to fear of authorities points to systemic barriers and inequalities. These factors can prevent vulnerable individuals from accessing essential health and social support systems, thereby perpetuating cycles of poverty, poor health, and interaction with the justice system.
Gender-Specific Vulnerabilities (SDG 5)
- This case illuminates the acute health crises faced by pregnant women with substance use disorders. It emphasizes the need for integrated, non-punitive health services that support both maternal well-being and addiction treatment, aligning with the broader goals of ensuring health and gender equality.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article
The issues highlighted in the article, which include child neglect, substance abuse, and harm to a newborn, are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The article’s focus on drug addiction (heroin, fentanyl, marijuana), the lack of prenatal care, and the subsequent health consequences for both the mother and the infant (withdrawal symptoms, physical injury) directly relates to this SDG.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal is focused on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions. The article addresses this goal through its discussion of child neglect, which is a form of violence and abuse against children. The legal process, including the investigation, plea deal, and sentencing, reflects the justice system’s role in addressing such crimes.
Specific SDG Targets Identified
Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…” The infant in the article suffered “skull fractures” and “great bodily harm” due to neglect. This severe, life-threatening injury represents a failure to protect a newborn from preventable harm, which aligns directly with the objective of this target.
- Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.” The core of the case involves the mother’s substance abuse. The article explicitly states she “reportedly overdosed on heroin,” was a “daily heroin user,” and had used “marijuana and heroin while pregnant.” The infant also “tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and THC.” This highlights a critical need for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, as outlined in this target.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The legal charge against the mother was “neglecting a child (consequence is great bodily harm).” This act of neglect, which resulted in the baby falling from a hospital bed and sustaining serious injuries, is a clear form of child abuse and violence, which this target aims to eliminate.
Indicators for Measuring Progress
The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
Indicators for SDG 3 Targets
- For Target 3.2 (End preventable deaths of newborns): The article describes the infant being “diagnosed with two linear fractures.” This points to an indicator such as the rate of non-accidental injury or physical abuse in newborns. A reduction in such cases would signify progress toward protecting newborns from preventable harm.
- For Target 3.5 (Strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse): The article provides direct evidence of substance abuse. The mother’s admission of being a “daily heroin user” and the infant testing “positive for cocaine, fentanyl and THC and…suffering from withdrawal symptoms” are data points. This implies indicators like the prevalence of substance use disorders, particularly among pregnant women, and the number of newborns diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) due to prenatal drug exposure.
Indicators for SDG 16 Target
- For Target 16.2 (End abuse…and all forms of violence against…children): The case itself, where Janet Solis “pleaded guilty…to a single count of neglecting a child,” is a documented instance of child abuse. This suggests an indicator such as the number of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect per 100,000 children. The legal outcome, a sentence of “two years in prison,” also relates to indicators measuring justice system responses to violence against children.
Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs | Targets | Indicators Identified in the Article |
---|---|---|
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being |
3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse. |
– Rate of non-accidental injury in newborns (implied by the infant’s “skull fractures”).
– Prevalence of substance use disorders among pregnant women (evidenced by the mother’s daily heroin use and drug use during pregnancy). |
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. |
– Number of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect (the guilty plea for “neglecting a child” is a direct example). – Justice system response to violence against children (the conviction and prison sentence serve as an indicator of accountability). |
Source: fox6now.com