Report on Institutional Failures and Violations of Child Welfare in McBee, S.C.

A Case Study in the Violation of Sustainable Development Goals

An investigation in McBee, South Carolina, has led to the arrest of a police officer and a civilian, exposing significant failures in institutional accountability and child protection protocols. The case highlights severe breaches of commitments outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning child welfare, justice, and public health.

Violations of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The alleged actions of McBee Police Captain Gregory Block represent a profound failure of a public institution to provide justice and protection, directly contravening the principles of SDG 16.

Failure of Institutional Accountability and Transparency (Target 16.6)

Effective, accountable, and transparent institutions are the bedrock of SDG 16. The investigation alleges that Captain Block engaged in actions that actively undermined these principles:

• He is accused of filing an official incident report containing false statements and misleading partial information.
• He allegedly provided false and misleading information to multiple agencies, including the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), school officials, and medical facilities.
• After initially requesting a DSS response, Captain Block allegedly canceled the intervention, falsely claiming the child’s injuries were not as reported and that he would conduct his own investigation.

Obstruction of Justice and Denial of Child Protection (Targets 16.2 & 16.3)

The case demonstrates a critical breakdown in ensuring access to justice and protecting children from abuse, as mandated by SDG Targets 16.2 and 16.3.

• The primary victim, a child, was denied a medically requested forensic interview and further specialized evaluation to determine the cause of injuries consistent with sexual assault.
• Both Captain Block and the child’s guardian, Janece Curtiss, are charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly impeding state-level investigations.
• These actions constitute a direct failure to uphold Target 16.2, which explicitly calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children.

Detrimental Impacts on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The fundamental right to health and well-being, the core of SDG 3, was severely compromised by the alleged neglect and obstruction.

Neglect of Child’s Physical and Mental Health

The sequence of events reveals a consistent disregard for the child’s immediate and long-term health needs.

1. On October 14, 2024, a physician identified injuries potentially caused by sexual abuse and requested a specialized follow-up examination.
2. This critical medical evaluation was reportedly never conducted, as Captain Block and Ms. Curtiss failed to take the child to the recommended facility.
3. Four days later, the child was taken to a medical facility again, complaining of pain, blood in urine, and other symptoms, yet the promised forensic interview was never scheduled.
4. Ms. Curtiss is further accused of attempting to have medical reports altered in July 2025 to remove any suggestion of possible sexual assault.

This pattern of neglect placed the child at an unreasonable risk of harm, impacting their physical and mental health in direct opposition to the goals of SDG 3.

Implications for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Increased Vulnerability and Systemic Failure

The case underscores the acute vulnerability of children and the failure of systems designed to protect them, a key concern of SDGs 5 and 10, which aim to protect vulnerable populations and ensure equal access to protection and justice.

• The alleged failure of a law enforcement officer to act responsibly exacerbates systemic inequalities and erodes public trust in institutions meant to safeguard at-risk individuals (Target 10.2).
• By allegedly failing to investigate potential sexual violence against a child, the officer’s actions undermine efforts to eliminate all forms of violence, a cornerstone of SDG 5 (Target 5.2).

Summary of Charges and Current Status

Following an investigation by state authorities, both individuals were arrested and booked into the Chesterfield County jail. The charges reflect the severity of the institutional and personal misconduct alleged.

• Captain Gregory Block: Charged with misconduct in office and obstruction of justice.
• Janece Curtiss: Charged with obstruction of justice and unlawful conduct toward a child.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire narrative revolves around the failure of a justice institution (the local police department) and the obstruction of justice. The actions of the police officer, including filing false reports, providing misleading information, and failing to conduct a proper investigation into a potential crime against a child, directly undermine the principles of justice, accountability, and strong institutions. The subsequent involvement of state investigators and the charges of “misconduct in office” and “obstruction of justice” highlight a breakdown and an attempt to restore institutional integrity.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article addresses health and well-being through the child’s physical injuries and the denial of necessary medical care. The child was taken to a medical facility for “bleeding” and later for “pain, blood in urine, difficulty urinating, and a foul odor.” The refusal to take the child for a specialized forensic examination, as requested by doctors, represents a failure to provide essential health services. Furthermore, the article notes that the guardian’s actions put the child at risk of harm that “impacted the child’s mental or physical health.”

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• While the child’s gender is not specified, this goal is relevant as it includes the target of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation. Sexual assault is a form of gender-based violence that disproportionately affects girls. The investigation into a “possible sexual assault” of a child connects directly to the core aims of this goal.

Specific Targets Identified

Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

• The article’s central theme is the potential sexual abuse of a child and the subsequent failure to investigate it. The medical staff’s suspicion that the child’s injuries “could have been caused by sexual abuse” and the charge against the guardian for putting the child at “unreasonable risk of harm… related to possible sexual abuse” directly align with this target.

Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

• This target is demonstrated by its violation. The police officer’s alleged actions—canceling the DSS response, filing an incident report with “a false statement and misleading partial information,” and failing to schedule a forensic interview—constitute a denial of the child’s access to justice and a subversion of the rule of law. The charges of “obstruction of justice” against both the officer and the guardian underscore this point.

Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

• The police officer’s alleged behavior shows a lack of accountability and transparency. He is accused of providing “false and misleading information to DSS, school officials, medical facilities and in his incident report.” This represents a failure of a public institution to perform its duties effectively and ethically. The arrest of the officer for “misconduct in office” is a direct consequence of this institutional failure.

Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…

• The child was denied access to a quality, essential health-care service. The article explicitly states that a doctor discharged the child with the understanding that the officer would take them to another facility for a “forensic interview” and “further evaluation to determine if a sexual assault had occurred.” However, the article confirms, “The child was ultimately never taken for examination, and no forensic interview was ever scheduled,” which is a clear denial of necessary medical evaluation.

Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including… sexual and other types of exploitation.

• This target is relevant to the investigation into a “possible sexual assault” of a child. This type of violence is a key focus of Target 5.2. The failure of the authorities to properly investigate the potential crime highlights a breakdown in the systems designed to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children, from sexual violence and exploitation.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

Implied Indicator for Target 16.2: Number of reported and investigated cases of violence against children.

• The article describes a specific case of potential sexual violence against a child that was reported to authorities. The failure to properly investigate (“the officer never conducted or set up the proper interviews and examinations”) serves as a negative data point for measuring progress. The fact that an investigation was eventually opened by DSS in July 2025 shows the mechanism for this indicator exists.

Implied Indicator for Target 16.3: Number of cases of obstruction of justice or corruption within the justice system.

• The article provides a concrete example that could be used for this indicator. Both the police officer and the guardian were arrested and charged with “obstruction of justice.” The officer was also charged with “misconduct in office,” which is a measure of corruption and a failure of the rule of law.

Implied Indicator for Target 16.6: Number of public officials held accountable for misconduct.

• The arrest of Police Captain Gregory Block on charges of “misconduct in office and obstruction of justice” is a direct measure of institutional accountability. This event serves as an indicator that mechanisms are in place, even if delayed, to hold officials accountable for their actions.

Implied Indicator for Target 3.8: Rate of access to essential health services.

• The article provides a qualitative indicator of a failure in access. The child was explicitly denied a recommended “forensic interview” and “further evaluation” by a specialized medical facility. This specific denial of a necessary health service can be used to measure gaps in healthcare access, especially for vulnerable populations.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wltx.com