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April 9, 2008

Magazine: R.I. is the second safest state for children

Rhode Island is ranked the nation's second safest state for children in this month's Parents magazine, Governor Carcieri's office announced today.

Connecticut was first. After Rhode Island, the rest in order were New Jersey, New York, California, Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Oregon.

The magazine ranked the states on 30 things, including booster seat laws and electronic tracking of convicted sex offenders. It looked at crime and injury rates and states' child-safety legislation.

The magazine noted Rhode Island's violent-crime rate against children was about half the national average and declining, the governor's office said.

“We are pleased to enjoy this distinction given the state by Parents magazine, and we compliment them for undertaking this valuable study," Carcieri stated. “Over the past several years, efforts in injury prevention, seat-belt use, and more rigorous laws about those who hurt children have made our state safer."

Carcieri met with the magazine's news editor, Mary Hickey, yesterday as the magazine awarded the state, according to a news release.

“While we applaud the states that go the extra mile to protect kids, we were surprised how little some states do to help parents keep their children safe,” Sally Lee, editor-in-chief, said in the release. “With 5,000 childhood deaths from injuries every year, all state governments should be on the side of families.”

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 11:50 AM | Permalink

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