Infant and Child Death Review presents 2021 findings; committee presses for perpetrator recidivism data

Samaria Hill, coordinator of the Infant and Child Death Review (ICDR), told the Senate Children and Youth Committee that ICDR’s regional teams reviewed 147 injury deaths of Arkansas children in 2021 and produced multidisciplinary recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths.

ICDR’s report identified motor vehicle crashes, suicide and undetermined causes (primarily sudden unexplained infant death) as the leading injury causes reviewed in 2021. Hill emphasized ICDR’s statutory role in reviewing unexpected infant and child deaths and producing community and policy recommendations; the program comprises 11 regional teams covering all 75 counties.

Committee members focused on homicides in the report. Senator Sullivan noted the ICDR data show 28 infants and children died by homicide in 2021 and asked how often perpetrators were repeat offenders or on parole. ICDR representatives said their statutory review focuses on the deaths themselves (ages 0–17) and does not include tracking offender parole or recidivism; ICDR offered to help identify which agency holds that data and to coordinate follow‑up requests so the legislature can pursue targeted prevention strategies.

Laura Robertson, sitting in for a panel member, and ICDR staff offered to connect legislators with the Arkansas State Medical Examiner and other agencies for additional information on manner‑of‑death determinations and possible cross‑agency data sharing to inform prevention efforts.

The committee asked ICDR to follow up with information on which agency maintains recidivism or perpetrator histories so legislators can assess prevention and parole practices where appropriate.