HOUSTON -- In Harris County child abuse and neglect fatalities almost doubled last year to the highest numbers in Texas.
In 2009 there were 67 cases compared to the 35 cases the year before.
Randy Burton, the founder of the advocacy group, Justice For Children said he’s not surprise.
"I probably should be shocked, but I'm not," he said. "The solution first, is to treat child abuse, which is a crime, as seriously as we treat other crimes and to get serious about intervening on behalf of children."
Harris county district attorney Pat Lykos said the office will get tougher on child abusers.
Lykos says she'll prosecute to the full extent of the law.
"And the tragedy of a baby being abused and murdered [is] the mark of a society is how you care for those who are the weakest,” she said.
In the past three weeks she said they've filed charges in six child abuse fatalities.
The district attorney’s office has also started something called the Child Endangerment Section that goes after predators.
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