

A Call Away
7/12/2021 | 9m 18sVideo has Closed Captions
Oklahoma is one of 26 states with a “failure to protect" law.
Oklahoma is one of 26 states with a “failure to protect” law, which prosecutes parents who fail to prevent child abuse. However, the ACLU and other groups say this law disproportionately criminalizes women, who are often victims of domestic abuse themselves. A Call Away tells the story of Clorinda Archuleta, a mother of twin boys, both of whom suffered severe injuries as infants.
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Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback

A Call Away
7/12/2021 | 9m 18sVideo has Closed Captions
Oklahoma is one of 26 states with a “failure to protect” law, which prosecutes parents who fail to prevent child abuse. However, the ACLU and other groups say this law disproportionately criminalizes women, who are often victims of domestic abuse themselves. A Call Away tells the story of Clorinda Archuleta, a mother of twin boys, both of whom suffered severe injuries as infants.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- [Operator] This is a Global Tel Link prepaid call from - Archuleta - An offender at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center.
Thank you for using Global Tel Link.
Hey guys, it's me, Chloe.
I got you some more books that I picked out because they looked really cool and they look like they'd be fun to read.
I think I'm gonna start with the T. Rex one because it's so fun.
And then we'll do the Avengers next.
Yeah so, here we go.
"From the tip of my tail to the top of my snout, there's just no doubt."
"I'm a T.
Rex."
Look how crazy he looks?
"So can you believe I started out small, just an egg in a nest."
"I roar and I romp.
I growl and I stomp."
"I'm a T.
Rex."
- [Amy] Here's a picture of Chloe and one of her good friends on the left.
And they both have green eyes.
(laughs) This was one year at Christmas that we got her a flip phone.
(laughs) So you know it's like far back.
She was pretty ecstatic.
That's her there.
She makes some pretty cute faces.
They're just so pretty.
She's just always been pretty.
There.
She said, "Mom can I talk to you?"
I'm like, "Uh oh."
She said, "Mom, you better stay sitting down."
I'm like, "Why?"
And she said, "I'm having twins."
I tell her, you know, not to worry when you have them because it's gonna be scary and you're not gonna know what really what to do.
I said, "But you do realize I'm here."
After she would have the boys then I tell her a little bit more, so.
But that didn't get to happen too much.
- [Amy] She didn't even know what happened 'cause she was still a baby.
Later on, I showed her the pictures from when I had them taken.
And it was bruises and everything all over me.
Bleeding profusely.
Split lip and everything.
She just nodded and gave me a hug and she said she understood.
I could just tell the signs.
Like her closing off.
Every time the crib was in their bedroom, she'd wake up to check on the boys and they weren't there.
He had them out in the living room because he didn't wanna hear them crying.
- [Clorinda] Eh, okay, great.
- [Clorinda] No pressure or anything.
- [Amy] I know.
- [Clorinda] But all pressure, really.
- [Amy] Thanks.
(laughing) - I just--part of me died.
I thought I was never gonna see my girl again.
And I just thought, why God, why?
I didn't understand it, I still don't, but-- She don't belong there.
She never should've been there.
- So I really like those books, I hope both of you guys like those books, too.
I'm really, really proud of you guys for being awesome in the first grade.
Yeah, you guys are just so cool and I'm happy that you guys are reading these books with me.
Thank you so much, I love you, and you're doing such a great job being cool and amazing.
Be good, bye.
(electronic beeping)
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