FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Steve Orwat October 17, 1995 (517) 373-1369 DSS THREATENS: "CRITICIZE THE DEPARTMENT AND GO TO JAIL!" (LANSING)----State Senator Jim Berryman (D-Adrian) today released court documents showing that the State Department of Social Services negotiated a settlement of the Adam Sytek child abuse case in exchange for the families silence. Documents released by Berryman show that the family of the battered two and a half year old were placed under a gag order forbidding them from making further negative comments regarding the Department of Social Services. According to court records violation of the gag order could send "parties" of the agreement to jail. Berryman said, "This is a violation of their first amendment rights. Say something negative and you go to jail." According to Berryman, the family was given a pre-written press release from the DSS and told to contact his office to assure them that the case was being handled properly. "How dare DSS try to bribe this distraught family. Their job is to protect children, not squelch dissent. DSS has gone too far," said Berryman. In June of 1995 relatives of the Sytek family testified in front of the Senate Democratic Task Force on Protecting Michigan's Children Chaired by Senator Berryman. The Sytek family accused the Department of ignoring sexual and physical abuse by the biological mother of Adam. In earlier court documents, Adam's mother testified in open court of performing sexual acts on her son and of strangling the family dog. The Department of Social Services refused to remove the child because of failure to find evidence of abuse. Adam's family has been relentless in their fight to get help from the Department. Berryman says that they are now receiving help, but at a price. " The Department is covering up for their failure to protect Adam. Silencing the family in exchange for doing what they should have done in the first place is inexcusable. These heavy handed, vindictive policies must stop," said Berryman. Berryman expressed deep concern that this gag order may not be a unique situation within the Department of Social Services.

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