Michael and Sharen Gravelle were the adoptive parents of eleven children in Clarksfield Township, Ohio, United States. In 2003 they were indicted for

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to a ...

for, among other things, keeping the children in cage-like enclosures. The Gravelles claimed the cages were made to protect the children from each other.

Cases

Their trial motivated legislators in Ohio to pass laws to prevent people from adopting so many children without a great deal of oversight by the state. They used parenting methods similar to those used in attachment therapy, which involves very strict control of children using isolation, food deprivation, and other disciplinary measures that are widely considered to be unreasonably harsh, or even inhumane. The trial gained international attention and brought many inadequacies of the adoption services systems in Ohio to the fore. In 2005 the Gravelles were sentenced to two years in prison for their crimes. According to newspaper reports, their therapist, Elaine Thompson, a social worker practicing as an attachment therapist, advised the Gravelles on parenting techniques. Thompson, according to these reports, had undertaken counselling or therapy, including holding therapy, with some of the Gravelle children. Elaine Thompson was indicted along with the Gravelles but pleaded guilty to

misdemeanor A misdemeanor (American English, spelled misdemeanour elsewhere) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than more serious felonies, but theoretically more so than adm ...

s in a

plea bargain A plea bargain (also plea agreement or plea deal) is an agreement in criminal law proceedings, whereby the prosecutor provides a concession to the defendant in exchange for a plea of guilt or '' nolo contendere.'' This may mean that the defendan ...

. The Gravelles served their two-year sentences from April 2009 to March 2011.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gravelle, Michael and Sharen Child abuse in the United States Living people Married couples People from Huron County, Ohio Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people)

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