“Failure to protect” charges are criminal prosecutions where one parent is accused of allowing another parent, or spouse, to abuse a child. For many, such as Deborah Albin, they may also be survivors of abuse but are unable to raise that within their defense.

Albin’s significant other, Andrew Oaks, is facing second-degree murder charges for their daughter Opal’s death. Andrew had previously threatened to kill Deborah and was accused by Albin of physically assaulting her. Despite this, courts are not allowing Albin to bring these incidents in her defense. This is part of a larger pattern of prosecutions against women using “failure to protect” laws.

Kaylee Tornay is an investigative reporter with Investigate West and has been following Deborah Albin’s case. She joins us to share more.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/27/think-out-loud-parents-abuse-law-crime-failure-to-protect-oregon/