I testified as a mitigating witness at the Ferriter sentencing because we must address the flaws in the overall narrative around the case. The prosecution spotlighted the ‘box,’ an 8’ by 8’ windowless room in the garage where Tim Ferriter confined his 14-year-old son. This space, made iconic by the media, and shocking audio of Ferriter berating his son became a haunting backdrop, fueling public perception that a lengthy prison sentence would administer justice—the state asked for 15 years. Let me be unequivocal: Ferriter’s actions were abusive. However, this deflects attention away from the bigger culprit: the mental health system’s failure to support at-risk children and their families.

Early Childhood Trauma and Its Consequences

Ferriter’s adopted son, the tragic victim in this case, endured neglect in a Vietnamese orphanage before he was adopted by the family as a toddler. Such trauma, during the formative first years of life, can lead kids to form a subconscious, instinctual belief that the world is unpredictable and unsafe. This worldview will shape their thoughts, choices, and behaviors throughout their lifetime. Some, like the victim in this case, are diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD).

Early trauma, known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), can also affect a child’s brain development, resulting in underdeveloped cause-and-effect thinking, coupled with poor impulse control. This can have tragic impacts on the child’s long-term health and lead to an increased risk of  mental illness and incarceration, among other negative outcomes.

The Struggles of Parents Grappling with RAD

RAD is a spectrum disorder, and kids on the medium to severe end of the spectrum have persistent extreme behaviors, including physical aggression and episodes of rage. Their caregivers face overwhelming challenges, often exceeding their abilities and resilience. The nuanced nature of RAD makes it difficult for others to understand, leaving parents isolated and unsupported. Seeking help can compound their distress because they are routinely blamed and shamed about their circumstances and their child’s behavior when they reach out. The lack of adoption-competent mental health professionals further exacerbates the situation and many parents are left desperate for support and without good options. This is why I testified at the trial.

Well-meaning caregivers, unable or not knowing how to parent a child with RAD appropriately, can exacerbate the situation. For example, some attempt to implement interventions used in residential treatment facilities (RTFs)—aka Ferriter’s ‘box’ and ring cameras. While seclusion rooms and video monitoring measures are standard protocol to manage episodes of violent behavior in RTFs, parents lack the necessary resources and training to implement them safely at home. Unlike in staffed treatment facilities, parents struggle to cope as they face the stress of dealing with a volatile child, often without relief or breaks. In these emotionally charged situations, the risk of interventions turning unsafe and unintentionally or intentionally abusive dramatically increases. This creates a precarious situation for both the child and the family. This is why I testified at the trial.

The Verdict’s Shortcomings as a Deterrent

Contrary to the portrayal of the Ferriters’ situation as an outlier, many kids who are adopted have complex mental health and behavioral needs. Tens of thousands of families similarly navigate these challenges without readily available or adequately funded post-adoption services, which leads to troubling home dynamics. In the absence of viable solutions, support, and resources, the Ferriter sentence falls short as a deterrent for future incidents. This is why I testified at the trial.

It’s important to acknowledge that Ferriter’s conduct was abusive. Let there be no misunderstanding on this matter. However, by not seeking to understand how and why it happened, we inadvertently divert attention away from the broken mental health system. The unintended consequences will be devastating. The complete lack of acknowledgment of the mental health community’s shortcomings throughout the Ferriter trial, along with the fear of potential vilification, will only serve to deter struggling parents from seeking help. This is why I testified at the trial.

Shifting Our Focus to Solutions

As Ferriter begins his 5-year sentence, we must shift our gaze away from the sensationalized images of the ‘box’ to the underlying causes of these tragic circumstances. We must put out of our mind the trial’s disturbing audio recordings and listen, instead, to the collective voices of adoptive families of kids with RAD begging for help. This is why I testified at the trial.

To protect at-risk kids, we must seek to understand challenges and complexities that cause caregivers like Ferriter to become frustrated, struggle to control their temper, and to make grave mistakes. Our collective effort must focus on building robust support systems around adoptive parents if we are to foster healing for vulnerable kids and to prevent tragic outcomes.