Martha Coakley on Families & Children

PACWatch on DCF: not to fix it but to fight it

Coakley responded by pointing out that the case was dismissed by a judge, and said she was right to push back against "outside lawyers suing us with a one-size-fits-all solution."

The problems at DCF surfaced again when the candidates watched clips of attack ads being run on their behalf by Super PACs, including one ad that harshly criticizes Coakley for fighting the lawsuit. Coakley called the ad "heinous" and said it essentially argues that "I sat by while children we killed. That's outrageous."

But Baker said that while he disagreed with the tone of the ad, the questions it raised about her fight against the lawsuit were legitimate.

Mandatory prosecution of restraining order violations

On the Greater Boston television show, Coakley defended restraining order policies on the show, and did not acknowledge the need for any changes.

Victim-centered prosecution of crimes against children

Prosecuted against no-show jobs at MBTA

An investigation revealed that on 66 occasions between April 2007 and June 2008, the restaurant employed 15-year-old workers beyond 7 PM on a school night, the latest permissible hour for a 15-year-old to work during the school year. The investigation also revealed that a 15-year-old worked more than eight hours in a day in violation of the maximum hours permitted for 15-year-olds.

The Massachusetts Child Labor laws include restrictions on both the occupations in which minors may be employed, as well as the hours during which they may work. The law also requires employers to ensure that teens have proper work permits prior to beginning work, and that employers post all minors' work schedules in the workplace.