Children’s Justice Center

Traditionally, investigation of child abuse required multiple interviews of the victim by police, social services, medical personnel, attorneys, and psychologists.  Each interview occurred at a different place, and rarely in a setting, to the victim, that was familiar or comfortable.

The Children’s Justice Center is a homelike environment that eliminates the need for multiple interviews, and is non-threatening to victims.  By utilizing the CJC, investigators can coordinate and begin the investigative process with a minimal amount of trauma to child victims of physical or sexual abuse.

State of the art audio and video equipment helps in preserving the interview for evidentiary purposes, and aids in the continued investigation process.  The goal is to produce a comprehensive response in exploring allegations of abuse, provide recommendations to parents regarding safety and treatment needs of the child, and to stabilize the crises often experienced by the family.

At the heart of the Children’s Justice Center is the multi-disciplinary team.  The team is comprised of Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services, Mental Health Professionals, County Attorney

Prosecutors, Guardians Ad Litem, Attorney General Prosecutors, and Children’s Justice Center Staff.  The CJC combines the perspective and professional knowledge of each respective team member for a more complete understanding of individual case issues, and to ensure thorough follow-up on each case.

The Children’s Justice Center coordinates:

• A comprehensive child and family interview process by trained professionals
• Audio/Video taped interviews screened for technical optimization, and in a child friendly environment
• Screening of cases for prosecution
• Counseling and treatment referrals
• Victim/Witness support services
• Case progress tracking and monitoring
• Community and professional education on abuse issues
• Support and information services for parents and guardians
• Case staffing by a team of professionals

As a community, we value children and families.  Children in our community are being physically, psychologically, emotionally, and sexually victimized every day.  Although we can’t possibly stop every act of abuse, we can make an effort to be aware, and assist as many of these children as we can.  Fragmenting the process by which we investigate these cases of abuse has proven ineffective and often times traumatic for child victims.

The Children’s Justice Center refocuses on the child’s need for safety and brings diverse systems together to better serve the needs of the child, the family, and the community.

Protecting children from abuse is everyone’s responsibility.  If you are aware of a child who is being abused, neglected, or mistreated, please report to one of the following agencies:

Family Board Members