Children's Justice Division

 

The Children’s Justice Division provides advice, expertise and training on criminal prosecution of child abuse to prosecutors and investigators throughout the state. Attorneys in the division may act as co-counsel with local prosecutors on complex, multi-jurisdictional or conflict of interest child abuse cases. Attorneys from this division can assume primary responsibility of a case if requested by a county attorney.

The division acts as staff to the State Advisory Board on Children’s Justice. Division attorneys help draft legislation concerning child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse. Division members participate as members of the State Child Fatality Review Committeee, the State Domestic Violence Advisory Council, the Domestic Violence Governmental Affairs Subcommittee, the Governor’s Cabinet Council on Domestic Violence, APSAC, Child Abuse and Neglect Advisory Council and other state committees related to child abuse and domestic violence.

Attorneys in the division serve on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and prosecute child pornography and sexual enticement cases. Division attorneys also advise the task force on search and seizure issues and information technology questions.

In addition to the attorneys and staff who concentrate on child abuse cases, the division has attorneys with other specialities. One section prosecutes criminal non-support cases. One lawyer represents the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, the Division of Mental Health and substance Abuse, including the State Hospital. Another represents the Office of Public Guardian and DSPD. A third layer represents the Division of Aging and the Office of Licensing.

The division administers the Children’s Justice Center program. There are 15 justice centers in the state where child victims can be interviewed in a safe child-friendly environment. The centers help coordinate investigation and prosecution of child sex abuse cases. They also provide referral services to victims’ families.