Special to the Times-Review
July 02, 2009 12:26 pm
—
This session marks a success for the teams of professionals that come together each day at the Children’s Advocacy Center serving Johnson County to investigate and prosecute crimes against children and provide healing to these most vulnerable victims.
Two bills on the governor’s desk directly address the important challenges faced in this field, and an increase in legislative dollars will help provide these intervention services.
The first, House Bill 2236, concerns a child victim’s right to a speedy trial and asks that the judge, at the request of the prosecuting attorney, consider the impact on the child if a defendant requests multiple, unjustifiable continuances.
It also asks the judge to state the specific reason for a granted continuance on the record, again at the prosecuting attorney’s request.
In Texas instances of child abuse cases have not gone to trial for as long as six years.
Such delays can slow healing and make victims and their families more reluctant to take part in the intimidating justice process.
Delays can deny justice to both the defendant and the victim because the victim’s memory of specific details of the alleged abuse may fade over time.
This can be particularly problematic in sexual abuse cases because the victim is generally the only witness, and concrete physical evidence may be lacking, making the child’s recollection of the details of the abuse critical.
With the passage of HB 2236, Texas joins 27 other states that have similar statues in place.
The second, House Bill 3751, prohibits a defendant from unsupervised direct contact with the alleged victim as a condition of bond.
It also allows the denial of bail pending trial to a defendant who violates these conditions.
Texas Sen. Florence Shapiro, backer of both bills, calls for ongoing vigilance in the battle against child abuse.
“So often [children] get lost in the shuffle of an adult world,” she said. “[These bills] will help expedite the legal process for cases involving abused children, so that they do not have to relive — again and again — the atrocities done to them. Through protection and expediency, they can achieve both justice and healing, and begin to take back their lives.”
The state budget also includes an additional $2 million annually for CACs across Texas.
Over the last decade Texas CACs have seen a constant increase in the number of new child abuse cases reported and investigated each year.
These additional dollars will enable the CAC to serve more children, help ensure offenders are punished, and restore healing to more victims and families.
State funds will be matched with money raised at the local level to support the operation of the center and its services to abused children.
“Our community has embraced this child-focused approach to investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases and meeting the unique needs of child victims and their families. They continue to support the concept with their hearts and their dollars,” said Tammy King, CAC’s executive director.
In the past year, the 63 children’s advocacy centers in Texas assisted more than 40,000 children, with a range of services including forensic interviews, medical exams and mental health services, trial preparation, court accompaniment, referral to social service agencies and ongoing victim advocacy services.
Last year more than half of the children receiving services at a Texas CAC were under the age of 13, and more than 75 percent were involved in sexual abuse cases.
For information visit www.childadvocacycenter-jc.org.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.