Children's Action Network of Adams County, Illinois

The Children's Advocacy Center of Adams County

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• The Children's Advocacy Center
• What Happens at the CAC?
• The Videotaped Interview
• What is a Multidisciplinary Team?
• The Role of the CAC Staff
• Possible Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
• Definitions
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The Children's Advocacy Center
The CAC of Adams County opened in September 1999. Governed by the CAC of Adams County Board of Directors, the CAC is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. The governing body was incorporated in 1990 and has provided advocacy services to abused and neglected children in Adams County for over a decade through the Court Appointed Special Advocates.

The CAC is a child-friendly place where child victims and non-offending families meet with a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of professionals for the purpose of investigation. CAC staff provides advocacy services and helps bridge the gap between social services, law enforcement and the court system.
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What Happens at the Children's Advocacy Center?
When a child victim arrives at the center CAC staff greets the child victim and non-offending family making the child comfortable in one of the age appropriate waiting areas.

The child meets the trained child interviewer and any other team members who are present. The interview occurs in an age appropriate, child sensitive interview room. The interview is videotaped.

During the interview, CAC staff will meet with non-offending family to obtain pertinent information such as telephone numbers and addresses so that CAC staff will have a means of ongoing communication with the family. CAC staff will explain the investigation and court process to the family. Medical and mental health (counseling) referrals will be made when appropriate.

The MDT member(s) will talk with the non-offending family while at the center.
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The Videotaped Interview
Every interview at the CAC is videotaped for the purpose of investigation. Professionals participating in the investigation may view the videotape; this reduces the number of times a child victim must tell his/her story.

Although the videotape may be used as evidence in court, it does not eliminate the child's testimony if the case goes to trial.
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What is a Multidisciplinary Team?
The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is made up of professionals who work together throughout the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse cases.

The MDT, coordinated by CAC staff, meets regularly to discuss the progress of each case.

Members of the team are:
• CAC staff
• Adams County State's Attorney
• Members of law enforcement including Adams County Sheriff's Department, Quincy Police Department and Illinois State Police
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
• Mental Health Representative
• Medical Representative
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The Role of the CAC Staff
The CAC staff coordinates the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases utilizing the MDT and provides advocacy for the child victim and non-offending family. Services are provided to the victim and their non-offending family from the time a case is opened until case disposition.

The CAC staff will:
• Educate the child victim and family on investigation and court procedure
• Make referrals for medical examinations when appropriate
• Make mental health referrals for the child victim and family
• Attend court with the family or in place of the family when appropriate
• Update family with information regarding the investigation and court proceedings
• Advocate for the child victim
• Assist the family in completing various forms
• Be a resource for the child victim and family for questions/concerns that may arise
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Possible Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
A child victim of sexual abuse may not be able to talk openly about what happened but may display other signs, such as:
• Passive or overly wanting to please people
• Running away
• Low self-esteem
• Depressed or withdrawn
• Self-destructive behavior
• Inappropriate sexual play with other children, toys, pets, or themselves
• Change in sleep patterns
• Nightmares
• Bedwetting
• Delinquent behavior
• Drop in grades
• Change in appetite
• Aggression
• Can't make friends
• Unexplained pain, swelling, itching or bleeding of mouth, genital or anal area
• Excessive bathing or poor hygiene
• Age-inappropriate understanding of sexual behavior
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Definitions
Listed below are summaries of terms that investigators, CAC staff, etc. may use.

Bench Trial - A trial before a judge, there is no jury. The judge listens to the witnesses and reviews the evidence. Based on this information, he/she finds the defendant guilty or not guilty.

Bail - Money or property required by a judge to be paid or pledged to the court by the defendant or his representative to insure that the defendant will appear for trial.

Child Physical Abuse - Injury inflicted upon a child other than accidental which causes death, disfigurement, impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any bodily function.

Indicated - The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will find a report "indicated" if their investigation produced enough credible evidence to indicate that the abuse occurred.

Jury Trial - A trial in which 12 citizens from the community are chosen through the jury selection process. The jury listens to the witnesses and reviews the evidence. Together they decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Plea Bargain - An agreement reached between the State's Attorney and defense attorney. The defendant may or may not have their sentence reduced. If a plea bargain is reached, a trial is not held.

Preliminary Hearing - Usually a person from law enforcement (police officer, sheriff's deputy or state police officer) testifies about what the victim told him/her during the investigation. On some occasions the videotaped interview is played. The judge determines if there is probable cause. If there is no probable cause, the case will be dismissed. If the judge finds probable cause, the defendant will be asked to enter a plea.

If the defendant enters a guilty plea, there will be no need for trial. If the defendant enters a not guilty plea the case will proceed to trial.

Probable Cause - A reasonable belief that a crime has been or is being committed.

Probation - A sentence served in the community rather than in jail or prison. The offender is under the supervision of a probation officer and is required to meet certain conditions.

Restitution - A person convicted of a crime is required to compensate the victim or the community for losses suffered because of the crime.

Sentence - A judgment placed upon the defendant by the court following his/her conviction.

Sexual Abuse - Sexual contact with a child for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification, aggression, degradation, or other similar purposes. This includes, but is not limited to touching the child over or under the clothing or having the child inappropriately touch the offender's body parts associated with sexual activity by force or encouragement.

Sexual Assault - Contact between the sex organ of one person and the sex organ, mouth or anus of another person, or any intrusion of any part of the body of one person or animal or object into the sex organ or anus of another person. This includes acts known as oral sex, anal penetration and intercourse.

Sexual Exploitation - Use of a child for sexual arousal, gratification, advantage or profit. This includes, but is not limited to: indecent solicitation of a child, child pornography, exposing sexual organs to children for the purpose of arousal or gratification, forcing a child to watch sexual acts or self-masturbation in the child's presence.

Unfounded - The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will determine a report "unfounded" if their investigation has not produced enough evidence to indicate the report. Unfounded simply means there is not sufficient credible evidence that the abuse occurred, it does not mean that the abuse did not occur.

Victim Impact Statement - A report from the victim stating the effect the crime has had on the victim's life. It is important for the victim to keep all receipts for expenses related to the crime, they will be attached to the Victim Impact Statement. This report is prepared prior to sentencing and submitted to the judge.

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