Children's Justice Act
Program Description
This program helps States to develop, establish, and operate programs designed to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases, particularly cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner which limits additional trauma to the child; and to improve the handling of cases of suspected child abuse or neglect related fatalities. The CAPTA amendments of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 authorizes grants from this program to address the handling of cases of children with disabilities and serious health problems who are victims of child abuse or neglect.
Statistics
During 2002, an average of 2,400 children were found to be victims of abuse and neglect each day. An estimated 2.6 million referrals of abuse or neglect concerning nearly 4.5 million children were received by CPS agencies. More than two-thirds of those referrals were accepted for investigation and treatment. Nationally, an estimated 88,704 children or 9.9 percent of child victims were sexually abused. An average of three children died every day as a result of abuse or neglect in 2002.
Budget
Funds for this program are allocated from the Department of Justice's Victims of Crime Fund. In FY 2003, $17,000,000 was available for distribution. Currently 48 States, DC, and Puerto Rico receive Children’s Justice Act grants. The territories receive funding through the Consolidated Grant process.
Program Highlights
This program has helped support a variety of innovative approaches to helping to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases such as:
- Support the planning and development of Child Advocacy Centers across the country. These centers provide a child friendly environment for multi-disciplinary interviewing teams to support children who have been abused.
- Development of training to physicians, nurses, and school personnel, and other mandated reports in recognizing and reporting suspected abuse and neglect.
- Development of training among child protection agencies, law enforcement agencies, domestic violence programs, courts and others on cases involving domestic violence.
- Provide forensic interviewing training to county attorneys, law enforcement officers, and child protection workers who wish to specialize in child abuse cases.
- Provide training to judges, guardian ad litems, and CASAs, who specialize in child abuse cases.
- Develop procedures and protocols for joint investigations.
- Provide grants to counties for training and investigative equipment.
- Development of a national evaluation of State CJA programs.
