NCJ Number
137406
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1992) Pages: 280-289
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This special report consists of articles describing ways in which law enforcement agencies can take a personal approach to preventing child abuse in their communities.
Abstract
In Tucson, Arizona, the PEP-Kids (Parents, Educators, Police, and kids) program centers around four, one-week projects designed to prevent juvenile substance abuse. The projects use creative means to convey their content which focuses on safety issues; the importance of health, nutrition, and exercise; the importance of making wise decisions; and the potential each child has in every sphere of life. In Palm Springs, California, the police department created a "soft room" for kids that features a friendly, non-threatening environment for children who come to the police station. The Marion County (Indiana) Child Advocacy Center was formed to protect the interests of abused children in the community. The self-contained center houses the manpower and resources needed to investigate and prosecute cases, thereby reducing trauma for children and building better cases by allowing faster and more effective communication between agencies. In England, the "Vulnerable Victims Investigation Techniques Course" is targeted at male and female police officers to give them an understanding of what child abuse is and how they should investigate rape offenses and serious sexual crimes.