Hearing the silent cries

Just because you don’t see it. Just because you don’t hear about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Those are some of the familiar words used in a public service announcement airing for the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center. It’s message is simple. Sexual and severe physical abuse of children happens on an all-too-regular basis in the Wiregrass. And that abuse crosses all socio-economic and racial lines.

In the not-too-distant past, prosecuting cases of sexual abuse of children was a difficult, if not impossible, task. After all, who would take the word of a child over that of an adult?

In the Wiregrass, the pro-cess of prosecuting these cases took a dramatic turn because of two events. In 1994, the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy opened its doors. It’s primary mission: to reduce the trauma suffered by a child victim of sexual or severe physical abuse.

“Our job is to provide a safe place for the children to come and tell their story,” said Sherryl Walker, executive director of the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center (CAC), as she explained the role of the CAC and the responsibilities of her staff members. “We don’t make an arrest. We don’t prosecute a case. We don’t remove a child (from his/her home). We don’t tell the children what to say. We just tell them to tell the truth.”

Children of all ages and backgrounds have come through the doors of the CAC in the past 15 years. Each story is unique. But, says Mrs. Walker, it is important that each child has the opportunity tell his or her story. Children who have suffered sexual or severe physical abuse will carry those scars for the rest of their lives. Through the work of the advocates and counselors at the CAC, these children have someone who will listen to them and allow them to share their stories. More importantly, the staff members help the children deal with what has happened to them.

For FY 2007-2008, the CAC was involved in 35 cases that were adjudicated just in Houston and Henry counties. Out of those cases, 22 defendants pled guilty. Five defendants were found guilty at trial while five were found not guilty at trial. Three cases were dismissed. From October 2008 until the present, 12 cases have been adjudicated in Houston and Henry counties. Eight defendants pled guilty. One was found not guilty at trial. Two were found guilty at trial, and one case had the charges dismissed.

The second event that has aided in the prosecution of sexual and severe physical abuse of children was the creation and the later expansion of the Sexual Assault Response Team/Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SART/SANE) Program, which is housed at Flowers Hospital. SART of the Wiregrass was launched April 1, 2000.

The SART Program uses a multi-disciplinary team to handle sexual and severe physical abuse cases. Initially, the program handled adult victims. Pediatricians were called to perform examinations on young victims. Three members of the SANE staff at Flowers Hospital received intensive training in 2004 to handle pediatric examinations.

Through the combined efforts of the Houston-Henry District Attorney’s Office, the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center and the House of Ruth, a very important piece of the puzzle has been incorporated into the forensic examination process.

“In 2000, the program, through a grant obtained by the House of Ruth, was able to purchase a colposcope,” said Susan Marsh, coordinator of the SART/ SANE Program at Flowers Hospital. “In 2004, our equipment was upgraded through the purchase of the Image Quest system, which is a digital camera and laptop with software that was created exclusively for sexual assault documentation. We were the first group in Alabama to have this equipment, which is cutting-edge technology.

“Image Quest provides images that can’t be al-tered. It keeps the chain of custody for use in court. The colposcope is a microscope on wheels. It illuminates and enlarges any tears or bruises that can’t be seen by the naked eye. The great thing about it is that the evidence can been seen. The perpetrator, a lot of times, confesses.”

Unfortunately, Mrs. Marsh noted, it is a system that has been put to use too often.

“In 2008, we had 174 cases,” Mrs. Marsh said. “Of those, 141 involved children. The year before, we had a total of 146 cases. Of those, 130 were pediatric cases.”

During Friday’s Sexual Assault Response Protocol Workshop, which was hosted by Flowers Hospital, Mrs. Marsh and Liz Martin, program director for the CAC, provided an update for members of the multi-disciplinary team in how to handle certain cases involving children.

Non-acute victims under the age of 12 who are brought to the emergency room will be seen by a SANE. The case will be coordinated with the Department of Human Resources and the CAC. A forensic interview will be scheduled. At that time, law enforcement will be notified. After the interview is conducted, a determination will be made as to whether or not the child should undergo a medical exam.

“The point of this protocol is to not re-traumatize the child,” said Kirke Adams, Geneva-Dale district attorney. “One interview of the child is what we want. We want to make it the best we can for the child from the start.”