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The Legal System
It is very difficult to predict what will happen for you and your child after the report has been made and the case is in the legal system. Sometimes the chance to speak up about what happened can be a good thing for the child whether or not the abuser is convicted. Many children are relieved to think that someone more powerful will tell the offender he was wrong and help protect them. For the other children, however, the events following the report can be scary.
You can make the process easier for your child by working with, and not against, the authorities. The legal system may be able to protect your child from future unsupervised contact with the offender, working through the legal system is also a way to keep other children safe, because many offenders abuse more kids than those they have actually been caught molesting. In addition, most offenders do better in treatment with the force of the legal system behind them. It is a powerful way to hold the offender accountable for the abuse.
Once the investigation in your case is received in the District Attorney’s office for prosecution, you will be notified by letter. Please contact your Child Advocate as soon as possible, and they will be happy to assist you throughout the entire court process.
Multidisciplinary Team of Professionals (MDT)
How the legal system responds to Abuse
The District / Civil Court Process
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