►
From YouTube: Focus St. Charles County - Services for Child Abuse Victims, St. Charles County Government, MO
Description
This Focus St. Charles County discusses the justice system for children, and the services provided for them with regards to child abuse
A
I
and
welcome
to
another
edition
to
focus
st.
Charles
County
I'm
Scott
Rock
Nick.
Thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
today.
We're
going
to
be
talking
about
the
justice
system
in
st.
Charles,
County
and
specifically,
services
that
are
provided
to
children.
Who've,
unfortunately
experienced
sexual
or
physical
abuse,
specifically
we're
going
to
be
talking
about
the
champs
assistance
dog
program
that
takes
rescued
animals,
trains
them
and
puts
them
into
service
here
and
throughout
greater
st.
Louis
area.
A
B
Is
a
service
dog
provider
organization
we're
based
in
st.
Louis
and
we
serve
the
greater
st.
Louis
area.
We
also
do
provide
facility
dogs,
we've
placed
55
dogs.
To
date.
Most
of
those
dogs
are
service
dogs
who
work
with
their
partners
who
have
physical
disabilities.
They
help
their
partners
live
more
independently,
doing
things
like
retrieving
items.
Their
partner
may
drop,
opening,
closing
doors,
turning
lights
off
and
on
getting
an
emergency
911
phone
things
like
that.
We
also
place
facility
dogs,
those
are
dogs
at
work
with
an
individual
in
a
setting.
B
It
could
be
a
medical
setting,
it
could
be.
We
have
one
facility
dog
working
in
an
a
hospice
in
southern
Illinois
and
we
will
soon
be
placing
a
facility
dog
here
at
the
st.
Charles
County
Courthouse.
The
facility
dogs
are
not
considered
service
dogs
because
they
don't
work
directly
with
a
person
who
has
a
disability.
B
They
can
be
used,
though,
to
help
people
feel
more
comfortable
in
the
different
settings
where,
where
they're
used
like
the
courthouse
and
our
service
dogs,
as
well
as
our
facility
dogs,
are
all
placed
free
of
charge,
our
organization
has
been
around
since
1998,
so
I
believe
that
makes
us
16
years
old.
This
year,
champ
is
partnered.
With
the
Missouri
Department
of
Corrections.
We
have
a
prison
training
program
at
the
women's
prison
in
vandalia
Missouri.
We
had
a
great
group
of
trainers
up
there
who
help
us
train
our
service
dogs
and
our
facility
dogs.
B
We've
been
at
the
prison
in
vandalia,
since
2002
and
of
the
55
total
service
dogs,
champ
is
placed.
38
of
them
had
been
chained
through
the
prison
program
by
the
offenders.
Our
champ
puppy
raisers
in
the
community
will
take
the
dogs
from
the
time
we
first
get
them,
which
is
usually
around
eight
weeks
old
until
the
dogs
are
about
five
months
old.
B
When
the
puppies
are
about
five
months
old
they'll
head
up
to
the
prison,
the
puppies
will
live
at
the
prison
with
their
trainers,
while
they're
learning,
all
the
skills
are
going
to
need
for
their
future
careers
and
typically
will
have
the
puppies
up
there
for
based
on
the
age
of
the
dog
anywhere
from
three
to
eight
weeks
at
a
time,
and
then
we
rotate
them
from
the
prison
back
out
to
their
puppy
caregivers.
So
they
can
spend
more
time
getting
socialized
in
the
community.
B
We
rotate
them
in
and
out
of
prison
until
they're
around
two
years
old
and
their
training
is
finished.
Our
training
program
is
very
positive.
It's
a
lot
of
fun
for
the
dogs
and
the
trainer's.
The
first
thing
that
we
work
on
up
at
the
prison
is
teaching
the
dog
how
to
pay
attention
to
their
trainer
and
we
emphasize
very
solid
basics
and
then
build
on
those
by
the
time
they're
ready
for
placements.
B
The
dogs
will
have
a
wide
range
of
skills,
including
great
positioning
skills,
I'll,
walk
very
nicely
on
a
loose
leash,
have
solid,
sits
and
downs
and
stays.
Retrieves
they'll
also
learn
how
to
retrieve
a
911
help
with
gloves
coats
that
kind
of
stuff.
When
we
first
start
training
a
dog.
We
don't
know
at
that
point
what
that
dog's
future
career
might
be.
So
all
the
dogs
will
start
with
that
basic
set
of
skills.
B
As
we
get
closer
to
the
dog
being
finished
and
ready
for
placement,
then
we
will
add
whatever
specific
skills
that
dog
is
going
to
need
for
their
actual
job.
The
program
gives
the
women
a
very
real
and
a
very
positive
way
that
they
can
get
back
to
the
community,
and
that
means
a
lot
to
them.
They
work
really
hard
to
learn
all
the
skills
they
need
on,
how
to
train
our
dogs
and,
at
the
same
time,
they're
learning
skills
are
going
to
let
them
be
more
successful
upon
their
release.
B
These
dogs
that
are
then
going
to
go
on
to
help
someone
who
needs
them
is
a
very
powerful
thing
to
do,
and
it's
something
that
our
trainers
are
very
proud
of,
and
it's
something
they
should
be
proud
of,
because
they're
part
of
something
that
is
very
special,
a
courthouse
dog
is
going
to
be
a
dog
that
is
a
very
well-balanced,
very
solid
temperament
dog.
They
will
typically
be
about
two
years
old
before
they're
ready
for
placement.
We
trade
a
lot
of
different
kinds
of
service
dogs,
I.
B
Think
one
thing
that's
unique
about
the
courthouse
dogs
that
they
have
to
be
pretty
much
unflappable
in
almost
all
situations,
they
have
to
be
quiet,
they
had
to
be
calm.
They
have
to
work
well
with
within
a
group
of
individuals
who
all
might
want
to
meet
them
as
well
as
have
the
skill
set,
or
they
can
concentrate
on
that
particular
person
who
also
needs
their
their
assistance.
B
So
they
have
to
be
able
to
focus
on
that
person
as
needed.
Even
when
that
person
might
be
expressing
some
strong
emotions-
or
they
might
be
showing
some
kind
of
anxiety
fear
trauma
something
that
the
dog
has
to
be
calm
and
settled
in
all
circumstances.
They
also
have
to
be
solid,
so
they're
not
going
to
interrupt
whatever's
going
on
between
the
person
and
the
criminal
justice
professionals,
so
the
dogs
have
to
be
very
professional
themselves.
The
right
dog
is
going
to
be
a
dog
that
is
very,
very
calm.
B
Very
accepting
relaxed
and
dog
that
can
just
kind
of
chill
out
settle
down,
be
a
steady,
calm
influence
on
the
traumatized
person
that
they're
working
with.
If
anybody
like
to
learn
more
about
champ
our
services,
our
assistance
dogs
facility
dogs,
you
can
contact
us
at
3146,
539
466.
You
can
also
check
out
our
website.
Champ
dogs,
dot,
org.
A
Nola,
thank
you
so
much
and
as
she
mentioned,
the
champ
assistance
dogs
are
actually
participating
with
the
st.
Charles
County
Prosecuting
Attorney's
Office
on
a
thing
called
the
courthouse
dog
project.
This
is
a
wonderful
program
that
brings
these
service
dogs
into
the
courthouse
to
help
children
who
have
sadly
experienced
sexual
or
physical
abuse
here
to
tell
us
more
about
the
program
and
how
it
helps
is
Gillian
Anderson,
the
chief
attorney
for
policy
and
development
in
the
st.
Charles
County
Prosecuting,
Attorney's
Office
in.
C
2013
under
the
direction
of
prosecuting
attorney
Tim
Lamar,
the
st.
Charles
County
Prosecuting
Attorney's
Office,
initiated
the
courthouse
dog
project.
We
were
very
fortunate
to
find
a
community
partner
in
champ
champ
and
its
dedicated
group
of
staff
and
volunteers
are
truly
what
is
given
this
program
wings
in
st.
Charles
County,
we
use
the
courthouse
dog
to
support
children
who
have
been
victims
of
sexual
or
physical
abuse,
and
we
support
them
by
bringing
in
the
dog
into
the
courthouse
whenever
the
child
needs
to
visit
the
courthouse,
whether
that
be
for
a
deposition
or
for
trial.
C
Testimony
abuse
children
are
particularly
vulnerable
to
revitalization
by
the
court
process.
In
fact,
it's
their
inherent
vulnerability
that
often
tends
to
cause
abusers
to
single
them
out
for
physical
or
sexual
abuse.
As
prosecutors.
In
this
area
of
crime,
we
often
see
that
when
children
are
called
on
to
come
to
or
for
depositions
or
for
testimony
that
that
request
of
them
can
trigger
traumatic
memories,
it
can
cause
disassociation
in
the
child
or
child
cause
that
child
to
withdraw
and
shut
down.
C
It
can
even
cause
that
child
to
lose
their
ability
to
remember
details
and
be
able
to
respond
to
questioning
by
attorneys
or
by
judges.
It
was
a
true
ray
of
light
when
the
courthouse
dog
program
came
to
st.
Charles
County.
For
the
first
time,
we
had
something
to
offer
these
children
that
would
help
them
to
become
more
relaxed
and
to
dissipate
the
stress
and
anxiety
that
comes
along
with
being
in
a
courthouse.
Knowing
that
you're
going
to
be
asked
to
testify
against
your
abuser,
the
first
time
in
st.
C
Charles
County
that
we
used
the
courthouse
dog
program
was
in
a
particularly
difficult
sexual
abuse
trial
involving
a
nine-year-old
girl
and
when
I
first
met
this
little
girl
almost
two
years
before
the
jury
trial.
Whenever
the
topic
of
the
abuse
would
come
up,
she
would
put
a
head
down.
Tears
would
well
up
in
her
eyes,
and
she
tell
us
she
simply
couldn't
talk
about
it.
C
Two
years
later,
as
trial
was
approaching,
we
introduced
her
to
a
courthouse
dog
named
Jersey,
and
she
and
Jersey
struck
up
an
immediate
friendship
and
when
we
called
her
back
to
let
her
know
that
the
trial
was
coming
and
we
needed
her
to
come
down
to
the
courthouse.
Her
first
question
wasn't:
do
I
have
to
come
or
do
I
have
to
talk.
It
was
his
jersey
going
to
be
there
and
it
just
seemed
to
make
all
the
difference.
C
On
the
day
of
the
jury
trial,
she
sat
in
our
victim
waiting
room
for
about
two
hours
and
that
whole
time,
Jersey
was
right.
By
her
side.
There
were
time
she
was
laying
on
Jersey.
There
were
times
she
was
hugging
Jersey,
crying
into
jersey,
and
there
were
times
that
she
just
SAT
there
with
all
of
her
anxious
energy
and
just
pet
Jersey
over
and
over
and
over
again.
C
I
have
no
doubt
that
it
was
that
experience
and
the
comfort
that
Jersey
brought
to
this
process
that
allowed
that
nine-year-old
girl
to
take
that
witness
stand
in
this
particular
case.
When
she
took
the
witness
stand,
she
did
not
bring
jersey
with
her.
Instead,
we
gave
her
a
very
small,
stuffed
animal
replica,
jersey
and
entire
time,
but
she
was
in
that
courtroom
on
that
witness
stand
with
the
prosecutor
and
the
defense
attorney
questioning
her.
She
had
that
little
black
stuff
to
jersey
in
her
hand
the
entire
time
when
she
got
off
that
witness
stand.
C
The
first
thing
she
wanted
to
do
was
go
back
and
be
with
Jersey.
The
Prosecuting
Attorney's
Office
is
so
grateful
to
champ
and
their
partnership
in
this
very
special
project
without
champ
and
their
dedicated
group
of
staff
and
volunteers.
None
of
this
would
be
possible.
We
also
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
Missouri
Department
of
Corrections
in
their
director
George
Lombardi,
as
well
as
the
very
special
women
in
vandalia
who
trained
these
incredible
dogs.
For
us.
C
We
also
would
like
to
thank
the
child
center
in
wentzville
and
their
director
Swift,
as
well
as
diane
mueller
and
fran
piper
of
the
st.
charles
county
stress
council
and
the
st.
Louis
crisis
nursery
for
their
continued
support
of
this
program.
Without
the
support
of
community-based
organizations
like
these
and
the
support
of
the
public,
none
of
these
programs
would
be
possible
as
a
prosecutor.
It
is
such
a
nice
change
to
call
a
victim
or
their
family
and
when
we
ask
them
to
come
to
court
instead
of
saying
do,
I
have
to
come.
A
D
C
A
Her
mom
a
lot
welcome
back
to
focus
st.
Charles,
County
I'm,
Scott
Rockne,
and
we
are
continuing
to
talk
about
the
justice
system
in
st.
Charles
County
and
how
there
are
special
services
to
help
children
who
have
sadly
experienced
abuse.
So
far,
we've
talked
about
the
champ
assistance
dog
program,
the
courthouse
dog
project
and
now
we're
going
out
to
vandalia
Illinois
to
talk
with
some
of
the
women
inmates
there
at
the
prison
who
actually
trained
these
marvelous
dogs.
F
G
F
I
love
with
champ
stands
for
and
what
they,
how
they
help
clients
out.
There
live
more,
you
know
a
lifestyle
where
they
don't
have
to
have
a
lot
of
help
from
a
lot
of
people.
So
I
love
that
about
it
and
I
wanted
to
be
a
part,
even
though
I'm
incarcerated
I
wanted
to
give
back-
and
this
was
my
perfect
opportunity-
I
mean
to
train
a
dog
to
help
someone
on
the
outside
a
little
better
life
I've.
E
Been
working
with
champ
for
about
three
and
a
half
years,
I
decided
to
get
into
the
program
because
my
people
right
to
terminate
it
to
my
children
and
to
me
training,
a
dog
is
similar
to
Parenthood
and
I,
really
just
missed
out
on
that
opportunity.
So
I
chose
to
nurture
dogs,
I,
really
just
love
the
champ
program,
I
love
everything
that
it
stands
for.
E
I
love
the
message
behind
it
and
after
committing
a
crime
against
someone,
I
just
really
appreciate
what
they
bring
to
the
institution
and
give
us
a
chance
to
kind
of
you
know
compensate
for
those
wrongs
that
we've
committed
to
society.
It
kind
of
gives
us
a
way
to
you
know
make
amends
for
the
wrongs
that
we've
done.
Chimp.
G
Is
just
it's
just
a
great
organization
once
you
feel
so
good
that
you're
helping
somebody
out
there
that
needs
your
help,
then
you
can't
do
it
yourself,
but
you
can
put
something
good
out
there,
that
you
don't
well.
I've
only
had
three
dogs
and
they've
all
been
rescued,
so
my
hope
is
just
about
them,
a
great
hope
and
a
second
chance.
G
It's
you
know
anyway,
it's
like
you're,
giving
a
part
of
yourself
and
they've
been
put
away,
kind
of
like
were
put
away
and
then
you're
give
them
that
chance.
Second
chance,
like
you're,
going
to
get
when
you
get
released
to
find
that
great
home
and
to
be
happy,
so
you
feel
like
you're,
giving
a
little
piece
of
you
to
put
out
there
and-
and
you
want
them
to
find
a
great
home
and
be
happy
and
be
successful
and
give
them
a
little
bit
of
manners.
G
F
Jim
has
taught
me
a
lot
when
I
first
came
to
be
incarcerated.
I
was
very
angry
and
didn't
want
to
be
in
prison,
but
champ
has
taught
me
how
to
humble
myself
and
to
have
more
patience
and
that
just
because
I'm
in
here
doesn't
mean
I'm,
not
a
person
that
can
give
back.
They
make
me
feel
like
I'm
a
person
and
not
just
a
someone
with
a
number
me
and
all
the
other
girls
that
are
a
part
of
this
organization
that
helped
train
the
dogs.
F
We
become
like
a
close-knit
family
where
we
might
not
always
get
along,
but
we
always
know
we
have
each
other's
back
and
if
we
have
like,
if
I'm
having
an
issue
and
I
can't
figure
out
I'm
trying
to
get
my
dog
to
do
this
and
I've
tried
everything.
That's
in
my
arsenal,
I
can
always
go
to
another
trainer
and
they
might
have
a
better
idea
or
a
simpler
idea
that
can
help
me
transform
it
into
my
dog
and
getting
do
what
he
needs
to
be
done.
We
always
like
to
help
each
other
out.
F
E
Like
that,
the
group
of
women
is
special,
but
not
special,
meaning.
It
does
take
a
lot
of
patience
to
train
a
dog,
a
lot
of
patience,
so
the
women
that
work
with
the
dogs
I
feel
as
though
we
are
special
in
that
we
have
the
patience,
the
tolerance
level.
You
know
the
temperament
level
and
different
things
like
that
to
work
with
the
dogs,
but
not
special
in
that
we're
just
regular
people.
E
You
know
we're
looking
for
you
know,
skills
to
do
when
we
get
out
of
here
we're
looking
for
positive
things
to
do
while
we're
in
here
you
know,
ways
to
give
back
to
the
community
and
stop
focusing
on
being
so
selfish,
which
is
normally
what
leads
us
to
prison
in
the
first
place.
I
hope
that
any
dog
that
I
train
does
exactly
what
it's
supposed
to
do.
E
Him
was
probably
the
most
fulfilling
thing
that
I
had
done
and
I've
been
locked
up,
16
years
hands
down
the
most
feeling
thing
ever.
I
love
the
dogs
because
they
don't
care
if
I'm
black,
if
I'm
wide,
if
I'm
fat,
skinny
taller
short,
you
know
they
don't
care
as
long
as
we
show
them,
love
they'll
give
it
right
back.
I've.
G
Whenever
I
got
arrested
in
the
whole
situation,
happened,
you
go
from
being
a
pillar
of
the
community
or
not
really
a
pillar,
but
you
know
in
the
community
to
being
kicked
out
of
the
community
and
there's
no
happy
medium,
and
so
your
substantive
just
plummets,
and
you
have
to
find
yourself
and
they
make
you
feel
worthy
again.
They
make
you
feel
like
you're
doing
something
good
again,
like
you're.
G
Just
builds
yourself
stains,
and
it
has
done
that
for
me,
and
it's
also
give
me
better
skills
at
leadership
skills,
because
you
have
to
learn
to
take
charge
and
be
the
Alpha
and
I
developed
those
in
the
situation,
because
I
was
a
softie
I.
Just
love,
love,
love,
love,
love
them,
but
I
had
to
learn
that
that
was
her
for
me
than
it
is
some
people
who
are
just
automatically
outspoken
and
all
that,
and
it's
helped
with
that
too,
and
you
know
this
is
something
that
you
can
use.
G
G
It's
how
you
approach,
people
watch
their
body,
language.
You
can
look
into
your
dog's
eyes
and
it's
like
I
know
what
you're
thinking
it's
like.
They
have
a
deeper
so
than
we
do
and
they're
so
loyal.
They
don't
care,
they
love
you.
They
don't
care
what
you've
done.
They
don't
care
what
you've
been
through.
They
love
you
and
they're.
Just
compassionate
thank.
A
You
so
much
to
the
inmates
out
of
the
vandalia
prison
for
all
the
work
they
are
doing
with
the
champ
assistance
dog
program.
Well,
folks
focus
is
going
to
take
a
quick
little
break
when
we
come
back
we're
going
to
visit
a
Child,
Advocacy
Center
out
in
wentzville,
and
we're
going
to
hear
about
a
new
law
in
the
state
of
Missouri
regarding
reporting
child
abuse.
When.
H
A
Back
to
focus
I'm
Scott
Rock
neck.
Today
we
are
continuing
to
talk
about
the
justice
system
in
st.
Charles,
County
and
specialized
services
and
care
that
are
provided
to
children,
who
have
unfortunately
been
victims
of
sexual
and
physical
abuse.
Next
up
we're
heading
out
to
wentzville
to
the
child
center,
it's
a
child
advocacy
center
that
provides
a
friendly
environment
for
children
who
have
actually
reported
abuse
and
we're
going
to
be
speaking
with
elfin
e
swift,
the
executive
director
about
their
programs
and
ways
that
you
can
help
and
support
the.
D
D
Statistics
show
that
one
in
four
girls
and
one
in
six
boys
will
be
sexually
or
physically
abused
by
the
age
of
18
Child
Advocacy
centers
work
as
part
of
a
multidisciplinary
team.
The
team
consists
of
the
prosecuting
attorney
law
enforcement,
children's
division
and
juvenile.
If
it's
a
juvenile
on
juvenile
offense.
Our
role
in
that
team
is
21,
bring
the
team
together
and
two
to
conduct
the
interview.
Child
Advocacy
centers
also
work
to
prevent
child
abuse.
In
2013
we
reached
over
20,000
individuals,
adults
and
children
through
funding
received
from
the
st.
Charles
community
resource
board.
D
We
have
prevention
specialists
in
every
school
district
in
st.
Charles
County.
We
take
our
referrals
directly
from
our
team
members.
When
a
person
suspects
abuse,
they
would
call
the
hotline.
The
hotline,
which
is
located
in
Jefferson
City,
will
contact
the
local
children's
division.
Who
will
go
out
and
do
a
cursory
interview
if
they
feel
that
child
needs
a
full
forensic
interview,
then
they
will
contact
us.
We
have
really
two
main
programs.
D
Our
first
one
would
be
what
we
call
services,
and
that
is
the
forensic
piece
that
is
where
we
have
specially
trained
interviewers
who
actually
interview
the
children.
If
any
child
is
interviewed
here,
there
are
some
special
services
that
we
also
recommend
that
they
receive
one
would
be
a
professional
forensic
medical
exam.
We
work
with
Carlo
Glenn
and
to
do
that,
we
right
now
send
our
children
down
to
cardinal
glennon
and
we
are
in
the
process
of
having
conversations
with
Cardinal
Glennon
to
get
those
services
provided
here
on
site.
D
In
addition
to
the
medical
exam,
every
child
is
also
referred
for:
mental
health
services.
We
have
a
mental
health
specialist
here
on
site
and
we
also
refer
out
to
other
mental
health
professionals
in
the
community.
Every
child
will
also
get
a
who
will
work
closely
with
them
in
their
faith,
only
throughout
the
entire
legal
process,
giving
them
referrals
for
different
social
services
or
whatever
else
that
they
may
need
to
help
them
through
that
period.
Our
second
program
is
prevention
and
in
our
prevention
program
we
work
directly
in
the
schools.
D
We
have
prevention
specialists
who
go
out
into
the
schools,
and
we
teach
the
kids
that
their
body
is
their
body
and
that
no
one
has
the
right
to
touch
or
look
at
their
private
body
parts.
We
go
over
what
we
call
the
body
safety
steps
and
those
steps
are
one
say
no
to
get
away
and
three
tella
grown
up.
The
other
thing
that
we
teach
them
is
to
continue
to
tell
because
oftentimes
they
may
tell
in
a
way
that
adult
does
not
understand.
D
So
we
teach
them
to
not
only
tell
but
to
keep
telling
until
someone
actually
hears
them
or
does
something
about
it.
We
also
teach
them
the
three
L's,
and
that
is
that
the
perpetrator
may
not
be
a
stranger
than
it
is
usually
someone
that
they
love
like
or
live
with.
We
have
lots
of
ways
that
individuals
can
give
to
the
child
center.
We
have
events
throughout
the
year.
If
individuals
would
like
more
information,
they
can
go
to
our
website
at
wwlp.com.
D
For
the
general
public
is
open
for
individuals
who
want
to
be
on
our
board
individuals
in
the
community
different
social
service
agencies
that
we
work
with.
Anyone
who
wants
to
learn
more
about
the
child
center
can
come
to
that
breakfast
or
we
have
a
little
breakfast,
a
brief
presentation,
one
hour
and
you're
in
and
out.
If
anyone
is
interested
in
attending
the
breakfast
or
they
just
need
to
contact
us
at
6-3,
6-3
320
899,
just
because
you
may
never
see
it
just
because
you
don't
talk
about
it.
D
A
You
alphanian,
we
appreciate
the
work
that
you're,
providing
through
the
child
center
out
in
wentzville.
Well,
we've
heard
about
how
to
help
children
after
they've,
unfortunately
been
victimized,
but
there's
also
been
a
lot
of
changes
when
it
comes
to
reporting
child
abuse
in
the
state
of
Missouri,
especially
in
the
last
few
years
here.
To
tell
us
about
the
state
laws
and
the
changes
that
have
happened
is
Tim
Lamar,
the
st.
Charles
County
Prosecuting
Attorney,
the.
I
Missouri,
child
abuse
hotline
is
operated
24
hours
a
day
7
days
a
week.
365
days
a
year,
it's
run
by
well-trained
children's
division.
Workers
will
be
able
to
appropriately
assess
your
concerns.
The
identity
of
those
call
the
hotline
to
report
suspicions
of
abuse
from
the
galactus
confidential
and
anonymous
reports
are
accepted
in
response
to
the
Jerry
Sandusky
crimes
at
Penn,
State
University,
the
law
in
Missouri
changed
in
2013.
It
was
no
longer
sufficient
to
report
suspicions
of
abuse
to
a
supervisor
or
administrator.
I
Instead,
the
duty
to
report
suspected
child
abuse
is
a
direct
individual
duty
by
law.
Mandated
reporters
must
report
to
the
hotline
when
they
have
any
reasonable
cause
to
even
suspect
that
a
child
is
has
been
in
the
past
or
maybe
in
the
future
abused
or
neglected
mandated.
Reporters
must
also
report
to
the
hotline
when
they
observe
a
child
in
conditions
or
circumstances
that
would
reasonably
result
in
abuse
or
neglect
under
the
law.
Anyone
who's
responsible
for
the
care
of
children
is
a
mandated
reporter.
I
This
includes,
but
is
not
limited
to
all
medical
providers,
mental
health
care
professionals,
social
workers,
daycare
staff,
school
personnel
ministers
and
all
law
enforcement.
However,
anyone
can
and
should
use
the
child
abuse
hotline
if
they
have
concerns
whether
they
are
mandated
reporter
or
not.
It
would
be
natural
for
someone
who
has
suspicions
to
hesitate
and
want
to
know
more
before
they
take
the
step
of
calling
the
hotline,
but
we
caution
against
further
investigation.
I
There
are
lots
of
detailed
protocols
to
properly
investigating
suspected
child
abuse,
and,
if
you
don't
know
what
you're
doing,
you
may
actually
damage
authorities
ability
to
thoroughly
and
properly
investigate.
If
you
call
the
hotline-
and
you
continue
to
have
suspicions
of
abuse,
please
call
again
if
a
child
discloses
abuse
to
you.
Do
not
question
the
child
in
great
detail.
Do
not
offer
the
child
any
benefit
for
telling.
Instead
thank
the
child
for
telling
you
tell
the
child
how
brave
they
are
and
then
call
the
hotline.
I
Please
keep
in
mind
that
crimes
against
children
can
occur
over
the
Internet
as
well.
Should
you
have
any
concern
about
internet-based
child
abuse?
Please
also
call
the
Missouri
child
abuse
hotline,
while
considering
one's
duty
to
report
suspected
child
abuse
or
neglect
it's
very
important
to
know
that
in
2012,
the
law
defining
criminal
child
abuse
in
Missouri
changed
dramatically
previously.
Child
abuse
was
limited
to
egregious
and
excessive
acts
of
punishment.
The
law
has
been
completely
overhauled.
Criminal.
Child
abuse
now
encompasses
any
inflection
of
physical
injury
to
a
child.
That
is
not
accidental
and
it's
not
reasonable.
I
I
Criminal
charges
can
also
be
brought
against
someone
who
takes
unreasonable
risk
with
a
child
by
placing
that
child
in
a
situation
in
which
they're
likely
to
suffer
physical
or
mental
injury
from
abuse
countywide,
we
take
our
commitments
to
protecting
children
and
st.
Charles
County
very
seriously.
We
have
a
committed
team
of
government
and
non-government
professionals
ready
and
prepared
to
investigate
properly
and
thoroughly,
but
any
solution
to
the
difficult
problem
of
child
abuse
and
neglect
must
include
the
commitment
of
communities,
neighbors
relatives
and
each
and
every
person
with
whom
are
children
come
into
contact.
I
A
few
reports
to
the
child
abuse
hotline
end
up
leading
to
criminal
prosecutions.
In
many
more
instances,
Social
Services
is
allowed
to
engage
with
families
in
a
manner
that
creates
change
in
individual
and
families
that
strengthens
relationships,
promotes
healing
and
builds
a
family
environment,
secure
against
abuse
and
neglect.
Tim.
A
Thank
you
so
much
for
that
legal
overview
about
the
changes
in
Missouri
law
when
it
comes
to
reporting
child
abuse.
Well,
folks,
that's
all
the
time
we
have
for
this
very
important
issue.
Hopefully,
you've
learned
a
lot.
I
know
that
we
have
and
we
look
forward
to
seeing
you
again
as
we
continue
our
focus
on
st.
Charles,
County
I'm,
Scott,
Rock
Nick
see
you
soon.