Posted 9:24 pm Sunday, June 10, 2012
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Kids In Court Funds To Aid Education
Children who have been victimized by abuse and sexual exploitation are often traumatized by the thought of having to testify in a courtroom.
Yet they must tell a jury in as specific terms as possible about something they wished had never happened. Sometimes their abuser is only yards away.
It is a lot to ask of a child.
That's why the Children's Advocacy Center of Tyler created the Kids in Court program.
The idea is to let the children and their families know that someone is going to be with them every step of the way as they prepare to enter the often intimidating judicial system.
In a news release announcing that Kids In Court had received $15,000 from the Texas Bar Foundation, program coordinator Jennifer Tinnen noted that its goal is "educating children on the judicial system in hopes of minimizing their levels of trauma, anxiety and revictimization."
"These funds will help achieve this goal," she continued.
As coordinator Tinned serves as a liaison between child victims and their caregivers and the Smith County Criminal District Attorney's office prosecutors which often need to victims to testify in order to put the abuser behind bars.
The announcement said that Kids in Court teaches the children and their families about what will happen in the courtroom and what to expect when the children are put in the witness stand.
Knowledge helps ease fears.
Those interested in more information about the Kids in Court can contact The Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County at 903-533-1880.
