Forensic Interview: A specially trained child interview specialist conducts a neutral, fact-finding interview of the child about the abuse to limit the number of times a child is interviewed. The MCAC has three child-friendly interview sites located in Woburn, Framingham and Lowell. For families who are unable to travel to one of our permanent sites, the team will use other interviewing sites located in police stations, DCF Area Offices, and other CACs. Each of these locations has an interview room with a one-way mirror and attached observation room from which other team members can view and record the interview. Only team members are allowed to observe the interview from the observation room. If criminal charges are brought, a copy of the recorded interview will be provided to the defense attorney of record conditioned upon a court order restricting disclosure.
Referrals for Mental Health Services: Mental health services address the immediate and long-term effects of child abuse-related trauma to the child as well as the stress a family may experience in many areas of their life following a child’s disclosure of abuse. The victim witness advocate assigned to the case will provide the child and non-offending family members with referrals for mental health services in their community customized to meet the each family’s cultural needs.
Click here for a list of referrals for mental health services in your community.
Referrals for Medical Evaluation: When there is a concern or report of abuse, children deserve a medical evaluation performed by a doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse with experience in this area.
The purpose of the medical exam is to:
- Ensure the health and well-being of the child
- Diagnose and treat medical conditions related to the abuse
- Reassure the child that everything is OK with their body
- Document any significant physical and forensic findings
- In the case of sexual abuse, allow for the collection of evidence that may be present on the child’s body or clothing
Many hospitals in located in and around Middlesex County offer the services of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). SANEs are specially trained and certified professionals skilled in performing quality forensic, medical-legal exams. SANEs are available by beeper and respond within 40-60 minutes to the designated SANE site. They will document the disclosure, perform necessary medical exams, testing and treatment, then collect crucial, time-sensitive evidence using the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit distributed by the Executive Office of Public Safety. The exam can take up to 4 hours.
Several sites and one hospital emergency room offer the services of a Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Pedi-SANE). The Pedi-SANE Program provides compassionate, coordinated, comprehensive and child-centered medical care when a child under the age of twelve (12) presents with a concern of sexual abuse or assault. Pedi-SANEs conduct physical examinations and time sensitive forensic evidence collection in a way that is responsive to the child’s developmental, physical, emotional and cultural needs.
Both SANEs and Pedi-SANEs are trained, certified and credentialed through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Click here for a list of sites with SANE and Pedi-SANE services.
Training and Outreach: MCAC’s training program provides education and training about child abuse and the benefits of a multi-disciplinary team approach to child abuse investigations to various partner agencies and organizations who have direct contact with children. Working in conjunction with Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, staff members also provide training regarding mandated reporting to school departments who are members of Middlesex Partnerships for Youth.
Cyber Protection Program: In 2007, District Attorney Leone created the office’s first-ever Cyber Protection Program along with a Cyber Enforcement Unit. The Unit consists of designated assistant district attorneys, State Police troopers, and civilian forensic specialists. Their mission is to investigate and prosecute cases involving the use of computers to commit crimes, including those who target children. In addition to its prosecutorial components, the Program involves the Unit’s members engaging in county-wide trainings for local police as well as education programs for parents and teachers to help better protect children from the predatory dangers of the Internet.
