Updated and improved "Child Victim-Witness Protocol" released

SAN DIEGO - An updated and improved version of the San Diego County ''Child Victim-Witness Protocol'' will better protect children who have been the victim of a crime or witnesses who may have been exposed to child abuse, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said today.

The ''Child Victim-Witness Protocol'' in San Diego was one of only three in the United States when it was introduced in 1976. It was formalized in 1990 and updated in 2000 and 2006.

''Our goal is to get to the truth in child abuse cases and hold the abusers accountable,'' Dumanis said. ''This protocol makes sure we're all on the same page in law enforcement and the professionals in the community dealing with these issues.''

The ''Child Victim-Witness Protocol'' is a collaborative effort by the District Attorney's Office, Children's Hospital of San Diego and many other agencies throughout the county.

''No single agency or discipline can effectively address child abuse alone,'' said Charles Wilson, head of the Chadwick Center for Children & Families at Children's Hospital. ''It is only through a coordinated effort, such as that envisioned in this protocol, that we can expect to both gain accurate facts and avoid unnecessary trauma for the children involved.''