Prosecutors Work to Protect Child Victims During Judicial Process
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: July 18, 2012
"It helps them to know they're not alone," she said standing in a room lit in soft light and purple hues.
Prosecutor Emily Abbott pointed to pictures posted on a cork board in the "Kid's Room" at the Pulaski County Prosecutor's Office.
"They'll see there are other kids who have drawn pictures," she said.
It's a sign that the children Abbott's been meeting here the past six weeks have left their mark behind these closed doors. And if walls could talk, they would weep.
"It's really sad to hear it happen, to hear them have to explain something that is embarrassing is often very shameful," she said. "Typically, they've experienced something incredibly traumatic. Either they witnessed something terrible or were a victim themselves."
The room is stocked with stuffed toys and games, to help settle kids' nerves as they tell their sad stories.
"A lot of the time they're coming from pretty horrific events that have led up to them coming here," Abbott said. "It's heartbreaking, but it's necessary. We're just glad we have this place where they can feel safe. They walk in here, then they see things that maybe remind them of their bedroom or school."
"Anytime there's a child in this office we always think about what if it were my baby," said designer Mara Malcolm.
Malcolm is the Prosecutor Office administrator. Each day she walks by quotes on the walls speaking of justice. That's exactly what she kept in mind as she selected everything from the color of the paint to the carpet on the walls, keeping kids in mind and proving the word isn't just writing on the office wall.
"Sometimes that [justice] does involve incarceration and punishment, but it also means taking care of our victims and making them our priority," she said.
The room, in operation now for just over a month, is completely geared toward kids. But in the past, a conference room is what children saw when they walked through the prosecutor's doors.
"It's kind of like going to the doctor -- they're scared to be there. It's just a table with plain walls.," Abbott said. "It would take a lot longer to be able to interview them. They were uncomfortable."
But the new room puts the kids at ease, helping prosecutors get information during interviews to put away offenders.
"Juries are hard to convince on children's testimony. It's hard for them to talk about what they've witnessed or experienced. But in this room, we've seen kids come in and smile and be instantly more relaxed." Abbott said. "That helps them tell their story, and that's the most important thing. That's how we get the information to put these people who harm children where they should be, and that's away from children."
"It's part of the process for them to come here and we're thankful they have a place where the kids feel safe," she added.
While it may seem like just four walls, for the children who come here, it's a place to start putting the past behind them. And Abbott hopes it gives them back a piece of what they've lost.
"They may have to talk about horrific things when they come here, but ultimately they're moving away from the that," Abbott said. "And we hope that they'll one day get to the point where they can just be kids again."
Prosecutor Emily Abbott pointed to pictures posted on a cork board in the "Kid's Room" at the Pulaski County Prosecutor's Office.
"They'll see there are other kids who have drawn pictures," she said.
It's a sign that the children Abbott's been meeting here the past six weeks have left their mark behind these closed doors. And if walls could talk, they would weep.
"It's really sad to hear it happen, to hear them have to explain something that is embarrassing is often very shameful," she said. "Typically, they've experienced something incredibly traumatic. Either they witnessed something terrible or were a victim themselves."
The room is stocked with stuffed toys and games, to help settle kids' nerves as they tell their sad stories.
"A lot of the time they're coming from pretty horrific events that have led up to them coming here," Abbott said. "It's heartbreaking, but it's necessary. We're just glad we have this place where they can feel safe. They walk in here, then they see things that maybe remind them of their bedroom or school."
"Anytime there's a child in this office we always think about what if it were my baby," said designer Mara Malcolm.
Malcolm is the Prosecutor Office administrator. Each day she walks by quotes on the walls speaking of justice. That's exactly what she kept in mind as she selected everything from the color of the paint to the carpet on the walls, keeping kids in mind and proving the word isn't just writing on the office wall.
"Sometimes that [justice] does involve incarceration and punishment, but it also means taking care of our victims and making them our priority," she said.
The room, in operation now for just over a month, is completely geared toward kids. But in the past, a conference room is what children saw when they walked through the prosecutor's doors.
"It's kind of like going to the doctor -- they're scared to be there. It's just a table with plain walls.," Abbott said. "It would take a lot longer to be able to interview them. They were uncomfortable."
But the new room puts the kids at ease, helping prosecutors get information during interviews to put away offenders.
"Juries are hard to convince on children's testimony. It's hard for them to talk about what they've witnessed or experienced. But in this room, we've seen kids come in and smile and be instantly more relaxed." Abbott said. "That helps them tell their story, and that's the most important thing. That's how we get the information to put these people who harm children where they should be, and that's away from children."
"It's part of the process for them to come here and we're thankful they have a place where the kids feel safe," she added.
While it may seem like just four walls, for the children who come here, it's a place to start putting the past behind them. And Abbott hopes it gives them back a piece of what they've lost.
"They may have to talk about horrific things when they come here, but ultimately they're moving away from the that," Abbott said. "And we hope that they'll one day get to the point where they can just be kids again."
