Child Protection

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Child Protection Unit, established in 1987, consists of assistant district attorneys, family service advocates, and child interview specialists who work closely with law enforcement and child protective services workers to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to child abuse.

The Child Protection Unit's mission is to stop child abuse and child abusers, to protect children, and to keep children and families safe, healthy, and strong.  The Unit specializes in investigating and prosecuting cases involving the abuse of children and uses a child-friendly setting, the Children's Advocacy Center to help children feel comfortable and safe.  Child Protection staff partner with local and national experts to seek just outcomes and to provide support, medical care, and mental health services to victims and their families.

Prosecution of child abuse presents special challenges. Typically, the key witness is the child victim themselves.  Often times, the offender is someone the child knows and trusted: a father or mother, a sibling, relative, neighbor or other respected adult or adolescent. Child victims are sometimes ambivalent or even opposed to prosecuting their abuse, because of the difficulties involved, their relationship with the perpetrators, or both.  The Unit will work closely with the victim and the victim’s family to minimize the stress of the criminal process, to coordinate with agencies who can provide necessary services and to prepare them for trial.

Child Protection has four full-time Assistant District Attorneys who are responsible for the investigation and prosecution of child sexual and physical abuse, child pornography, and child neglect/endangerment cases: Chief Lori Odierna, Deputy Chief  Anne Yereniuk, and ADAs Stephanie Jimenez and Andrew Covington.  Additionally, under the supervision of Unit Coordinator Kellie Beaulieu, four full-time Family Service Advocates work exclusively on child abuse cases, assisting the child victim and non-offending family members throughout the entire legal process including investigation and all court proceedings.  These Family Service Advocates are specially-trained Victim Witness Advocates, who keep families informed throughout the process and ensure their voice in heard in accordance with the Victim Bill of Rights.  Advocates also supply information about available resources, and make appropriate referrals in order to aid in a victim’s healing process.