(325 ILCS 15/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 2084)

Sec. 4. The Department of Children and Family Services shall support through a grant program a child sexual abuse crisis intervention demonstration center in Cook County and in other parts of the State as funding permits. The functions and goals of such crisis intervention centers shall be:

(a) To respond within 24 hours or as soon thereafter as possible to a report of child sexual abuse or exploitation by professional contact with the child and the child's family, and with those persons in the courts and police department involved in the case.

(b) The agents of such crisis intervention centers shall:

(1) refer the child, and the child's family if appropriate, to counseling services, including those provided by the treatment centers;

(2) accompany the victim through all stages of police investigation, case development and trial where necessary;

(3) provide advice to involved police, assistant district attorneys, and judges in the proper handling of a child subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation whenever possible. This advice will be made with consideration to the following priorities:

(i) the welfare of the child; and

(ii) improved chances for a successful prosecution;

(4) make every effort to develop an approach which meets the needs of developing a sound case by assisting the child to understand and cope with the child's role in the prosecution process.

(c) The crisis intervention demonstration centers shall develop and implement written procedures for case planning and case monitoring in relation to the processes of treatment and of investigation and prosecution.

(d) Crisis intervention agents should demonstrate evidence of professional knowledge of child development and a record of positive interaction with the police and courts.

(e) The centers shall develop training materials for city and county and State personnel through the State to enable emulation and adaptation of the program by other communities and to develop awareness of the problems faced by a child sexual abuse victim as the victim confronts the criminal justice system.

(f) The centers shall report to the director improvements in the criminal justice system and the interrelation of the criminal justice system and child support systems that would serve to meet the goals of this Act.

(g) Reports of child sexual abuse referred for investigation to a local law enforcement agency in Cook County by the State Central Registry of the Department of Children and Family Services must also be referred to the crisis intervention center. Reports of child sexual abuse made directly to a local law enforcement agency in Cook County may be referred by that agency to the crisis intervention center. All centers shall make local law enforcement agencies aware of their purposes and encourage their utilization.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)