From Chelsea Phua
Placer County's Multidisciplinary Interview Center, where child victims of abuse are interviewed by professionals, has been moved to a new building at the Bill Santucci Justice Center in Roseville.
Previously housed in a small caretaker's house at the DeWitt Center in Auburn, the Interview Center now shares the second floor with the District Attorney's office.
"Our offices at the Santucci Center are much roomier and are connected with the DA's office," said Fiona Tuttle, the Interview Center's coordinator. "This is a much more professional feel."
Officials said the new Interview Center will enhance their ability to serve the children of Placer County and to accommodate the growing population and the increase in reports of child abuse.
In the past three years, the Interview Center has interviewed 430 children, including a record number of 160 in 2008. That number was 94 in 2000, authorities said.
The Interview Center was created in 1992 and its staff works with the District Attorney's office, law enforcement agencies, KidsFirst, Child Protective Services and other related agencies to investigate cases in which sexual abuse against children were alleged. Victims have ranged from 2 to 18 years old.
The new office of the center features a family waiting area, a victim's service area, two interview rooms and two conference rooms. Dolls, toys and coloring books are available for the children to make them feel comfortable.
"We try to put the children at ease because kids don't really like talking about abuse," Tuttle said. "There are some very private and horrible things that they have to verbalize."
In some cases, children choose to articulate the abuse they've suffered by using dolls or drawing pictures. Evidence from these interviews has helped prosecutors to proceed with many cases of abuse.
Suzanne Gazzaniga, senior deputy district attorney, said the partnership with the Interview Center is "a critical step in providing the best possible investigations and prosecutions of the most horrific crimes committed against children."
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