CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Experts from across the state are in Charleston this week for a two-day conference focusing on crimes against children.
West Virginia State Police Sgt. Adam Scott is one of several instructors. He is teaching police officers on how they should respond to a child abuse or neglect call.
“We are trying to make the officers more aware of how to approach the scene of a child abuse and neglect investigations and calls as well as what their responsibilities are based on legislative findings and new rules on how to handle these children,” Sgt. Scott said.
The conference put on by the Children’s Justice Task Force includes police officers, prosecutors, caseworkers and other personnel that work with crime victims.
Sgt. Scott, who is an original member of the State Police’s Crimes Against Children Unit, said these types of crimes have been around forever but the difference is more people are coming forward to report them.
“I challenge people these days to turn on the news at night and not see someone talking about an arrest made in this type of area. Now people know and they see it more readily everyday there’s someplace to go, someplace to turn to,” the trooper said.
The conference is about improving the response to abuse and neglect crimes. Sgt. Scott said troopers often have to work with caseworkers from Child Protective Services on individual cases. He said Wednesday that relationship has room for improvement.
“To be honest with you it’s been strained a little bit because we both have jobs to do. They are similar but there also circumstances where they need something different than we need. So we need to learn how to work together. That’s another reason we get together once a year at these conferences,” Sgt. Scott said.
Investigating crimes against children can also take a toll on the investigating trooper especially if he or she has children of their own according to Scott.
“When you talk about dealing with a child who has been sexually abused, physically abused, neglected—it’s very hard on police officers who have kids of their own. It’s hard to separate your personal feelings,” Scott said.
The conference continues Thursday at the Charleston Civic Center.