NCJ Number
104976
Date Published
1986
Length
122 pages
Annotation
This status report on the implementation of the recommendations of California's Commission on the Enforcement of Child Abuse Laws focuses on reporting, investigation, prosecution, day care licensing, prevention, data collection, and research.
Abstract
The implementation activities reported have occurred within 1 year of the commission's recommendations, which were presented in April 1985. One implementation initiative is proposed legislation (the Child Victim Witness Protection Act) that will establish a Child Victim Witness Judicial Advisory COmmittee, which will study and recommend legal and judicial practices and procedures pertaining to child victims and witnesses, with particular attention to incest cases. Action at the Federal level includes California Senator Alan Cranston's introduction of S. 1320, which addresses 14 commission recommendations. At the State level, the 1985 legislative session included the enactment of four bills incorporating eight of the commission's recommendations in the areas of prosecution, investigation, prevention, day care licensing, and reporting. A review of the nonlegislative implementation activities describes responses to the letters sent by the attorney general to some 540 State and county officials and agencies as well as professional organizations, encouraging them to take appropriate action in implementing commission recommendations relevant to them. The appendixes contain relevant Federal and State legislation.