Submitted by Barbara Romo, 13th Judicial District Attorney
Oct. 15-17 my office will be hosting the 2nd Annual Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference at the Santa Ana Star and Hotel in Bernalillo. This free statewide conference brings together representatives from law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, child and victim advocates. Social workers and members of the court in a collaborative conference setting to share best practices, knowledge and receive training in new aspects of the law, investigative techniques, protocols, and prosecutorial approaches to improve the prosecution and judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect in New Mexico.
The underlying belief of the conference is that a collaborative approach to cases from investigation to prosecution including practical and interactive instruction can only result in better outcomes for the victims.
In my almost 30 years of specializing in the prosecution of crimes against children, I have acquired an in-depth knowledge about the unique skills and extraordinary commitment required from each of those who deal with these cases. Additionally, the value of a Multidisciplinary Team approach to investigate, prosecute and assist a child and their family in the aftermath of abuse and while navigating the judicial system, I believe, is paramount to pursuing justice and minimizing added trauma.
It takes special and unique individuals to show up and give their all to these cases. It takes people with a particular set of skills, devotion, and heart to help bring justice to children who have been victims of crime. We all have the same goal, and that is for better outcomes for the children.
When my office takes on these difficult cases, we do it with every intention of serving justice with accountability for the perpetrator and an outcome which serves the child and his/her family. When a case does not go our way for any number of reasons, including but not limited to lack of physical evidence, unavailable or uncooperative witnesses, a child’s fear, and intimidation from non-offending family members, it is heartbreaking for all. Attorneys, investigators, victim advocates and support staff who work on these difficult cases take these losses personally and to heart. We understand the frustration and anger that is sometimes directed at us from the family of victims and sometimes the public. That does not make it any easier, but we understand the source of it. When we do have the outcome, we set out for on a case, it has still been difficult, but it is also rewarding.
With every intention of creating the possibility for the best possible outcomes we are bringing together professionals in the field whose work we respect and who we believe will bring important and distinct perspectives to the discussion and to the work surrounding crimes against children. To that end, our keynote speaker Eliza Sultan the author of Children on the Frontlines of Justice: Report Sexual Abuse and Survive the Criminal Trial, will tell the story of the case in which her two young children had to testify against their father at age four and seven for the crimes he committed against them.
From the legal end of things there will be sessions with legal updates focusing on crimes against children, the Corroboration of Evidence, A Case Study: Baby Boy, a case where a baby boy was found in a trash bag in a dumpster, reviewing the charging decision, the retention of experts and the jury instructions, all while the case was livestreamed worldwide. We have two experts who will offer sessions on various aspects of trauma and secondary trauma, the consequences of exposure to trauma and strategies for mitigating it when possible. There will be sessions on working with especially vulnerable victim populations and sessions on understanding and respecting cultural differences when working with Native children and their families lead by two people from the Office of Tribal Affairs.
On the last day of the conference we will have a special panel discussion with three Native women judges, Chief Yurok Judge Abby Abinanti, Judge Catherine Begaye, a member of the Navajo Nation and the presiding judge of the Children’s Court Division VIII — the only Native American District Court Judge in New Mexico and Magistrate Judge Jannette Mondragon (Chickasaw) recently appointed to the bench by Go. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the only Native American judge in Dona Ana County. These women will bring their unique perspectives as members of the judiciary and as Native women to the work of crimes against children.
The very last session of the conference will be the Multi-Disciplinary Team Panel consisting of prosecutors, CYFD, an investigator, a judge and someone specializing in forensic services and investigations.
My hope is that this two-and-a-half day conference will contribute to increased wisdom and knowledge leading to reduction of the trauma of the judicial system for already traumatized children and fulfilling the goal of better outcomes for the children while also seeking accountability for the offenders.