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Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) & Recording Technology For Use in Child Abuse Cases

CCTV and Recording Technology Grant Program

About the Program

The Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) and Recording Technology Grant Program funds the purchase of equipment to record and transmit forensic interviews and court testimony in child abuse cases, and supports training on related legal and technological topics.

The express purpose of this program is to reduce trauma to child abuse victims who testify about their abuse, in forensic interviews and through the criminal justice process.

The American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law (ABA) acts as the Grant Administrator for The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), by distributing funds to jurisdictions, monitoring the program, and providing technical assistance to grantees.

This Program is supported through Grant numbers 2006-TT-BX-K001, 2006-TT-BX-K002, and 2007-TT-BX-K001, as administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

If you would like more information, please contact cctv@staff.abanet.org.

Learn more about the CCTV and Recording Technology Grant Program | Contact the Program

Applications

Until further notice the ABA Center on Children and the Law will not be accepting new applications for the CCTV and Recording Technology Grant Program. The project depends on funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which is currently not providing funding.

This does not affect current grantees; their contracts are valid and will be honored.

Regional Training Materials

In 2009, the CCTV and Recording Technology Grant Program, conducted two on-day trainings. The trainings focused on topics related to the legal and technological aspects of a CCTV/recording technology program. Please click here to review the materials presented at the two trainings.

CCTV and Recording Technology Resource Map

Click here to explore the CCTV and Recording Technology Resource Map. This database is a compilation of the most current state statutes and case law addressing the use of CCTV and recording technology in child abuse cases. You will also find contact information for ABA grantees as well as information on local vendors.

Technology Assistance Tips

To view our step-by-step How-to Manual on planning and implementing a closed-circuit television or recording program click here.
Learn more about conducting needs assessments and evaluating your program, by viewing this slide show.
To view the results of the first national assessment of programs designed to record or transmit forensic interviews and testimony of child victims of sexual and physical abuse click here.

Links to Other Child Advocacy Groups

To learn more about other child advocacy groups click here.

Announcement

We are proud to announce the following 6 new grantees with awards totaling $178,751.70:

Rockland County in New City, New York
Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center in Madison, Wisconsin
Manatee Children’s Services in Bradenton, Florida
Children’s Advocacy Center for North and Northwest Cook County in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center in Dallas, Texas
Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in Montgomery, Alabama

Giving Abused Children a Voice

"We are thrilled to report that the prosecution rate has tripled since we have moved to our new facility and installed the CCTV equipment." - Tampa, FL

“Through the use of the Recording Technology we were able to record the interview of a 3 year old who was severely physically abused and document not only her account of the abuse but the battered demeanor that she displayed while telling her story. With this the suspect and his attorney saw the video and took a lengthy plea." - Kaufman, TX

"We recently performed forensic interviews on two sibling...who had witnessed the brutal murder of a playmate. Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation. Because of this program [and] the CCTV equipment, these children did not need to be interviewed multiple times by multiple investigators [and] agencies: minimizing the re-traumatization of recounting the incident." - Spartanburg, TX

Grantee Corner

Site Visit Reports

Please contact cctv@staff.abanet.org with any questions.

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