A special team in Leflore County is ensuring that child-abuse cases are noticed.
"Our job is to make sure that children's cases don't fall through the cracks," said Brad McCullouch, assistant district attorney.
Leflore County's Multidisciplinary Team is one of a network across northern Mississippi created by Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi.
The nonprofit organization based in Oxford provides counseling and legal advocacy for victims of abuse, said Carla Randle, coordinator of the teams.
Funds for the teams are provided through the Mississippi departments of Human Services, Health and Public Safety. The United Way of Lafayette County also contributes.
In Leflore County, the team is composed of the police departments of Itta Bena and Greenwood; the Leflore County Sheriff's Department; the Department of Human Services; the district attorney's office and Life Help Mental Health Center.
Since 2002, the group has focused its efforts on specific child-abuse cases and jointly prepared protocol for responding to a case.
Last year, a court order was signed in Leflore County Youth Court legally recognizing the team.
The court order gives the team legal backing, in addition to ensuring confidentiality, said Randle.
Currently, the team is assisting eight cases and one closed case. Of the active cases, four are awaiting trial.
Theo White, an investigator with the Sheriff's Department, said the team is designed to ensure swift prosecution but its priority is the children.
"We have to remember who the victim is," White said.
A mission statement adopted Wednesday states the team will "strive to improve the investigation, intervention, prosecution and treatment of all cases presented."
