MONTGOMERY— A Huntsville-based nonprofit organization will enhance its ability to assist child abuse investigations in Madison County with the help of an economic stimulus grant from Gov. Bob Riley. 

The $29,413 grant will enable the National Children’s Advocacy Center to purchase and install new recording systems in two interview rooms at the group’s facility. The center also will replace out-of-date computers used by staff members.

“Child abuse victims deserve compassionate care and vigorous representation,” Riley said. “I am pleased to assist the Child Advocacy Center to upgrade the equipment that officers and prosecutors use to secure justice on behalf of young, innocent victims.”

Center specialists conduct recorded interviews of victims to obtain detailed information about the abuse, which is used in the investigative process and increases the likelihood of a successful prosecution. The current recording system does not allow investigators and prosecutors to have simultaneous access to the recordings from different locations. The new digital system will increase efficiency by enabling authorized users to access the interviews at any time.

The center will purchase eight computers for staff members to use when assisting victims. The current computers are unable to handle software and programs needed by the organization.

Assisting victims since 1985, the center was the first children’s advocacy center in the United States. Organization officials say that more than 900 communities throughout the country have established advocacy centers based on the National Children’s Advocacy Center’s model.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Riley notified Chris Newlin, the center’s executive director, that the grant had been approved. Matching funds of $7,354 will supplement the award.         

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers