Sexual Crimes Unit

The Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Unit is housed in the Orlowitz-Lee Children’s Advocacy Center, better known as “Kristi House,” along with seven other partner agencies that are involved in meeting the legal, mental, and emotional needs of child victims of both sexual and physical abuse.

The Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Unit reviews all cases involving both child and adult victims. The unit itself, which is comprised of six attorneys, handles sexual crimes against young children and more complicated cases involving adult victims, such as serial rapists, cold cases, and cases involving defendants who are public officials in positions of authority. Sexual crimes involving adolescents (defined by law as children 12-18) are also handled by the Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Unit if the perpetrator is a family member. Child abuse case are handled by the unit in cases of severe injury or death.

This multidisciplinary team was established in 1995, in collaboration with State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, to address the trauma and special needs of minor victims as they navigate the court/legal system.

The partner agencies work together to provide the following services to victims:

• Medical examinations and care (The University of Miami Child Protection Team);
• Dependency needs (Florida Department of Children and Families);
• Legal Representation (the Guardian ad Litem Program); and
• Therapy (Kristi House).