Maria Sanin’s career is rooted in compassion, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to protecting children. Born in Medellín, Colombia, and brought to the United States at just two years old, Maria was raised in Miami by her mother, aunts, and abuela—three generations of strong women who shaped her values and work ethic. Her abuela, a daycare teacher, and her mother, who worked multiple jobs including waitressing at La Carreta and working in a store in Coconut Grove, modeled perseverance and service from an early age.

After graduating from Miami Killian Senior High School, Maria had a clear vision of what she wanted to do with her life. “I wanted to work with children, and I thought that maybe it would be as a child psychologist,” she says. “I wanted to help children which is exactly what I am doing now.”

Driven by a deep interest in helping young people navigate trauma and adversity, her passion ultimately became the foundation for her career.

The very next day after graduating high school, she moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida (2002–2005) where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice. “I took a criminal justice class, and it really called to me,” she explains.

As part of her curriculum, Maria completed an internship with the Orlando State Attorney’s Office (SAO) in Victim Services. It was meant to be her final class—but it became the beginning of her career. She was hired as a temporary Victim Witness Counselor in the sexual battery unit, and when the employee she was covering for returned, Maria was offered a full-time position. She remained with the Orlando SAO from 2005 to 2009, where she began building a solid foundational experience in supporting victims of violent crimes.

In 2009, Maria returned to Miami to pursue a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and Psychology at Florida International University that refined her skills and innate talent for working with children who have been physically, emotionally, and sexually abused. She applied simultaneously to FIU and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office—and was accepted to both.

“Trauma, particularly the trauma of sexual victimization, can be a force that shatters minds, emotions, and potentially futures, leaving individuals unsure of how to move forward. Maria Sanin knows that unless we can break through a victim’s trauma, a predator has a chance to walk free, reoffend and continue victimizing others,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “Her ability to grasp the depth the individual’s pain and transform it into a strength, is almost magical.”

She restarted at the SAO as a Victim Witness Counselor I in intake and worked her way up to felony units. She worked full-time and studied full-time. All the while she kept deepening her expertise in trauma-informed care. “On the weekends I did an internship at Switchboard of Miami, and I also did a practicum at Kristi House.”

During this time, she not only advanced in her education but also in her career at SAO. She had earned the respect of her colleagues and coworkers as well as the trust of all the victims whose lives she touched. She also earned a position as a Paralegal Specialist in the Children & Special Needs Unit, where she supported cases involving child victims and individuals with special needs.

Maria is grateful for the opportunities she has had to grow within the SAO and for the strong, passionate team she works alongside. She credits her colleagues, unit leadership, and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle for fostering a unit dedicated to justice, protection, and advocacy.

For the past 13 years, Maria has served as a Forensic Interviewer in the Children & Special Needs Unit — one of the only units of its kind within a State Attorney’s Office in Florida, and possibly in the nation. The unit was originally created in the 1980s by then–State Attorney Janet Reno.

Maria conducts specialized forensic interviews with children ages 3 to 16 who are victims or witnesses of violent crimes, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and homicides. Her work is critical to uncovering the truth, protecting vulnerable children, and supporting successful prosecutions.

“I feel that all my positions within the SAO have contributed to my passion in assisting individuals in crisis, and so more now, in mainly working with children in their most vulnerable state and seeking justice for this specific population.”

She has conducted over 2,500 forensic interviews and testified in numerous court proceedings, including trials. Her interviews have helped remove dangerous offenders from positions of trust—coaches, educators, law enforcement officers, pastors, instructors, and others. Her skill lies in building rapport, creating a safe environment, and helping children find their voice—even when they are afraid.

One case that remains with her involved a young girl who described her stepfather’s mechanic shop in such vivid detail that investigators were able to locate DNA evidence confirming the abuse. That breakthrough began with Maria’s interview.

Sometimes what she discovers is that a parent or caregiver has been coaching the child on prior to being interviewed. “I ask them a series of questions and if anyone has told them what to say. There are times when they tell me that their mom was practicing with them on what to say while on their way to the interview.”

In her 21 years with the State Attorney’s Office, Maria has worked with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds. She has supported victims of trauma, individuals with mental health challenges, grieving families, and survivors of physical and sexual abuse. Her work has given her extensive knowledge of laws related to sexual assault; community resources for child abuse survivors; the criminal justice process; trauma-informed interviewing; and multidisciplinary collaboration.

She works closely with Assistant State Attorneys, law enforcement, the Child Protection Team, Roxy Rape Treatment Center, Kristi House, Guardian ad Litem, and DCF.

Now as mother of two, Maria feels an even deeper connection to the families she serves. “It is very easy for me to empathize with the families we serve day in and day out.” Her empathy, strong work ethic, and commitment to continuous growth guide her daily interactions with victims and their families gives her an advantage when directly working with them. She takes pride in going above and beyond to ensure children feel heard, supported, and protected throughout the criminal justice process.

Maria is proud of her journey within the SAO—from Victim Witness Counselor to Paralegal Specialist to Forensic Interviewer—and grateful for the strong, passionate team she works alongside. She credits State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle with fostering an environment dedicated to justice and child protection. “I am also extremely fortunate to be a part of a unit that is operated by strong, passionate, and educated criminal justice professionals, including our division chief, Natalie Snyder, our unit supervisor, Nickcole Cheatum, our administrator, Sandra Lawerence, our units support staff, my three other forensic interviewer colleagues.”

“I feel that all my positions within the SAO have contributed to my passion in assisting individuals in crisis, and so more now, in mainly working with children in their most vulnerable state and seeking justice for this specific population.”

From her upbringing among strong women to her decades of service to vulnerable children, Maria Sanin embodies resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Maria Sanin’s work has changed lives, protected countless children, and strengthened the pursuit of justice in Miami-Dade County. We congratulate her for being our Profile in Passion.