Crimes against children require an exceptional level of care and sensitivity. Prosecutors handling abuse, neglect, or sexual exploitation crimes with child victims have specialized training on trauma-informed best practices, work closely with Child Advocacy Centers, and provide additional age-appropriate supports based on the specific circumstances of each case.
Internet crimes against children and sex offenses against children are handled by the Special Victims Bureau (SVB), where Assistant State’s Attorney’s (ASAs) have extensive courtroom experience. Cases in SVB follow a vertical prosecution model, meaning the same prosecutor is responsible for the proceedings at every stage. This allows prosecutors to build credibility with vulnerable victims who are wary of or unfamiliar with the criminal justice system.
Victim Resources
Victims and families affected by crimes against children are entitled to a victim specialist. Victim specialists provide emotional support and information throughout court proceedings, as well as service referrals to community-based providers.
Child victims are also permitted to receive comfort, pending judge approval, from the CCSAO’s specially trained courtroom facility dog Hatty, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever. Hatty is specially trained to reduce stress and provide emotional security for child victims while testifying in court or during interviews with investigators.
Internet Crimes
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office leads the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a specialized multi-agency initiative dedicated to protecting children from online exploitation. The task force conducts both proactive and reactive investigations, targeting individuals who produce, possess, or distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and those who engage in online enticement of minors. In addition to aggressively prosecuting these crimes, the ICAC Task Force is committed to prevention and education, delivering thousands of outreach presentations each year to schools, parents, and community groups across Cook County to raise awareness about internet safety and child protection.