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In 2003, APRI has significantly expanded its staff and services to America’s prosecutors. This success is particularly evident in the field of child abuse prosecution.
As president of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI), I recently had the privilege of addressing a group of officials, academics and child protection professionals at an event marking the opening of the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC) on the campus of Winona State University (WSU) in Winona, Minnesota. (see NCPTC story, p. 11) APRI embarked on this exciting initiative in October, in partnership with WSU and Cornerhouse, a child sexual abuse evaluation and service organization in Minneapolis.
The event was appropriately held at the Children’s Museum in St. Paul. NDAA Board Member and Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom attended. NCPTC Director Victor Vieth spoke of his vision to combat child abuse and the important role to be played by NCPTC. I had the opportunity to commend the leadership of WSU President Darrel Krueger and others for their hard work in making this project and partnership with APRI a reality.
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APRI President Newman Flanagan visits Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom during his recent trip to Minnesota.
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NCPTC is an unprecedented initiative to address some of the nation’s most significant challenges in protecting children from abuse and neglect. While APRI has long offered training and technical assistance to prosecutors handling criminal child abuse cases, NCPTC offers, for the first time, parallel services for prosecutors and allied professionals who handle civil child protection proceedings. APRI’s new center is supported through funding to WSU from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
I visited the NCPTC with APRI Comptroller Scottie Teich on October 13-14. Our hosts included WSU President Krueger; James Schmidt, WSU Vice President; Joseph Gow, Dean, WSU College of Liberal Arts; and NCPTC Director Victor Vieth. During our visit we toured the WSU campus, including the NCPTC offices, and met with APRI staff.
Before returning from the event, we visited County Attorney Backstrom’s office in Hastings, Minnesota. We were impressed with the energy and dedication evident throughout his office. Pamphlets on prevention of child abuse were prominently displayed as constant reminders of the pressing need to protect and nurture our nation’s children.
I am proud that APRI’s success continues, and that APRI has assumed an expanded role in advancing society’s response to children in need. I especially look forward to our future relationship with our new friends in Minnesota.
Newman Flanagan, President,
American Prosecutors Research Institute
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