PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
Investigating child sex abuse in northern New York has, at times, been difficult.
That's because the region does not have a forensic examiner. The physician is trained to look for signs of sexual abuse on children 96 hours after the incident occurred. The tests are different for children than adults because they are less intrusive. Right now children have to travel to Vermont to be examined. Advocates say the main reason for the lack of child forensic examiners is time and money.
"Pediatricians like time and going to court testifying will take up some of their time. In addition, it's more training, costing them time with their patients and their practices," said Richelle Beach, Executive Director of the Clinton County Child Advocacy Center.
"It would definitely help in a case that is strong and you have a medical component to it. We are more apt to get an offender to plead guilty versus go trial and have to prove their guilt and have the child to have to testify -- it's very traumatic to have them testify," said Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague.
Medical evidence is used in about three-percent of child sex abuse cases.
