About Tyler's Justice Center

Child Sexual Abuse is an unfortunate fact of life in our communities.  In years past, children reporting abuse had to tell the details of their abuse up to 19 times to various professionals working on their behalf.  In 2002, professionals from various disciplines in Jo Daviess County acted on behalf of these children to make things different.  He wanted to change that traumatic process and he created Tyler’s Justice Center for Children.  This Center coordinates investigations and follow-up treatment for victims of child abuse and their family members. 

The non-profit CAC (Child Advocacy Center) fosters the idea that no one agency or professional alone can prevent and treat the problem of child abuse – a coordinated response is necessary.  With the creation of Tyler’s Justice Center for Children, children in Jo Daviess, Carroll and Stephenson Counties who were victims of sexual abuse and/or serious physical abuse would receive coordinated services from legal, medical, child protective and social service professionals in one place, one time.  Tyler’s Justice Center for Children serves as a central location for intake, investigation and follow-up for all child abuse victims ages 3 – 18. 

We work closely with law enforcement, DCFS and the State’s Attorney’s Offices in each of our three counties as well as FHN for medical and counseling agencies in our region.

Our Mission ... To lesson the traumatization of child abuse victims by providing a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach to the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse cases.

Our Response ... Tyler's Justice Center For Children is a place where professionals from Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services, Prosecution and Treatment services work together in a coordinated approach on cases of child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse. Alleged child
victims are brought to the child-friendly center where they are interviewed only once by a trained forensic interviewer while the rest of the team observes on closed-circuit TV and provides feedback. The interviews are videotaped, capturing the child's statements, creating a permanent history of
any disclosure.

Population Served ... All children under the age of 18 who are the suspected victims of child abuse and/or serious physcial abuse who reside in Carroll, Jo Daviess or Stephenson counties in Illinois are eligible to receive services from Tyler's Justice Center For Children.

Governing Board

David Snyders – President Sheriff, Stephenson County Leisa Graves – Vice President Supervisor, DCFS Investigations Clarissa Lord – Secretary Teacher, River Ridge School Dist. Teresa Folks – Treasurer Certified Public Accountant

Jeff Doran – Member Sheriff, Carroll County Fiona Whelan – Member Attorney Sharon Nolan – Member Adoptive Parent

Click To Read Our List Of Volunteers! (Word doc opens in a new window)

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