Licking County officials have rolled out a new Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Task Force in Newark, pitching it as a faster and more coordinated way to investigate crimes against children, lock down digital evidence and strengthen prosecutions. The debut came wrapped in the message “Every child matters,” marked by a blue ribbon at the announcement. County leaders said the unit will link specially trained investigators directly with prosecutors so cases move from first report to courtroom with fewer delays and less trauma for young victims.
According to WSYX, Licking County Prosecutor Jenny Wells said the county has seen a steep increase in cases over the last couple of years, with more offenders now reaching children online. Wells told reporters that pace and pattern make it critical to preserve digital evidence quickly, often through preservation orders, search warrants, and rapid collection of phones and other devices. Organizers described the Task Force as a countywide, multiagency effort that brings law enforcement and victim advocates into closer coordination.
Local partners and the existing response
The CASE Task Force builds on the county’s multidisciplinary Kids’ Team, which already coordinates prosecutors, law enforcement, child protective services and medical and mental-health professionals to reduce additional trauma for child victims. Kids' Place lists the prosecutor’s office along with several municipal police departments as regular partners, and officials say those relationships will be key to the new unit. Organizers also stressed that prevention and education, including teaching children how to recognize and report abuse, will be part of the effort alongside investigations and prosecutions.
How the CASE Task Force will operate
Per WSYX, the Task Force will assign dedicated, specially trained investigators to child abuse and exploitation reports and pair them with an experienced assistant prosecutor who can provide legal guidance from the start of an investigation through trial. The rollout also featured plans for trauma-informed training for first responders and victim advocates, along with a focus on fast digital-evidence preservation so crucial files and devices are not lost. Officials said this kind of vertical coordination is intended to improve case outcomes and cut down the time victims wait for services.
Where to report and what help is available
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, Licking County Job & Family Services directs people to call its abuse and neglect hotline at 740-670-8888 and to review online reporting guidance, according to Licking County Job & Family Services. The county’s victim-services teams and the local child-advocacy center will continue to provide trauma-informed medical exams, counseling and advocacy for children and families involved in investigations.
What success would look like
Organizers said measurable success would show up as stronger case outcomes, faster access to mental-health services for child victims and a safer, healthier community overall, according to local reporting by AVC/YourRadioPlace. Leaders emphasized that investigations, prosecutions and prevention efforts all need to work in concert if the county is going to reduce harm and keep children safer.
