
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC13001]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                   CHAPTER 132--VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE
 
  SUBCHAPTER I--IMPROVING INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE 
                                  CASES
 
Sec. 13001. Findings

    The Congress finds that--
        (1) over 2,000,000 reports of suspected child abuse and neglect 
    are made each year, and drug abuse is associated with a significant 
    portion of these;
        (2) the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases is 
    extremely complex, involving numerous agencies and dozens of 
    personnel;
        (3) traditionally, community agencies and professionals have 
    different roles in the prevention, investigation, and intervention 
    process;
        (4) in such cases, too often the system does not pay sufficient 
    attention to the needs and welfare of the child victim, aggravating 
    the trauma that the child victim has already experienced;
        (5) there is a national need to enhance coordination among 
    community agencies and professionals involved in the intervention 
    system;
        (6) multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution 
    programs have been developed that increase the reporting of child 
    abuse cases, reduce the trauma to the child victim, and increase the 
    successful prosecution of child abuse offenders; and
        (7) such programs have proven effective, and with targeted 
    Federal assistance, could be duplicated in many jurisdictions 
    throughout the country.

(Pub. L. 101-647, title II, Sec. 211, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4792; 
Pub. L. 102-586, Sec. 6(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5029.)


                               Amendments

    1992--Pars. (3) to (7). Pub. L. 102-586 added pars. (3) and (5) and 
redesignated former pars. (3), (4), and (5) as (4), (6), and (7), 
respectively.


                               Short Title

    Section 201 of title II of Pub. L. 101-647 provided that: ``This 
title [enacting this chapter, sections 3796aa to 3796aa-8 of this title, 
and sections 403, 2258, and 3509 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal 
Procedure, and amending sections 3742, 3782, 3783, 3789, 3793, and 3797 
of this title] may be cited as the `Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
1990'.''
