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How can a public prosecutor protect children? Volume 14, issue 1, Janvier-Février 2011

Author
Vice-procureur au Tribunal de Grande Instance de Foix, 14 rue du Rocher, BP 78, 09008 Foix Cedex, France

<p>There is no doubt that the fight against child maltreatment can now benefit from new tools that enable the various services involved to exchange information and get better training. Reporting that a minor is possibly at risk may help to put an end to his or her suffering and also provide support to the family and make it face up its responsibilities.</p><p>When minors are reported at risk, the prosecution never fails to investigate the case without delay. No case is ever dropped before an in-depth criminal or civil preliminary assessment has been ordered. However, the doctors or the medical services that have reported the case to the court are not always informed of the decision taken, and when they are, do not necessarily know the reasons for it. That is why they do not always understand the sequence of events.</p><p>Assuredly, it is their duty to report ; but it could well be the duty of the prosecution to ease the doubts of the medical or social workers, both in the early stages, when they wonder whether it is advisable to report a case, and later, when they do not understand the decision taken by the court.</p>