Children’s Justice Center outlines case growth, savings and new state funding
May 06, 2026 | Grand County Commission, Grand County Boards and Commissions, Grand County, Utah
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Andrea (S18), representing the local Children’s Justice Center (CJC), delivered a six-month progress report to the commission and thanked the board for advocacy at the state level.
Andrea said the center handled 71 new and active cases over the reporting period, provided services to 136 people and recorded a total of 208 open and active cases. She described operational cost-savings such as using tele-forensic interviews to avoid the approximately $1,500 per interview cost for court-certified Spanish-language forensic interpreters and opening the center’s meeting space for county use when forensic interviews are not in progress. Andrea credited state leaders and county advocacy for securing a one-time $470,000 stopgap request and subsequent ongoing state funds to support the center.
She also summarized several legislative outcomes the center supports, citing SJR1 (to allow certain prior acts to be considered in prosecution), HB89 (limits on polygraphs for victims), HB90 (clarifying certain offense classifications), SB92 (the Desiree Turner bill clarifying prosecution options in juvenile shooting cases), and H.B. 102 (allowing victims to use initials on court documents in small communities). The center’s Friends of the CJC nonprofit raised funds for AV equipment, landscaping and program support and will host community fundraisers including a kickball tournament planned for Sept. 11 and a youth event Oct. 2 featuring former NFL player Galen Elmore.
Andrea closed by saying the center’s work “saves children” and by thanking volunteers, donors and state partners for support.
Why it matters: The CJC provides specialized services that centralize investigation, advocacy and support for child abuse cases; recent state funding and county support affect the center’s capacity and the county’s budgeting for these services.
What’s next: The commission acknowledged the report and staff and will continue coordination on grant and state funding questions.
Andrea said the center handled 71 new and active cases over the reporting period, provided services to 136 people and recorded a total of 208 open and active cases. She described operational cost-savings such as using tele-forensic interviews to avoid the approximately $1,500 per interview cost for court-certified Spanish-language forensic interpreters and opening the center’s meeting space for county use when forensic interviews are not in progress. Andrea credited state leaders and county advocacy for securing a one-time $470,000 stopgap request and subsequent ongoing state funds to support the center.
She also summarized several legislative outcomes the center supports, citing SJR1 (to allow certain prior acts to be considered in prosecution), HB89 (limits on polygraphs for victims), HB90 (clarifying certain offense classifications), SB92 (the Desiree Turner bill clarifying prosecution options in juvenile shooting cases), and H.B. 102 (allowing victims to use initials on court documents in small communities). The center’s Friends of the CJC nonprofit raised funds for AV equipment, landscaping and program support and will host community fundraisers including a kickball tournament planned for Sept. 11 and a youth event Oct. 2 featuring former NFL player Galen Elmore.
Andrea closed by saying the center’s work “saves children” and by thanking volunteers, donors and state partners for support.
Why it matters: The CJC provides specialized services that centralize investigation, advocacy and support for child abuse cases; recent state funding and county support affect the center’s capacity and the county’s budgeting for these services.
What’s next: The commission acknowledged the report and staff and will continue coordination on grant and state funding questions.
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