Weber County Utah
County | Posted 01-24-2025
Construction is underway for the new Weber-Morgan Children’s Justice Center (CJC).
The new center, owned by Weber County and located at 1845 Jackson Ave. in Ogden, is anticipated to be completed by May. It will provide much needed space to accommodate an increased demand for services involving crimes against children. It will also ensure better confidentiality and privacy during investigations, as well as provide an area where community partners, including school districts and cities within Weber and Morgan Counties, can collaborate and train.
“The new CJC would not have been made possible without the tremendous community support, donations and funding we have received,” Rod Layton, former director of the Weber-Morgan Children’s Justice Center, said. “Every city in Weber County contributed funds to the construction of the new center. We’re very grateful to the cities, the Weber County commissioners and employees, Ogden School District, Friends of the Weber/Morgan CJC, the LDS Church and other individual private donors.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently donated $300,000 to the new CJC. The proceeds will go toward providing services for children who visit the center, such as recording equipment for forensic interviews, medical equipment for exam rooms, specialized furniture for interview rooms, comfort items and mental health services. Protecting children and supporting victims of abuse has been and continues to be a priority to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a Church representative.
The CJC is a child-friendly facility designed to make children feel comfortable and safe when they are meeting with investigators and team members about allegations of abuse.
“When children come to the CJC they are often hesitant because they are nervous to disclose what has happened to them,” Layton said. “We start reducing that trauma the moment they walk in the door. Considerable time and effort went into the design of the new facility. The location, colors and layout were considered in order to minimize the stress on the child victims.”
Specially trained forensic interviewers speak with the children about the alleged abuse they have experienced. The goal is to minimize trauma to the child by reducing the number of times a child may have to talk about his or her experiences. When the child returns to their family, school or community, the anxiety has been greatly reduced since they no longer feel like they are hiding a “secret.” The child and their family will continue to receive support services, such as therapy, medical care and victim resources as needed.
The CJC has an on-site examination room which houses medical professionals from Primary Children's Hospital's Safe and Healthy Families Department who safeguard children's health and collect forensic evidence. The multi-disciplinary team which includes law enforcement, DCFS, prosecutors, mental health specialists, school district professionals and staff from the CJC reviews every case to ensure that all that can be done, is done. The team is under the direction of the Weber County Attorney’s Office.