FLORENCE – An $8,000 grant to the Care House of the Pee Dee on Wednesday will make it easier to track child abusers across county lines and, eventually, beyond.
The grant was announced at a Wednesday morning press conference at the Care House attended by law enforcers from Florence and bank and credit union officials
The grant from credit unions across the Carolinas will fund the purchase of National Children’s Alliance software that will aid in tracking cases and investigation, Kathy Saunders, forensic medical examiner and program director, said.
“We know offenders jump from county to county. While Florence County may be dealing with a case, the offender may be an offender in Chesterfield County as well,” Saunders said.
That software could eventually link agencies nationally, Saunders said.
The tracking software will be an important tool in prosecutions beyond its ability to track numbers and demographics, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements said.
“It would help us historically if we knew there’d been instances in the past where there have been some allegations – would help us in looking at the history of perpetrators,” Clements said.
The software, when installed, will be key to completing the agency’s circle of investigative and advocacy services, Saunders said.
“With this particular grant it will allow us to do our job more efficiently and effectively,” Saunders said.

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