Mississippi adopts unified protocol for felony child abuse investigations

More than 600 professionals including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, social workers, and mental health clinicians gathered in Biloxi for the 13th Annual One Loud Voice Conference, the largest child protection summit in Mississippi, according to WLOX.

The conference highlighted a significant change in Mississippi's approach to felony-level child abuse cases: the adoption of a single, unified statewide protocol replacing 82 separate county guidelines, reported wtva.com.

This new protocol was developed over four years with input from the Children’s Justice Act Task Force, incorporating best practices, clinical research, and legal requirements to create a comprehensive roadmap for handling severe child abuse cases, said Karla Tye, CEO of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM).

Panelists at the conference included leaders from the state’s law enforcement, child welfare, legal, and behavioral health agencies who emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to prevent abused children from falling through systemic gaps.

The unified protocol aims to streamline investigations and responses to felony child abuse, ensuring that all agencies work together effectively under a consistent framework across the state.