Special Agents Helping Youngest Victims Of Abuse

Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Among the most dreadful crimes we see these days are crimes against children, but there are some special individuals in the world of law enforcement who try to help these kids.

It takes a special person to work with these children. Many of them have endured terrible physical or sexual abuse or witnessed something horrific in their life.

The pictures often tell the story a little child can't, and it's Andi Hamilton's job to help the children behind these drawings.

"Kids grow up sometimes in really violent abusive homes and they see a lot of things that they shouldn't," Hamilton said, who is part of the Child Abuse Response Team.

Hamilton said sometimes the stories she sees and hears are heartbreaking.

"I've interviewed kids who know how to make meth interviewed kids who can describe domestic violence in detail and most of the cases I have are children who have been sexually abused," Hamilton said.

Being a mother herself, Hamilton said she tries to help these children in any way she can, using dolls with some of the younger victims she has to interview and using pictures or story telling with others.

"And it's important to have kids be able to tell what happened to them and who did it so we can hold those people accountable," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the proliferation of Internet porn and online predators have only increased the cases of abuse she sees, and she said the most important thing parents can do is to talk to their children since many times kids who are physically and sexually abused are preyed upon by someone they know and love.

"It's important not to be silent," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said another thing parents, teachers and friends should do is encourage kids to speak to any trusted adult if they've been abused in any way. That way they can begin to get help.

Learn more about how to protect your child