HOUSTON – There is new art brightening walls inside the Harris County District Attorney's office and it is also touching hearts.
"You draw strength from it because at the end of the day it reminds you that the people you are working for are these children," said Daniel Werlinger, an assistant district attorney.
Over 1,200 abused children in Harris County are preparing to testify against their abusers. The process for each child begins at the Houston Area Women's Center where they register with Children's Court Services.
"We're trying to make the experience as stress free as possible," said Pam Hobbs, who manages the program.
Using "little people" in a dresser drawer-sized mock courtroom, child advocates teach kids what to expect when they go to testify. Often, child abuse victims are the only witness to the crime against them, prosecutors said.
"It's really helpful with kids to use a school analogy," Hobbs said. "When someone breaks rules you have to go see the principal. (So), when adults break the rules they have to go see the judge."
HAWC also give kids a bag with toys, a stress ball and coloring books to make testifying easier. However, what's proving to be increasingly more cathartic are the colorful hand prints kids get to leave on the DA's wall when their case is finished.
After testifying against a pastor who touched them inappropriately, six girls made a heart pattern on the wall with hand prints. Kids who testify get to do the same regardless of the outcome of their cases.
"That hand print is symbolism," Werlinger said. "They've given the hand to their abusers. So, it's a testament for having the courage that frankly not many adults have to confront their abusers and to talk to 12 perfect strangers about something so terrible as child sexual abuse or child physical abuse."
It is also motivation for prosecutors pelted with new disturbing cases weekly to stay focused and not lose heart.
