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Two decades ago, children who became crime victims didn't have an inviting place to talk about what they'd endured.
They were brought to a police station, sat down in an interrogation room and often felt frightened in an unfamiliar place, said Trina Taylor, associate director of Prevent Child Abuse Utah.
Today, a new environment exists for child victims in Utah. Eighteen children's justice centers exist around the state, all equipped with child-friendly tools to help put children at ease as they're interviewed about abuse.
Improvements to the rights of victims are being highlighted this week at the three-day 24th Annual Conference on Child Abuse and Family Violence at the Davis Conference Center in Layton. The conference, sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Utah — a nonprofit organization with a goal to reduce child abuse through education and training — is expected to draw close to 500 participants.
Those in attendance come from different facets of working with child abuse and family violence cases, Taylor said. The conference kicked off on Monday with a speech from Reed Richards, chairman of the Utah Council on Victims of Crime and an instrumental player in establishing children's justice centers in the state.
While participants will have a chance to reflect on how far Utah has come in the last nearly 25 years, the conference is also a chance to look forward at how to improve the state's treatment of victims.
Sessions include topics such as successful investigations of physical and sexual abuse cases, stopping bullying and working with resistant victims.
Among the list of speakers at the conference is Elizabeth Smart, who on Wednesday will speak at a lunchtime lecture titled "Moving Forward and Not Looking Back."
By now, Smart's story and the horrifying details of her ordeal are well-known to most Utahns and a global audience, but her appearance at the conference will allow professionals to seek her insight into how Utah's system can improve to better help other victims.
"What did we do right in our state? What did we do wrong?" said Taylor, who is the conference director. "Beyond hearing this amazing story of surviving and her incredible strength, how can we better respond to victims and survivors?"
In June 2002, Smart, who was then 14 years old, was abducted at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home by street preacher Brian David Mitchell. Smart testified that he raped her almost daily during nine months of captivity, which included a journey to California and back to Utah. Smart was rescued, and Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, were arrested, after the three were spotted on a Sandy street in March 2003.
Mitchell, 57, was ordered to life in prison by a federal judge in May, following a dramatic trial that lasted several weeks. Barzee is serving time in a Texas prison for her role in the crime.
Instead of fading from the limelight following the conclusion of Mitchell's trial, Smart has chosen to use her experience to become an advocate for victims.
In March, Smart earned an award from The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation that came with a $50,000 check she will use to start The Elizabeth Smart Foundation, aimed at protecting children from abuse. The foundation will focus on prevention, education and promoting radKIDS [Resisting Aggression Defensively] — a program that teaches children about calling 911 and making defensive moves against attackers that Smart has said she'd like to see implemented in every elementary school.
Her foundation complements other efforts by Smart and her parents, who in 2006 made an appearance to Congress to lobby for a new law creating a national sex-offender registry. She was on hand when President George W. Bush signed into law the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
Smart in 2008 also shared her story in a booklet titled "You're Not Alone," which is published by the U.S. Department of Justice and given to survivors of abduction. She wrote in one passage, "I made a conscious decision that my abductors had already taken away nine months of my life, and I certainly was not going to give them any more time than that."
After Mitchell's Dec. 10 conviction for her kidnap and rape, she boldly stood on the courthouse steps claiming her victory in court on behalf of all victims of sexual violence and abuse.
"I am so thrilled to stand before the people of America today and give hope to other victims who have not spoken out about what's happened to them," she said. Smart said her experience shows "it is possible to move on after something terrible has happened, and that we can speak out and we will be heard."
At Mitchell's sentencing in May, she confronted her attacker calmly in the courtroom.
"I know that you know what you did was wrong. You did it with a full knowledge. I also want you to know that I have a wonderful life now, that no matter what you do, it will not affect me again.
"You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned. But in this life or next, you will have to be held responsible for those actions, and I hope you are ready for when that time comes," she said.
Most recently, the 23-year-old Smart signed on with ABC News as a contributor, meaning she will lend her expertise as a kidnapping survivor when there's a high-profile missing persons case to cover. Smart works with programs like "Good Morning America," "ABC World News Tonight" and "Nightline."
Her grace and composure has drawn praise from many, including social workers, victim advocates and others experienced in working with rape victims in Utah.
Taylor said Smart's lecture will complement several days aimed at focusing on how to further advance victims rights in the future.
Wednesday's luncheon is not open to the public. Smart will appear with her father, Ed Smart.
For more information about the conference, visit: http://www.preventchildabuseutah.org.
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