In an effort to replenish a nearly barren interview site, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s victim witness advocates delivered more than a hundred toys, books, and games to the site where child victims of violence meet with prosecutors.

Members of Conley’s Victim Witness Assistance Program undertook the “Smiles for Suffolk” toy drive to restock the waiting and interview areas of the office’s Child Protection Unit late last month. In about two weeks, they bought and accepted as gifts dozens of stuffed animals, puzzles, picture books, and other items.

Child victims of physical and sexual violence are interviewed in a room specially wired so that police and prosecutors can monitor their interactions with a certified forensic interviewer. The process minimizes the number of times a young victim must talk about the abuse, but it can also be extremely intense; a well-stocked waiting area can help to distract them from their worries leading up to the interview. Victimized children’s siblings must sometimes wait outside during the interview, and children are sometimes left to wait while parents meet with investigators outside their presence.

“Our victim advocates are some of the kindest, most compassionate people in public service or any other field,” Conley said. “At a time when the budget outlook has never been bleaker, they took it upon themselves to ensure that the most innocent victims of all found something to smile about. I couldn’t be more proud of them – they’re the unsung heroes of our justice system.”

Under Massachusetts law, prosecutors’ offices are responsible for providing services to crime victims, but they receive no additional funding to fulfill that mandate. As a result, many of their day-to-day efforts are paid for out of their own pockets.

Because of budget reductions, the number of Suffolk victim witness advocates has been cut by about 10% this year alone. There are presently just 32 Suffolk VWAs assigned to more than 4500 cases, down from 36 VWAs 18 months ago and 43 eight years ago.

The most recent toy drive ended on Oct. 23. The next is tentatively scheduled for early spring of 2010. For more information about how to make a donation to Smiles for Suffolk please contact Jacquelyn Lamont, deputy chief of the Victim Witness Assistance Program, at 617-619-4290.