The Family Violence and Child Abuse Unit, under the direction of the Sex Crimes Unit Commander, is comprised of one sergeant and five detectives. The responsibility of the Family Violence and Child Abuse Unit is to investigate incidents of child abuse, child neglect, domestic violence, elderly abuse, elderly neglect and financial exploitation of the elderly. The formation of the  Family Violence and Child Abuse Unit enables these cases to be handled more efficiently and investigations are conducted with greater attention to detail.

The ultimate mission of the the Family Violence and Child Abuse Unit is to interrupt the cycle of violence found in so many Jacksonville homes by aggressively taking whatever law enforcement measures necessary to alleviate the immediate situation and prevent further incidents of violence. In addition, the unit works diligently with the State Attorney's Office to bring about the successful prosecution of offenders. The Family Violence  and Child Abuse Unit investigators work closely with various social services agencies including the Department of Children & Families, The Child Protection Team and Hubbard House to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.

A key component of the Family Violence and Child Abuse Unit is the Intimate Violence Enhanced Services Team, also known as INVEST. The mission of INVEST is to provide a multidisciplinary, focused response to the problem of domestic violence. To learn more about INVEST click here.