Alison Sutherland

About Alison

Alison Sutherland is a dedicated child protection professional with a career spanning over a decade across multiple systems serving children and victims. Her multifaceted experience includes roles in Child Protective Services, Juvenile Court, victim advocacy, and forensic interviewing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Alison was introduced to the criminal justice field in college while working under a juvenile judge in North Georgia. She graduated and then began her career with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), where she investigated cases of child abuse and neglect. After that role, Alison spent several years working under another juvenile judge, leading to an expertise in dependency, delinquency, and truancy matters. Having had two separate opportunities to work with different family treatment courts, Alison has an extensive background with addiction and how substance abuse profoundly affects families. Over the course of her career, she has accumulated well over 1,000 hours observing and participating in court proceedings, building deep familiarity with court procedures and multidisciplinary case flow.

In 2019, Alison became the Crime Victim’s Coordinator at a central Texas police department, where she worked with victims of violent and sexual crimes identified by the department. In 2020, she transitioned into forensic interviewing and was trained in the ChildFirst Protocol. Most recently, she has taken on a role with her local Child Advocacy Center, working as the Education and Outreach Coordinator. She is also the founder of Prevention Starts with Parents, which equips all parents with the education and tools to prevent child sexual abuse. Across every role, Alison remains committed to safeguarding children and making a meaningful, positive impact in the field of child protection.