---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 20322"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "20322"
heading: "Purpose"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/20322"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 203 — Victims of Child Abuse"
  - "Subchapter II — Court-Appointed Special Advocate Program"
---

# §20322. Purpose


The purpose of this subchapter is to ensure that by January 1, 2015, a court-appointed special advocate shall be available to every victim of [child abuse](/usc/34/20302.md?p=4) or [neglect](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) in the United States that needs such an advocate.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–647, title II, § 216, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4794; Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 40156(a)(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1923; Pub. L. 109–162, title I, § 112(b), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 2986; Pub. L. 113–4, title I, § 106(1), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 77.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 13012 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2013—Pub. L. 113–4 substituted “January 1, 2015” for “January 1, 2010”.

2006—Pub. L. 109–162 substituted “January 1, 2010” for “January 1, 1995”.

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 made technical amendment to reference to this subchapter to correct reference to corresponding provision of original act.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2013 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–4 not effective until the beginning of the fiscal year following Mar. 7, 2013, see section 4 of Pub. L. 113–4, set out as a note under section 2261 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.