RALEIGH - United States Attorneys Thomas G. Walker, Ripley Rand, and Anne M. Tompkins announced that their three Offices are co-sponsoring a Federal Domestic Violence Conference September 10-12, 2014, at the Greensboro-High Point Marriott in Greensboro. Preventing and prosecuting Domestic Violence cases is a priority of the U.S. Department of Justice, and this training is designed to bring together law enforcement and service providers to educate them about this deplorable crime. Equally important is caring for and providing services to the victims of domestic violence, and discussions of issues related to victim services topics are also on the agenda.
Domestic violence continues to plague our communities, adversely affecting countless victims and their families. There is a great need to educate those involved in responding to domestic violence about the tools available to treat the victims and prosecute the perpetrators using federal laws when appropriate. There is also a need to educate service providers and law enforcement about the methods to reduce the barriers for victims seeking services, and to educate our state and local partners about the federal tools available to prosecute these crimes.
“One of the Department of Justice’s priorities is protecting vulnerable victims and holding offenders accountable, and the North Carolina United States Attorney’s Offices are committed to working together effectively with law enforcement and other groups to fight domestic violence," said United States Attorney Rand.
“Domestic violence is a national epidemic and it is happening here, in our own communities, with many of the victims and perpetrators hiding in plain sight. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina has played an active role in raising public awareness, increasing law enforcement training and establishing partnerships with victim service providers in Western Carolina. This symposium is a continuation of our efforts to create and maintain these strong partnerships, which can be force multipliers in our fight against domestic violence," said U.S. Attorney Tompkins.
“This event is an excellent example of the vital collaboration needed between the law enforcement and the service provider community. Efforts to confront domestic violence must include an increased awareness of the indicators of this crime by those who are most likely to encounter the victims," said U.S. Attorney Walker.
The conference is also being co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission, the North Carolina Justice Academy, the Carolinas Institute for Community Policing, the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network, the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.
Credentialed members of the media are invited to the conference. The agenda is attached with more details about the training.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
