Jefferson Area Victim Assistance Coalition to Host Community Day at IX Park
Charlottesville, VIRGINIA - In commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Jefferson Area Victim Assistance Coalition will host a Community Day on Sunday, April 7 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at IX Park in Charlottesville. This event is planned as a way to highlight recovery and other resources available to crime victims in the Greater Jefferson Area, provide the community with information about law-enforcement, emphasize prevention education, and foster the ties between law-enforcement and the communities they serve.
Sunday’s event is free and family-friendly with interactive demonstrations and information available from dozens of federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies and service providers. There will be plenty for kids, and adults, to see and do, including police motorcycles, firetrucks, police cars, K9 officers, activities, games, food, and more.
Additionally, there will be information available about local community groups, service providers, drug prevention tips, exhibitions, and more. A particular area of focus is crimes against the elderly.
Information will be available from the United States Attorney’s Office that focuses on schemes directed at seniors, such as phone scams, healthcare scams, frauds involving grandchildren, and IRS imposter scams. Additional information will be available offering tips to keep seniors safe from falling victim to these frauds, as well as information about what to do if an elder person believes they have been a victim of fraud. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will have information available regarding Project Safe Neighborhoods, (PSN) and identity theft prevention programs.
PSN, the centerpiece of DOJ’s violent crime reduction efforts, is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law-enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
The identity theft recovery program offers attendees a wealth of knowledge on steps to take to both protect their identities from being stolen and steps to take if they believe they have been the victim of identity theft. Brochures will be on-hand with important numbers, sample letters to give to creditors, and other information to take home as part of a personal recovery plan.
The Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme, Honoring the Past. Creating Hope for the Future celebrates the progress made by those in the past as we look into the future of a crime victims’ services future that is even more inclusive, assessable, and trauma-informed.
The Jefferson Area Victim Assistance Coalition consists of members from the Albemarle County Victim/Witness Program, Charlottesville Victim/Witness Program, Fluvanna County Victim/Witness Program, Greene County Victim/Witness Program, Homeland Security Victim Assistance Program, Louisa County Victim/Witness Program, Sexual Assault Resource Agency, University of Virginia Victim/Witness Program, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Victim Assistance Program, the Shelter for Help in Emergency and the United States Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Program.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
