Western District of Virginia U.S. Attorney’s Office Launches Pilot Program
July 23, 2010 | Virginia News
Community Outreach Program Will Focus On Front End, Crime Prevention Issues
ROANOKE -- United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy announced today the launch of a program in the Western District of Virginia that will change the way the United States Attorney’s Office interacts with the communities it serves.
The Community Outreach Program, a pilot program being tried for the first time in the Western District of Virginia, will look to expand the level of interaction the United States Attorney’s Office has on community organizations and law enforcement officials that are providing “front end” crime prevention programs. The program will be heading by newly-sworn Community Outreach Coordinator Gwen Mason.
“We have traditionally done a good job addressing criminal problems within the Western District with back end solutions – vigorous prosecution of dangerous criminals.” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “We cannot, however, arrest our way out of the criminal justice challenges we face. We must do more to facilitate front end efforts to prevent crime. We must help communities craft solutions that involve both strong enforcement and vigorous prevention. That’s what our outreach program aims to do – empower communities to identify and execute holistic approaches to public safety.” The Community Outreach Program will look for ways to provide resources and support to diversion, prevention and treatment programs already operating in the district. These types of programs have significant impacts on communities by providing organizations with the resources they need to help steer people away from drug addiction and criminal activities. There is no shortage of these types of organizations operating in the district right now, taking on the crime prevention and rehabilitation challenges of a very diverse and geographically large district. It is the belief of the US Attorney’s Office that the federal government has a vital role to play in facilitating the efforts of community organizations within the Western District of Virginia working on these front end efforts. It will be the job of the Community Outreach Coordinator to make sure these organizations are aware of the resources available through the Department of Justice and specifically encourage those organizations to apply for funding. The Community Outreach Program will share information about successful programs with the community and serve as a sort of clearing-house for productive and successful prevention and diversion efforts. The Community Outreach Program will send members of the United States Attorney’s Office out into the community to foster relationships with community organizations, local governments and law enforcement officials who are interested in working on these front end, crime prevention efforts. The goal is to put appropriate resources into the hands of those organizations that are providing a place for people to turn who need help staying off drugs, or are thinking about joining a gang or are simply down on their luck. There needs to be places for these people to turn when they think the only other option is turning to a life of crime. The hope is, that with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office Community Outreach Program, more of these organizations can receive the resources they need to thrive and start making real changes in the communities they serve. See Press Conference Remarks RELATED ARTICLE: Attorney's Office Launches Pilot Program (NBC 29)
