| For Immediate Release February 28th, 2002 |
Contact: | Todd Hart Dir., Gov’t & Comm. Relations (714) 347-8413 |
National Award Given to District Attorney’s Community Prosecution Program
SANTA ANA — District Attorney Tony Rackauckas’ Community Prosecution Program will receive an Acts of Caring Award from the National Association of Counties.
The Community Prosecution Program provides Orange County’s Spanish and Vietnamese-speaking residents with information and education about services available to victims and witnesses of crime. Rackauckas established this program with federal grant funding shortly after taking office in 1999 to help solve problems, improve public safety and enhance the quality of life in the community.
The Acts of Caring Award is a tribute to the program’s innovative use of volunteers and its potential to serve as a model to be replicated throughout the country. The program has established advisory commissions with leaders of the Hispanic and Vietnamese communities to address any concerns people may have about the legal system. A total of 76 members volunteer as commissioners and meet quarterly. They help to facilitate the program’s numerous outreach events including criminal justice workshops, focus groups, town hall meetings and educational booths at public events.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) was established in 1935 and is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. The association acts as a liaison with other levels of government, works to improve public understanding of counties, serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with resources to help them find innovative methods to meet the challenges they face. For more information on NACo, please visit their web site at www.naco.org.
The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 11, 2002 in Washington D.C.