Department of Justice Officials to Observe National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

WASHINGTON ? Officials from the Department of Justice will participate in the third annual observance of the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims on Friday, September 25, 2009, in Washington, DC.

This year's observance is organized by the National Organization of Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC), with funding from the Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) through its Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Other partners include Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center. As part of the observance, there will be a symposium at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. In addition, there will be a candlelight observance at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street N.W., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"The symposium and candlelight observance are an opportunity to honor the memory of homicide victims and acknowledges the resulting long-term trauma for their families, communities, and the Nation," said Mary Lou Leary, OJP's Acting Assistant Attorney General.

Ms. Leary will speak at the candlelight observance and OVC Acting Director Joye Frost will participate at the symposium and the candlelight observance. In addition, members of Congress, family members of murder victims, and representatives of victim assistance organizations will participate in both events which are free and open to the public. More information is available at: www.pomc.com and registration information is available by calling: 1-800-438-6233. In addition, OVC has publications and other resources designed specifically to help grieving friends and relatives cope with the loss of a loved one available at: http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/HelpVictim.aspx.

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The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information can be found at https://ojp.gov.

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