Weekly News Brief

Attorney General Speaks at the NACo Conference?Attorney General Eric Holder spoke on Monday, March 7, at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference about the need to improve the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system and the importance of ensuring that every American can access the legal services they need and deserve. "It's time to broaden our approach to juvenile justice and to ensure that sound research and respected analysis are a part of our decision-making process," Attorney General Holder said. "We know that we must transition from a prosecution and punishment model to a prevention-and-intervention paradigm. We also must adopt a comprehensive plan of action - one that engages law enforcement partners, medical professionals, social service providers, lawyers, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, and community leaders." A full transcript of the speech can be found at http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/ag/speeches/2011/ag-speech-110307.html

President and First Lady Talk About Preventing Bullying?At a White House Conference on March 10, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with leaders from the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, spoke about how young people, parents, teachers and others can prevent bullying. They also announced a new Web site - www.stopbullying.gov. More details about the conference are available at: www.whitehouse.gov.

OVC Launches Vision 21 Initiative Web Site?The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) recently launched the Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Web site to keep professionals in the crime victims field informed about the initiative's mission, objectives, and contributors. "Vision 21 is more than a series of reports and forums," said Mary Lou Leary, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for OJP, at a Vision 21 Forum on March 8. "Ultimately, it will result in clear recommendations and action items. These will become a roadmap for the future of OVC and will inform priorities and inspire demonstration projects. We've enlisted your help because, as professionals in the field, you have the best gauge of what the future of the field can, and should, look like." For additional information, please visit: http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/vision21/initiative.html

Upcoming Conferences?Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will be the keynote speaker at the 5th annual National Fusion Center Conference, March 15-17, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Denver, Colo. Fusion centers are designed to enable federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement agencies across the country to share information about terrorism threats and other public safety issues. For additional information, please contact Andrew Lluberes at (202)538-5544.

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