Office of Justice Programs Weekly News Brief

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the Office of Justice Programs:

OJJDP Welcomes New Principal Deputy Administrator, Acting Administrator – The White House has designated Melodee Hanes to serve as the new Principal Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).  Hanes served for 16 years as a deputy county attorney prosecuting child abuse, sexual assault and homicide cases, and for years trained and lectured on child abuse-related topics.  She recently served as counselor to OJJDP's Acting Administrator, Jeff Slowikowski, who will now become the Acting Deputy Administrator for Policy. 

AAG Speaks at Conference of Mayors Meeting, Discusses Youth Violence – In remarks at the United States Conference of Mayors 80th Winter Meeting on Thursday, January 19, at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., Laurie O. Robinson, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, spoke about Administration public safety initiatives, with an emphasis on youth violence, saying, "The centerpiece of our efforts to address youth violence is the National Forum for Youth Violence Prevention.  It brings together groups across the spectrum – local and federal leaders, law enforcement, educators, public health providers, community and faith-based representatives, parents and young people – to share ideas about effective and affordable ways to prevent youth violence."

January is Stalking Awareness Month – To commemorate Stalking Awareness Month, the Office on Violence Against Women, the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services are sponsoring an event on January 27, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Department of Justice's 7th Floor Conference Room, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. National stalking experts will discuss ways to identify stalking behavior, including cyber-stalking, and what parents, community members and professionals can do collectively to stop this crime.  The program also will feature a video about recent technologies used by perpetrators to stalk victims, and a demonstration of a newly released online training for law enforcement and allied professionals on how law enforcement can use the same technology used to track victims to stop perpetrators.  To register for this event, call (202) 305-1177.

SOURCE Department of Justice