Office of Justice Programs Weekly News Brief

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released today by the Office of Justice Programs:

Check Out NMVTIS Report Before Buying Vehicles – Consumers can protect themselves from buying a flood-damaged vehicle by purchasing a National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) vehicle history report available at www.vehiclehistory.com. This system, funded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is the only publicly available system in the country that requires all insurance carriers, auto recyclers, junk and salvage yards, and states to report vehicle information. Read BJA Director Denise O'Donnell's blog at http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/1613.

Upcoming Events:
The month of October has several national observances: National Cyber Security Awareness, Crime Prevention, and Domestic Violence Awareness.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month - Every year, criminals use clever schemes to defraud millions of people around the world. They often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. In recognition of the importance of cybersecurity awareness, in addition to National Crime Prevention Month, President Obama has designated October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The federal government is committed to raising awareness and ensuring all citizens know it is our shared responsibility to remain vigilant and help secure cyberspace. Visit www.dhs.gov/cybersecurityawarenessmonth for more information on National Cyber Security Awareness Month and to get great tips on cyber safety.

Crime Prevention Month - In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) designated October as Crime Prevention Month. The Bureau of Justice Assistance, along with NCPC, will Celebrate Safe Communities in October with weekly themes highlighted on NCPC's Website. The themes will be: Home Safety, October 3-8; Crime Reporting and Community Engagement, October 9 -15; School and Campus Safety, October 16-22, and Drug Abuse and Prevention, October 23-29. http://www.ncpc.org/programs/celebrate-safe-communities

Domestic Violence Awareness Month – More details about the impact of domestic violence and local observances for the month are available at http://dvam.vawnet.org/about/index.php

Contact: Office of Justice Programs
Telephone: (202) 307-0703
WWW.OJP.GOV

SOURCE The Office of Justice Programs