A statement from SilenceIsViolence
Date: Tue, Oct. 02, 2007
October 1, 2007
Starting today, October 1, 2007, SilenceIsViolence begins a new supportive collaboration with the Violent Offenders Unit at the office of the Orleans Parish District Attorney. We are calling this effort the SilenceIsViolence Citizens VOICE (Violent Offender Intervention through Citizen Engagement) Initiative.
The first action by S/V Citizens VOICE has already been implemented: In response to widespread publicity and direct statements by Violent Offenders Unit head Bobby Freeman regarding the lack of administrative support within the Violent Offenders Unit, and the detrimental effect this lack of support is having on the retention of experienced prosecutors, we have sponsored a temporary administrative assistant who is working directly for Mr. Freeman and his attorneys. This assistant started work at the VOU this morning, and we are hopeful that her presence will have an immediate impact on the prosecution of violent cases currently in the system. Meanwhile, City Council Criminal Justice Committee Chair James Carter and the entire Council are working with the DA toward permanent solutions to this and other challenges facing our criminal justice system.
SilenceIsViolence is concerned about all aspects of public safety. However, our founding mission has been to address violent crime specifically, and it is for this reason that we have offered our support to the VOU. We look forward to working with Mr. Freeman and his attorneys toward more effective prosecution of violent offenders, while at the same time insisting on a healthy public defense system, without which it is impossible to secure quality convictions.
We welcome the community’s support of this initiative. Please contact Baty Landis (504-948-0917) or Ken Foster (504-613-7370) for information about sponsorships for the current adminstrative assistant at the VOU or about contributing to SilenceIsViolence programs and activities.
