May 21, 2009
Media Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: (850) 245-0150
Attorney General Hosts 24th Annual Crime Prevention Conference
~ Conference highlights strategies communities can utilize to keep crime out of their streets ~
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today addressed attendees at the 24th Annual Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community in Jacksonville. The conference, established by the Florida Attorney General’s Office in 1985 and co-hosted with Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker’s Office, is a cooperative effort to encourage communication and action within local communities by showcasing innovative ideas and successful prevention strategies that focus on crime issues in African-American neighborhoods. In his remarks, the Attorney General McCollum spoke about preventing crime by focusing on youth.
“The key to preventing crime involves assisting and working with our children,” said Attorney General Bill McCollum. “We must teach our children how to resist the negative influences in their lives and provide opportunities to participate in all that is positive.”
The National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community attracts law enforcement officers throughout Florida and the country. Other invitees include state agency heads, county commissioners, mayors, victim advocates, educators, community members and church groups. A special series of programs is also available for youth.
“This conference provides us a unique opportunity to explore creative ways to prevent crime from ever happening in our communities,” said Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker. “Making our communities safe places to live, work and raise a family is of paramount concern not only to the elected officials at this conference, but also the community leaders, parents and youth working daily to make sure that each evening is a little safer than the day before.”
The conference was designed to address issues relating to the disproportionate number of African-Americans who are under the supervision of the criminal justice system. Attendees at the conference will discuss, among other topics, the growing threat of gang violence and how it affects African American youth and communities, successful programs and alternatives to criminal involvement and gang membership and crimes against African Americans and how to avoid becoming a victim.
This year’s conference is being held in Jacksonville at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel. Additional information, including a full schedule of events, is available online at http://www.preventblackcrime.com. So far, the conference has over 1,000 registered participants.