Oklahoma DA’s To Speak Out Against Domestic Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2014
OKLAHOMA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION AND VERIZON COLLABORATE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
District Attorneys to lead awareness/ education efforts in their local communities
OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 16, 2014) – The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association (ODAA) and Verizon announce the second “District Attorneys Against Domestic Violence” (DA’s Against DV) collaboration. Together, their efforts will help raise awareness of domestic violence in communities across the state.
The ODAA seeks to foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the prosecuting attorneys, and improve and facilitate the administration of justice in the State of Oklahoma. The 27 elected district attorneys are responsible for prosecuting all crimes in their respective districts and as a result, the district attorneys see first-hand the affects of domestic violence and sexual assault on their communities and are together dedicated to strengthening the state’s response to this devastating crime.
“Approximately one in four women are victims of domestic violence,” said Chris Ross, president of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association. “A growing problem within our communities, we are determined to help the victims of domestic violence learn about the ways of getting help. Oklahoma is ranked third in the nation for the number of females murdered by men in single victim/single offender incidents. By combining the support of all the district attorneys of Oklahoma, we hope to further provide opportunities to raise awareness throughout all 77 counties in Oklahoma.”
The awareness campaign will involve HopeLine phone drives in district attorneys’ offices across the state. HopeLine is a program by Verizon that takes donations of no-longer-used cell phones and cell phone accessories and turns them into a “hope” line for survivors of domestic violence. The donated phones are refurbished, loaded with free wireless minutes, and given to domestic violence shelters and other support organizations as tools to help provide victims with a private and reliable phone for contacting family, counselors or prospective employers as they work to rebuild their lives.
In addition, each district attorney will have the opportunity to host a free screening of the documentary Telling Amy’s Story. The documentary is the true story of a young mother who died at the hands of her husband as she was trying to leave their abusive relationship. It is a powerful testimony of how quickly, and subtly, a troubled relationship can turn deadly.
“United with the same goal, we hope our joint effort with the district attorneys in Oklahoma will make a difference for victims of domestic violence in Oklahoma,” said Kristi Crum, president of Verizon Oklahoma. “We appreciate the work the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association has done and we know they have great influence in their local communities. Together we can make a difference.”
To learn more about HopeLine or Telling Amy’s Story, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline or www.telling.psu.edu.
Media Opportunity: The ODAA will host a press conference to kick off the 2014 DAs Against DV collaboration with Verizon Oklahoma. The press conference will take place on Sept. 18, 2014 at 1:15 p.m. in the Blue Room located at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Media is welcomed to attend. Representatives from the DA’s Against DV collaboration will be available for interviews and questions following the press conference.
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About Oklahoma District Attorneys
Oklahoma’s seventy-seven counties are divided into twenty-seven District Attorney districts, comprising one to five counties each. Oklahoma’s twenty-seven elected District Attorneys are tasked with the responsibility for prosecuting criminal violations within their districts. The prevalence of domestic violence crime in Oklahoma continues each year. In 2013, 22,801 reports of domestic violence were made by Oklahoma law enforcement. District Attorneys treat crimes of domestic violence seriously, taking steps to ensure that offenders are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that victims are served throughout the process. For more information, visit http://www.ok.gov/dac/. For information on victims’ rights, visit the Victims Services Division of the District Attorneys Council at http://www.ok.gov/dac/Victims/index.html.