Columbus – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today opened the 20th annual Two Days in May Conference, bringing together the dedicated men and women who help victims of crime. This nationally recognized victim advocacy conference works to continually improve the services offered to crime victims and discover new ways to help. More than 1000 people are expected to attend.
“As a former prosecutor, I recognize that it is important not only to investigate and prosecute crime, but also to ensure that the rights of victims are always acknowledged and protected,” said Attorney General DeWine. “I am proud that Ohio has such a long-standing commitment to crime victim assistance through the Two Days in May Conference.”
Sessions over the two-day conference include: Sexting: A Threat to our Youth; Child/Adolescent Response to Critical Incidents; Domestic Violence and Stalking Law 101; The Connections of Bullying, Dating Violence and Relationship Violence; Crime Scene Cleanup: The Real Cost; and The Tina Project: Complying With the New Dating Violence Prevention Education Law.
The Ohio Elder Abuse Research Symposium, a first for Ohio, will also be held during the conference on Tuesday. Too often, cases of elderly abuse go unreported. This symposium seeks to generate research on ways to identify, address and prevent elder abuse.
Also new this year is the announcement of the use of photos of missing children and adults being placed on the envelopes used by sections of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Approximately 100,000 letters will go out monthly in these envelopes, offering another opportunity to make more Ohioans aware of missing people.
Ohio Attorney General DeWine opens the conference on Monday morning. He will also be presenting several awards Tuesday for outstanding efforts in helping victims: Lora Besse, of Hamilton County, will receive the 2011 Special Achievement Award; and the Genesis House Teen Street Team, in Lorain County, will receive the 2011 Promising Practice Award.
Lydia Mattingly, student at Liberty-Benton Elementary, Findlay, is the Ohio Winner of the 2011 National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest; Karly Loesch and Daniel Mills are the second- and third-place winners, respectively. Both are from State Road Elementary in Parma.
Media Contacts:
Lisa Hackley 614-466-3840
Mark Moretti 614-466-3840