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OREGON CITY, Or. -- Every April, the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office sponsors an event highlighting services and assistance available to crime victims, especially to families or individuals affected by domestic violence, sex abuse, child abuse or elder abuse.
A dozen state and local agencies and non-profits will be on hand this year to provide information about how they can help.
“When someone is the victim of a crime it can feel very lonely,” said Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth. “My goal, and the purpose of this event, is to let crime victims know these organizations are here to support you.”
That support comes in many forms: Help in escaping an abusive relationship, information about how sexual assault cases are handled, explaining how child welfare investigations are conducted or the comfort provided by therapy dogs to crime victims.
This year, the event runs from 2-5 p.m. April 10 in the plaza next to the Clackamas County Courthouse, 807 Main St., Oregon City. The event is held in April in conjunction with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Crime Victims Rights Week.
Wentworth and representatives of the DA’s victim’s assistance program and A Safe Place Family Justice Center will be available for interviews.
“Improving services that aid and assist domestic violence victims is a top priority for me and my office,” Wentworth said.
Savanah Mohr will share her personal story of domestic violence, its aftermath, her experience with the legal system and the support she received from the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office and other agencies.
Oregon City Police Chief Shaun Davis will be a featured speaker.
The county’s Victim Assistance Program offices can help in many ways: finding safe housing, financial assistant, counseling, protective orders and guiding victims through legal system. This help is open to all victims, even if they haven’t reported a crime to authorities.
“The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office has the experience, the training and a great track record supporting crime victims and holding offenders appropriately accountable,” said Scott Healy, First Assistant District Attorney, who organized the event.
Below is a list of the organizations that will be at the event. A Safe Place Family Justice Center is an especially important link in the chain because it’s a one-stop center for women and families fleeing abuse or domestic violence:
- Clackamas County DA’s Office
- Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital (therapy dogs)
- Clackamas County Juvenile Department
- Clackamas Women’s Services
- Oregon Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Unit
- A Safe Place Family Justice Center
- Providence SANE (sexual assault nurse examiners)
- Clackamas County Children’s Center
- Safety Compass
- Oregon Department of Human Services
- Northwest Family Services
- Parrott Creek Child and Family Services
