Criminal Justice Day Planning Committee for National Crime Victims Rights Week 2009

Genesee County plans a unique Criminal Justice Day for Animals at Genesee Community College April 30, 2009 <!--break--> Genesee County is having a very unique event this spring as part of National Crime Victims Rights Week 2009. The week of April 26th thru May 2nd, marks 25 years of aiding victims through the Victims of Crime Act. As part of the week of remembrance for victims of domestic violence, rape, murder, DWI, hate crimes and childhood sexual abuse, our county will be for the first time, including animals as victims of abuse as well for this event. Genesee County is recognising &quot;the links&quot; between animal abuse and many human crimes. For example, American Humane and other organizations that fight for both animals and children, report that statistically 70% of households with domestic violence also report animals being abused or killed. It also reports that 40% of the victims in those homes would have left their abusers sooner had they not been afraid to leave their pets/livestock behind. 30% of children in homes witnessing animals being abused end up growing up and abusing themselves. Because of this, there are new trends in removing animals from domestic violence premises at the same time the victims leave. Pets And Womens Shelter (PAWS) and &quot;Safe Haven Shelters&quot; are on the rise. But Genesee County is also celebrating the wide array of ways in which animals aid our criminal justice system. There are new trends in Animal Assisted Therapy in which trained dogs accompany children through difficult court proceedings or help children of sexual assault through the important Child Advocacy Center procedures. We are celebrating the incredible police and fire dogs of NY State and will be having many demonstrations by them during our Criminal Justice Day at Genesee Community College on April 30th, 2009. It will be a full day of speakers and workshops highlighting all these issues. Our keynote speaker, Phil Arkow from American Humane, will be speaking on &quot;The Links&quot;. For more information on this event and registration, contact The Mental Health Association of Genesee County at 585-344-2611 or visit mhagenesee.org. Come and buy a T-shirt which will support Volunteers For Animals, our local animal shelter, that reads &quot;Our Hearts Beat Together For The Common Cause To End Violence&quot;. After all, violence is violence, whether it's against animals or people...we all need to work together to stop it.

<p>Genesee County plans a unique Criminal Justice Day for Animals at Genesee Community College April 30, 2009</p> <!--break--><p>Genesee County is having a very unique event this spring as part of National Crime Victims Rights Week 2009. The week of April 26th thru May 2nd, marks 25 years of aiding victims through the Victims of Crime Act. As part of the week of remembrance for victims of domestic violence, rape, murder, DWI, hate crimes and childhood sexual abuse, our county will be for the first time, including animals as victims of abuse as well for this event. Genesee County is recognising "the links" between animal abuse and many human crimes. For example, American Humane and other organizations that fight for both animals and children, report that statistically 70% of households with domestic violence also report animals being abused or killed. It also reports that 40% of the victims in those homes would have left their abusers sooner had they not been afraid to leave their pets/livestock behind. 30% of children in homes witnessing animals being abused end up growing up and abusing themselves. Because of this, there are new trends in removing animals from domestic violence premises at the same time the victims leave. Pets And Womens Shelter (PAWS) and "Safe Haven Shelters" are on the rise. But Genesee County is also celebrating the wide array of ways in which animals aid our criminal justice system.<br /> There are new trends in Animal Assisted Therapy in which trained dogs accompany children through difficult court proceedings or help children of sexual assault through the important Child Advocacy Center procedures. We are celebrating the incredible police and fire dogs of NY State and will be having many demonstrations by them during our Criminal Justice Day at Genesee Community College on April 30th, 2009. It will be a full day of speakers and workshops highlighting all these issues. Our keynote speaker, Phil Arkow from American Humane, will be speaking on "The Links". For more information on this event and registration, contact The Mental Health Association of Genesee County at 585-344-2611 or visit mhagenesee.org. Come and buy a T-shirt which will support Volunteers For Animals, our local animal shelter, that reads "Our Hearts Beat Together For The Common Cause To End Violence". After all, violence is violence, whether it's against animals or people...we all need to work together to stop it.</p>