Release Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:10 p.m.
Associate Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul J. Powers spoke on behalf of the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office at the 2010 Virginia Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Professional Development Institute yesterday afternoon at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach.
Powers addressed Institute attendees as part of a session entitled, “When a Child is Abused– Understanding the System.” In addition to remarks by Powers, the session included remarks and experiences of Michele Thames, Kathy Phillips, and Michelle Clayton of the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters Child Abuse Program; Robin Guenthner and Nadia Howell of Child Protective Services; and Brendan Paulson and Lanis Geluso of the Virginia Beach Police Department Special Victims Unit.
Powers addressed some of the more serious felony offenses committed against children, the challenges child victims commonly face, and the role of the Juvenile Prosecution Team in assisting them throughout the criminal legal process. The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Juvenile Prosecution Team consists of seven attorneys and three paralegals devoted to prosecuting all cases involving juvenile defendants and victims.
“The Juvenile Prosecution Team handles about 3,000 cases involving juveniles per year,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Bryant said. “These attorneys have specialized training in working with children and are dedicated to seeking justice for children who have been abused. I certainly appreciate the Institute’s interest in this very serious subject.”
Please contact Macie Pridgen if additional information is desired.
Associate Commonwealth's Attorney, Paul Powers
Top, Left to Right: Dina Blythe, CHKD; Michele Thames, CHKD; Robin Guenthner, CPS; Nadia Howell, CPS; Brendan Paulson, VBPD Special Victims Unit; Sandra "Sam" Fabian, CHKD; Michelle Clayton, CHKD; Bottom, Left to Right: Paul Powers, OCA; Lanis Geluso, VBPD Special Victims Unit; Kathy Phillips, CHKD.
Similar Press Releases: child abuse, child neglect, Harvey Bryant, indecent liberties, Paul Powers
