PHILADELPHIA (December 30, 2024)—Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Monday recognized and commended local victim advocacy groups for their tireless work in supporting victims and witnesses of violent crime in 2024, for their efforts to address the harm that often fuels the cycle of violence, and for their role in helping to dramatically reduce the number of violent crime incidents. The organizations recognized are the following:
* Northwest Victim Services
* Central Division Victim Services
* Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence
* Northeast Victim Services
* Women Against Abuse
* Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia
* Support Center for Child Advocates
* Concilio
* Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia
“Make no mistake,” said DA Krasner. “These organizations are playing a significant role in driving the largest decrease in homicides in Philadelphia’s history, and for three consecutive years, our city has led the nation in the reduction of violent crime. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office greatly values our partnerships with these groups, and we commend them for their hard and often thankless work. Simply put, we cannot make this city safer without your dedication to victims, co-victims, and witnesses.”
“Our role as Victim Advocates at the DAO is to provide comprehensive services within the criminal justice system,” said Mariel Delacruz, Director of the DAO’s Victim Services Division. “Because of the partnerships, we are able to reach our society’s most marginalized and those most impacted by violence. We look forward to our continued partnerships in the New Year and beyond.”
“We help victims and witnesses in the aftermath of crime by providing services including court support, short-term crisis counseling, victim compensation assistance, a youth restorative justice program in coordination with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and more,” said Wanda Pichardo, a Victim Advocate at Victim Witness Services of South Philadelphia. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the DA’s Office and other community stakeholders going into 2025.”
CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, [email protected]
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.