Public Safety

Public Invited to Violence Prevention Summit

Police, prosecutors and probation officers all enforce the law. Most of them would agree, preventing crime in the first place is the best kind of law enforcement.

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Police, prosecutors and probation officers all enforce the law. Most of them would agree, preventing crime in the first place is the best kind of law enforcement.

That’s why San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and members of her office and County Probation Department officers will join the San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention for the Community Violence Prevention Summit in San Diego Saturday.

 “It’s important that as a community we’re focused on crime prevention in addition to prosecution,” DA Dumanis said.  “This summit is a step in the right direction and another example of how law enforcement works alongside our partners in the community to reduce crime and prevent violence.”

 The public is welcome to attend the summit at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. Its aim is to educate participants about gang and violence prevention initiatives and provide strategies to encourage cooperation between law enforcement and community organizations.

 A diverse group of speakers includes representatives from the DA, San Diego Police Department, the County Probation Department, the San Diego County Office of Education and community organizations. They will discuss a variety of topics, including successful programs already in use in schools and the community.

 Breakout sessions include Know Your Rights, Safe School Zones, Public Safety Roundtable, and Faith-Based Strategies. The keynote speaker is Julio Marcial, Program Director of The California Wellness Foundation.

 Probation Director Gonzalo Mendez said a diverse group that included the Health and Human Services Agency, community organizations and law enforcement combined to organize the summit.

 “We  all want to work with the community to prevent violence and  keep people out of the criminal justice system,” he said.

The summit begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation at 404 Euclid Ave., in San Diego. Continuing Education Units are available for attendees. Register online.

 For more information contact: (619) 533-4874.