PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

February 7, 2005

Contact: William J. Smith (718) 556-7150

District Attorney’s Office to Sponsor Contest to Create Mural
Paying Tribute to Crime Victims

***D.A. Donovan Challenges Staten Island’s High Schools Students to Create Murals, Coinciding with National Crime Victims Week***

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Staten Island District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan Jr. is sponsoring a competition among Staten Island’s High Schools to create a mural commemorating victims of crime to be permanently displayed in his office. The competition coincides with the 25th Anniversary of President Ronald Reagan declaring the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, held April 10th through the 16th, 2005. The annual remembrance promotes victims' rights and services in all sectors of our society.

The theme of this Silver Anniversary is “Justice Isn’t Served Until Crime Victims Are.” This message focuses attention on victims’ needs for justice, for comprehensive services to help them cope in the aftermath of crime, and for the right to be treated with dignity and compassion by our justice system and society.

“Too often we, as a society, often neglect victims of crime, who are involuntary participants in the criminal justice system,” stated District Attorney Donovan. “It is my hope that this mural, created by students, the future of this community, will remind the public of the sacrifices endured by crime victims to see that justice is served.”

District Attorney Donovan is asking the Island’s High Schools to participate by holding competitions within their school’s arts programs to select one submission to represent their institution. The submissions selected from each school will then be displayed within the District Attorney’s office for the duration of Crime Victim’s Week.

A three person panel has been appointed to select one of the submissions to be permanently displayed. The selection panel will consist of: Yolanda L. Rudich, Chief of the D.A.’s Sex Crimes/Special Victims Bureau as well as Joan A. Cusack, Chairwoman of the New York State Crime Victims Board, and Mary Santaromita, a victim’s advocate from the District Attorney’s office.

Each student selected to represent their school will receive a Certificate of Merit from the District Attorney. The submissions should follow the following guidelines: a flat drawing, painting, photograph and limited to a size no larger than 3 feet by 4 feet. The deadline for submissions will be March 25, 2005. The selection of the permanent mural will be announced at a ceremony at the District Attorney’s office during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. School personnel seeking more information on the contest should contact William J. Smith, Communications Director for the District Attorney at 718-556-7150.

Students seeking to learn more about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week can consult a website maintained by the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. It is located at online at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw/welcome.html