MAYOR ANDRE SAYEGH AND PATERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ANNOUNCE HIRING OF A VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE WITHIN THE PATERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Advocate will support victims whose cases are being prosecuted or investigated within local courts who are otherwise not eligible for existing victim witness services                       

PATERSON – The City of Paterson and Paterson Police Department have hired the City’s first Victim Witness Advocate. This individual will have the sole responsibility to support victims of crime through investigative and prosecutorial processes that take place at the local level. This position will be funded through a competitive grant from the US Department of Justice’s FY2020 Law Enforcement-based Victim Specialist Program, which amounts to $450,000 to be used over a three-year period. The position and program are meant to support those who are not eligible for comparable services through the Hospital-based Violent Crime Interruption Program (HVIP) or Victim Witness Services provided by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

             WHO: Mayor Andre Sayegh

Police Director Jerry Speziale

Lt. Todd Pearl

             WHAT: Inaugural Victim Witness Advocate Role in the City of Paterson

WHEN: Thursday, June 3 at 12 pm

             WHERE: Paterson Police Department, 111 Broadway