In an effort to reduce crime and violence, early intervention research programs such as the Junior Commonwealth’s Attorney Summer Program (JCAP) work to strengthen crime prevention and educational outreach. This free opportunity allows students a chance to engage and interact with criminal justice professionals such as law enforcement and attorneys. Students participate in an exciting and engaging curriculum to include courtroom observations and field trips to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hampton Police Department, Virginia State Capitol, Hampton Courts, Hampton 911 Center and Office of the Attorney General.
2nd Edition of “Breaking Bread: Our Lives on a Plate”; a compilation cookbook of recipes that were favorites of Homicide Victims
The Hon. Linda Bachelor Smith administering the oath of office to Anton A. Bell as he continues to serve as Hampton’s Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The Hon. Linda Bachelor Smith administering the oath of office to Anton A. Bell as he continues to serve as Hampton’s Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The Hon. Linda Bachelor Smith administering the oath of office to Anton A. Bell as he continues to serve as Hampton’s Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell speaking at Christopher Newport University Investiture Meeting
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office provided 2,158 meals through food and fund donations to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell chose five angels from Mark Crump State Farm Agency’s Angel Tree benefiting the Hampton Boys and Girls Club
The Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell delivering gifts to benefit the Hampton Boys and Girls Club.
Hampton Police hand out schools supplies for the NAACP Back to School Drive
Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell hands out school supplies for the NAACP Back to School Drive
Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell hands out school supplies for the NAACP Back to School Drive
Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell and the Junior Commonwealth’s Attorney Program Participants
Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell and the Junior Commonwealth’s Attorney Program Participants
R.E.S.E.T. Rapid Engagement of Support in the Event of Trauma
The Rapid Engagement of Support in the Event of Trauma, or R.E.S.E.T., was designed to inform residents about the help and resources available to community members following a homicide. In conjunction with a Violent Crime Specialist, R.E.S.E.T. recruits and trains volunteers to participate in homicide activations, directs service delivery to crime victims and their families via telephone and in person. Volunteers offer emotional support, resources, referrals and assist with struggles created by victimization. In the event a homicide occurs, the Violent Crime Specialist is contacted and notifies our city’s 311 program to muster a group of R.E.S.E.T trained volunteers to dispatch to the area where the crime occurred. Once the group arrives, the Violent Crime Specialist will provide a brief overview and directions, volunteers will begin distributing information within the community. Once the activation is completed, the Violent Crime Specialist provides a debriefing session with volunteers before departing.
Homicide Survivors Support Group
This group supports adults who have lost a loved one through the criminal actions of another. Sessions are facilitated by a licensed clinician who meets with participants bi-weekly for 15 sessions. This support group is open to past and present survivors in Hampton and surrounding areas.
Restorative Justice Program
Restorative Justice is a program designed to hold defendants accountable and help them understand how their behavior has affected others. The goal of the Restorative Justice Program (RJP) is to promote healing among the victims, defendants, and communities impacted by crime. Restorative Justice is a face-to-face conference attended by the defendant, victim, and other potential stakeholders. A trained Restorative Justice facilitator runs the conference.
The restorative conference allows for affected individuals to come together to:
Hear what happened.
Understand different perspectives.
Learn how everyone has been impacted.
Decide how to repair the harm.
Senior CARE Program
The Senior CARE Program serves citizens of the community over 60 years of age who are particularly vulnerable to crime and becoming victims of crime. This program centralizes outreach and engagement with seniors throughout the community. This program provides:
Community activities.
Weekly communication that encompass available resources.
Education on safety plans.
The emotional and physical well-being is a priority.
Facilities community engagement to promote a sense of belonging.
Domestic Violence HOPE Card
HOPE Cards are durable, wallet-sized cards available to petitioners in family abuse protective orders when a final order of protection has been entered. HOPE Cards list the provisions included in a final protective order and are designed for petitioners’ convenience. The size of a credit card, HOPE Cards are an easier way for petitioners to keep active protective orders on their person at all times. HOPE Cards also make identification of protected parties easier for law enforcement, and alert officers if a weapon was involved.
HOPE Cards are available by application only and are FREE to protective order petitioners.
Hispanic Outreach and Engagement
This program develops and delivers preventative education programs on a variety of topics including but not limited to Victim Services to empower the Hispanic community and other underserved populations by ensuring equal access to resources. Awareness is raised on priority issues through outreach and communication activities including radio, blogs, community events, presentations/trainings, social media engagement and community development.
Lethality Assessment Program — LAP
The Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) is an innovative approach used to help identify victims of domestic violence who are at the highest risk (high danger) of being seriously injured or killed by their intimate partners. Based on evidence that victims who access domestic violence services reduce their risk for serious injury/homicide, LAP provides an “immediate, consistent, and proportional response” through use of a two-stage protocol: (1) a standardized, evidence-based lethality assessment tool is used by trained law enforcement officers in response to an intimate partner domestic violence call to identify victims in high danger of serious injury or homicide, and (2) identified victims are immediately connected to a local domestic violence service program through a local domestic violence hotline. This protocol can also be expanded for use by other first responders such as health care professionals.
