Hands Across the Border
This fall has been full of activity for NDAA. In the past few months we have participated in several new ventures, been active on Capitol Hill to secure funding for the NDAA training programs at the Ernest F. Hollings National Advocacy Center (NAC) and bid farewell to some long-time employees and friends of NDAA.
In October, NDAA was invited by our Canadian counterparts to participate in the Hands Across the Border Conference in North Conway, New Hampshire. Over the past year NDAA has established a good working relationship with our neighbors to the north and this conference marked the first official, organized meeting of American and Canadian prosecutors in the United States. The conference was an outstanding success and provided an opportunity to discuss prosecutorial challenges that are common between the United States and Canada or that result from border issues. NDAA Treasurer Jim Reams, county attorney, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, served as the conference chair and was a gracious host. I would like to extend my appreciation to Sabin Ouellet, acting chief prosecutor, Office of the Director of Criminal & Penal Prosecutions, Quebec, Canada, who has contributed a great deal to the U.S. and Canada partnership. I would also like to recognize Evert Fowle, district attorney, Kennebec County, Maine, who contributed immensely to the success of the conference.
On October 13, NDAA collaborated with the Humane Society of the United States to recognize several law enforcement officers and prosecutors with awards for their work to protect animals. A detailed description of the recipients can be found in “Names in the News.” Congratulations to all of the recipients of this honor.
Also in October, the National College of District Attorneys (NCDA) hosted NDAA’s annual Domestic Violence Conference. This year the conference had 800 registrants, a large increase from previous years. I would like to commend Dean Mary Galvin and the NCDA staff who worked so hard to make this conference such a huge success.
The annual Domestic Violence Conference is just one of many programs NDAA conducts. The Ernest F. Hollings National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, is our premier training center. As most of our membership is aware, this facility is vitally important to provide necessary training to state and local prosecutors. NDAA has been working tirelessly to ensure that federal funding is appropriated for the center, but we are also calling upon our membership to assist us in our efforts.
In a previous issue of this magazine, I announced the establishment of an endowment fund that would provide NDAA programs with unrestricted funds, allowing the development of new and innovative programs and research demanded by the prosecutorial community. While NDAA will still pursue invaluable federal funding, the endowment will create independence for our organization and provide a means to develop and sustain important programs. The endowment proceeds will be invested in an account and the interest on that investment will be used to fund NDAA programs. If this endowment is sufficiently funded, it will ensure organizational wealth over an extended period of time and provide financial security for NDAA. As I did when I introduced the endowment, I am calling on our members to contribute to this important fund by researching the possibility of donating state asset forfeiture funds and campaign resources in your state. If you have any questions or would like to make a donation to this important resource, please call me at 703.549.9222.
During the course of our pursuit for funding, one of NDAA’s programs found an alternative means of financing its functions by creating a partnership. NDAA’s National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC) located in Winona, Minnesota, has entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children (NAPSAC). This agreement will allow NCPTC to continue its outstanding work despite limited federal funding. Unfortunately, NDAA must bid a fond farewell to the staff of NCPTC as NDAA employees. NDAA, however, plans to work closely with NAPSAC and NCPTC to continue to provide prosecutors with the most current and innovative research and training for prosecutors involved in cases of child abuse. I wish Victor Vieth and the staff in Winona much success in the future and look forward to working with them to end atrocities committed against our nation’s children.
I am excited about the many plans NDAA has made for the future. I hope that our relationship with the Canadian prosecutors continues to blossom and am certain that the endowment fund will serve our organization and membership well by providing the means to explore unchartered territories for NDAA. Stay tuned for more NDAA accomplishments in the next issue of The Prosecutor.
