[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            LAFOURCHE PARISH POLICE SOCIAL SERVICES SECTION

 Mr. VITTER. Madam President, today I wish to recognize and pay 
tribute to the heroic men and women of the Police Social Services 
Section, PSS, of Lafourche Parish, LA, for their victim advocacy, 
courage, Federal leadership, and professional innovation in victim 
services. I would like to take some time to make a few remarks on their 
tireless efforts and work on behalf of crime victims.
  National Crime Victims' Rights Week will be observed from April 26 to 
May 2, 2009. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the passage of the 
Victims of Crime Act of 1984, which created the Office for Victims of 
Crime and is responsible for nearly $7 billion in support for crime 
victim compensation, assistance, and other programs that serve victims. 
On Thursday, April 23, Attorney General Holder will preside over a 
national candlelight observance and will join victims, victim 
advocates, criminal justice professionals, and members of the public to 
remember crime victims and reflect on progress made in improving 
victims' rights.
  On Friday, April 24, the PSS of Lafourche Parish will receive the 
Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services. Team members 
include: LT. Karla S. Beck, Ms. Deanna Dufrene, SGT. Valerie Day, 
Deputy Dale Savoie, Deputy Walter Tenney, Deputy Delaune Boudreaux, 
Advocate Tamera Joseph, Deputy Rebecca Shaver, Deputy Amy Guillot, 
Deputy Pam Guedry, and Reservist Bernard Lafaso. The team is unique in 
their innovative and significant efforts on behalf of victim services. 
The PSS Elderly Services Officer is a devoted, full-time, extensive 
case manager, visiting the local nursing home and community Council on 
Aging groups to provide assistance, services, and education to older 
victims, their family members and caregivers. They also implemented the 
Crime Victims with Disabilities Program to address victims with 
disabilities, and also developed a model curriculum, ``Beyond the 
Barriers: Crisis Intervention Training,'' that has been used to educate 
law enforcement personnel throughout Louisiana. They were also awarded 
a grant in 2007 to establish Supervised Visitation Centers--a safe 
space for children to transition from one parent to another. Due to 
PSS, the Sherriff's Office has received numerous awards and national 
and State recognition. PSS started with one full-time deputy and one 
volunteer. Today, PSS has 12 full-time deputies, two auxiliary 
deputies, two volunteers, and administrative support, all of whom work 
together to improve the lives of victims in the aftermath of crime.
  Today, I applaud the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office for being 
honored by the Department of Justice for their victim advocacy and 
thank them for their continued service to the people of Louisiana and 
the rest of the Nation.

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