FBI Honors Birmingham’s Prescott House with Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2012

BIRMINGHAM—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Richard D. Schwein, Jr., announced that Prescott House is the recipient of the 2012 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). SAC Schwein presented a certificate to Mary Murphy, executive director of Prescott House, at a press conference held today at FBI Birmingham headquarters. Ms. Murphy will represent Prescott House and attend a presentation in April 2013 in Washington, D.C., where FBI Director Robert Mueller will present a formal award to her and other recipients from across the country.

Since 1990, the FBI has recognized individuals and organizations whose achievements in the terrorism, crime, drug, and gang or violence prevention/education field had an exemplary impact on the community. Each year, the SAC of each FBI field office selects an individual or organization that has made a major contribution in these areas.

Prescott House was founded in 1987 by retired Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber and is believed to be the second oldest children’s advocacy center in the United States, serving Jefferson and surrounding counties in Alabama, providing services to children who may have witnessed or been victims of abuse or trauma.

Prescott House conducts approximately 500 forensic interviews each year and approximately 150 counseling sessions. Counselors provide court preparation to child victims and accompany child victims when they testify in court.

Prescott House serves the community by providing a safe, professional, and caring environment for child victims of abuse or children who may have witnessed a violent crime to make a disclosure while investigators and prosecuting attorneys assigned to the case watch the interview via closed circuit television, thus saving the child victim from repeatedly recounting the abuse. 2012 marks their 25th anniversary of service to the community.

“It is difficult for us to think that our children may become victims of violent or sexual crimes, but sadly it happens more often than we care to imagine. The services Prescott House has provided to law enforcement over the years in interviewing and counseling child victims has assisted in bringing many predators to justice and for that we should all be thankful. The Director’s Community Leadership Award is the FBI’s way of expressing that thanks publically,” said SAC Schwein.

“On behalf of the board of directors and staff of Prescott House, I am very humbled and honored to accept this award. The abuse of a child represents a tragedy for the child’s family and for our entire community. Prescott House exists so that child abuse victims can become child abuse survivors and feel safe forever. Thank you for recognizing the work that we perform for our community,” said Murphy.

For more information, visit their website at www.prescotthouse.org