FBI Jackson
Public Affairs Officer Marshay Lawson
(601)-948-5000 | fbijacksonmedia@fbi.gov
December 5, 2014

FBI’s Jackson Field Office Announces 2014 Recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

The Center for Violence Prevention has been awarded the 2014 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi, presented the award to Executive Director Sandy Middleton during the Jackson Field Office All-Employee Conference on Friday, December 5, 2014. The Center for Violence Prevention (Center) is a non-profit organization that was established in 1990. The Center advocates that every person has the right to a life free from violence. The Center focuses on the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault clients through partnerships with multiple community organizations and a committed staff. The Center is funded through federal and state grants, private foundations, businesses, civic organizations, churches, and individuals.

Sandy Middleton, Executive Director, The Center for Violence Prevention

Since 1990, the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) has been a principal means by which the FBI has publicly recognized the achievements of individuals and organizations who have worked diligently to prevent crime and drug and gang violence and to promote education in their community. Each of the FBI’s field offices selects one individual or organization each year to receive this award.

The Center for Violence Prevention is a dual domestic violence and sexual assault service provider that offers emergency and supportive services to promote victim recovery and restoration of autonomy. Services are available to victims of domestic and dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, and human trafficking, without consideration of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation or sexual identity, language, or disability. The Center’s mission is to advocate, through multiple community partners and its staff, that every person has the right to a life free from violence. Its goal is to help individuals begin a productive life, independent of abusive relationships. Trauma-informed services include a 24-hour crisis hotline and emergency room crisis response to sexual assault victims. Case Management workers assist with housing, GED classes, job training skills, vocational support, medical and legal aid, substance abuse support, and referrals for financial assistance. Out-patient counseling, in the form of one-on-one, family, and group counseling by professionals, is available to the community on a sliding fee scale.

The Center’s staff receives continued local and national training on advancements in evidence based treatments that promote recovery, autonomy, and prevention. In turn, training is provided to organizations and community groups on domestic violence and related issues through workshops offered by the Center free of charge.

The target population for The Center includes victims living within ten counties in Central Mississippi: Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Issaquena, Madison, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson, Warren, and Yazoo.

During 2014, the Center’s Sexual Assault Program Coordinator obtained the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification. The Program Coordinator is the second SANE- certified person in the state of Mississippi. The SANE certification will help to ensure that victims receive justice in areas that lack forensic proficiency.

On April 5, 2014, the Center hosted a Human Trafficking Conference, A Call to Action: “Identify and Stop Human Trafficking.” The conference focused on informing parents and the community about human trafficking for ages 18 and up in Brandon, Mississippi.

On July 19, 2014, funds raised from the 10th Annual Jackson Free Press Chick Charity Ball were donated to the Center to support its domestic violence shelters and other programs.

“On behalf of Director James Comey,” stated SAC Alway, “the Jackson Field Office of the FBI is pleased to present the 2014 Director’s Community Leadership Award to The Center for Violence Prevention for their service to clients of domestic violence and sexual assault, and for their notable partnerships through which these services are made possible.”