Layout 1 (Page 1) - Chief Executive Office - Los Angeles County

PUBLIC SAFETY
NEW PROGRAM IN PLACE TO
PROSECUTE ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES
A new program is in place to
ensure uniformity throughout the
County in prosecuting cruelty
cases and to let the public know
abuse of any animal will not be
tolerated.
Deputy District Attorney Deborah
Knaan, who has extensive
experience in animal-related
Deborah Knaan
issues, will serve as the Los
Angeles County Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator. As a
result of this new program, prosecutors and law
enforcement officers throughout Los Angeles County
will be better trained to investigate and prosecute
animal abuse cases and all branch offices will designate
a specific deputy district attorney to prosecute animal
cruelty cases.
In the Antelope Valley, Knaan will be working closely
with the Sheriff’s Department. “We want to offer training
for any deputies and police officers who would like it on
how to investigate animal cruelty cases, collecting
evidence and writing reports,” she said.
Anyone who has information on animal cruelty should
call the Lancaster or Palmdale Sheriff’s Stations.
To report
ILLEGAL DUMPING, call
(888) 8-DUMPING
50 | ANTELOPE VALLEY CONNECTION | Enriching Lives
Office of the
District Attorney
Antelope Valley Branch Office
42011 4th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 974-7700
http://da.lacounty.gov
Bad Check Restitution Program
More than $21 million in restitution has been
returned to victims through the Los Angeles County
District Attorney Office’s Bad Check Restitution
Program over the past several years.
This program was established to allow first-time bad
check writers to pay full restitution to their victims
and attend a diversion class in lieu of criminal
prosecution. Victims are able to recoup lost funds,
including any bank charges, at absolutely no cost to
them or to taxpayers. Bad check writers who
successfully complete the class have a recidivism rate
of less than five percent, demonstrating the effectiveness
of the classes.
For more information about the program, filing a
complaint, and tips on how to avoid being a victim
of bad checks, visit http://da.lacounty.gov/bad
check.htm or call (800) 842-0733.
SAFELY SURRENDERED
BABY PROGRAM
The Safely Surrendered Baby Law Program allows a parent with
lawful custody to surrender a newborn child (72 hours or
younger) to any firefighter on duty at any fire station in Los Angeles
County or at a hospital emergency room.
The Safe Surrender Hotline (877) BABY-SAFE (222-9723) is
available 24 hours per day to provide information, counseling,
and referrals for anyone at-risk of abandoning a newborn baby.
The hotline is staffed by professionals who speak more than
160 languages. You may also visit the website at
www.babysafela.org.