Course Brings Trainers From Across Country To Share Knowledge With Louisiana Law Enforcement And Prosecutors

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley gave opening remarks this morning to law enforcement officers and prosecutors from across the state who traveled to Lafayette to attend the “Hitting the Mark: Louisiana” course being held at the Clifton Chenier Center.   

The National District Attorneys’ Association (NDAA) is presenting the course, which is also being co-hosted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Western, Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana, the Lafayette Police Department, and the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC).  The Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance, which is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, supported the event with a grant.

The course, which takes place today and Wednesday, brings trainers from Utah, Virginia, Georgia and Washington, D.C., to instruct those engaged in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of criminal street gangs, violent felons and firearms perpetrators.  Subjects covered at the training include: gangs and guns, drugs and guns, a presentation on a “Prima Facie” gun case, federal firearms prosecution of domestic violence offenders, search and seizure, and characteristics of armed criminals.

“This course gives personnel from attorneys and law enforcement offices on a federal, state and local level the opportunity to sharpen their investigative and prosecutorial skills,” Finley said. “The information provided at this course will give those attending the tools to better bring criminals to justice.  I am proud that the Western District was the site for this event.  I also want to thank the U.S. Attorneys from the Middle and Eastern District of Louisiana, Walt Green and Dana Boente, the National District Attorneys Association, the Lafayette Police Department, and the Regional Organized Crime Information Center for co-hosting the event with the Western District.”

“Our overall goal is to increase knowledge of gang activity and help improve the response of law enforcement and prosecutors to gun violence cases,” said Brent Berkley, director of National Center for Community Prosecution for the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA).  “We worked closely with Louisiana’s U.S. Attorneys to figure out which courses would address the crime problems they face.”

Space is still available for lawyers, investigators, and paralegals in local, state, federal and military government attorneys’ offices, and law enforcement officers in local, state, and federal military offices who may wish to attend.  There is no fee for registration.  Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits are available for those attending the course. 

For more information or if you would like to register online, visit the NDAA at www.ndaa.org, call their office at 703-549-9222, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana, at 337-262-6618.