Font ResizeDUMMERSTON -- Vermont police will hold a forum this Thursday at the Dummerston School to focus on preventing sexual assault on children.
The sex crime prevention forum is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. at the town’s elementary school gymnasium and will feature representatives from the Vermont State Police and the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office discussing the investigation and prosecution of much crimes.
A Department of Corrections officer is also on the agenda to review the process for treating and monitoring offenders after they are released from prison.
"While there has been no recent increase in sex crimes, it is really important to provide public awareness about prevention and about they way the state deals with investigation and prosecution in such cases," said Lt. Kraig LaPorte of the Vermont State Police.
Dummerston Selectboard member Greg Brown, the town’s representative to the Vermont State Police Community Advisory Board, said police made the structure of the forum easy for the public, having a panel of speakers ready to go.
"The Dummerston and Putney School Boards are playing a key role in getting the word out to let parents and teachers know about the forum while we are spreading the word to the broader community," he said.
Those attending the meeting will also receive an education on the public information in regards to the Vermont Sex Offender Registry and how
LaPorte, commander of the West Brattleboro barracks, said the registry is oftentimes a useful tool in helping parents protecting their children. "If parents know who in their community is a convicted sex offender, it’s a bit easier to keep kids safe."
The Windham County state police community advisory board is sponsoring the event, working with the school boards in Dummerston and Putney. The forum idea grew out of a public meeting held in Vernon last year where a variety of law enforcement agencies provided information about the registry and other public safety issues. A second forum was held in Jamaica later in the year.
Chris Garofolo can be reached at cgarofolo@reformer.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 275.
