"Hall To Be Featured Speaker At Latin American Summit"

Stan L. Hall, Director of The Victim Witness Program for the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office will be a featured speaker at the Latin American Association's Latino Summit 2003. The annual event, which will be held in May at the Cobb Galleria, is one of the biggest conferences of its type held in the southeast. According to the Latin American Association, the purpose of the event is to build an understanding of issues affecting Latinos in the southeast region and to create networking opportunities among those interested in these issues.

Hall's topic is entitled " Respect And Responsibility": The Crime Victims'Bill Of Rights and the Latino Community. Hall stated, "This summit allows us an excellent opportunity to address the concerns of the Latino community and their relationship with the criminal justice and judicial system. As Gwinnett County continues to grow in its diversity, it is imperative that the door of communication remain open with our Latino community, which will benefit all concerned."

Gwinnett's Hispanic community has grown at a steady rate over the past few years, as it has in most parts of the country. Hall stated" "Some of the problems that we have experienced with our Hispanic community are based on a lack of understanding with our system, as well as, a lack of trust of the systems in their home countries that they bring with them. This summit will allow us to break down some of the myths and barriers that remain."

Stan Hall is a 24 year veteran in the criminal justice field and is a frequent speaker in the community concerning victims' rights. He was appointed last year, by the Governor, to serve as a Board Member on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

The Latino Summit 2003 is certainly not limited to the judicial system but is an all inclusive conference that will cover a variety of issues that effect the Latino community.

Further information on the summit can be
obtained by calling the Latin American Association's Gwinnett Office at 770-339-4335.