National Organization for Victim Assistance Launches Identity Theft Task Force

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(Business Wire)--
As the number of incidents of personal victimizations continue to rise across
the country, the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) has launched
an Identity Theft Task Force to address the issues of identity theft that face
consumers every day.

Chaired by the Honorable Chief Justice Richard Barajas, NOVA`s Identity Theft
Task Force will address critical issues of the crime and develop a set of best
practices for victim advocates across the nation. The Task Force will also work
towards building educational curriculum for consumers related to the crime of
identity theft. Barajas is a nationally recognized lecturer on the proper
balancing of the constitutional rights between the criminal defendant and the
victim.

"We believe that this is a critical time to form this Task Force as the reported
cases of identity theft continue to rise across the United States," said Will
Marling, Executive Director of NOVA. "By assembling a collection of thought
leaders with a variety of backgrounds from law enforcement and victim advocacy,
we believe that we will be able to further spread an educational message to
consumers about what they can do to protect themselves from becoming a victim of
this crime."

Joining Chief Justice Barajas on the Identity Theft Task Force include: Paul
Babeu, Sheriff, Pinal County (AZ); Cindy Charlebois, Director, San Diego County
District Attorney`s Victim Assistance Program; James Gierke, Victim Advocate
(AZ); Margaret Garvin, Executive Director, National Crime Victim Law Institute
(OR); Robert Krakauer, Executive Vice President, CFO, LifeLock (AZ); Will
Marling, Executive Director, National Organization for Victim Assistance (VA);
Joe Myers, Executive Director, National Indian Justice Center (CA); Felicia
Nu`Man, Assistant Commonwealth`s Attorney, Jefferson County (KY); Cheryl
Ricciardi, Statewide Crisis Response Coordinator, Florida Crisis Response Team,
Office of the Attorney General; Cynthia Taylor, Director, Consumer Protection
Division, Boulder District Attorney`s Office (CO) and Lawrence Wilson, Executive
Director, Identity Theft Victims Support Group of North America (TX).

About NOVA

The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) is a private, non-profit,
501(c)(3) organization of victim and witness assistance programs and
practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health
professionals, researchers, former victims and survivors, and others committed
to the recognition and implementation of victim rights and services. Founded in
1975, NOVA is the oldest national group of its kind in the worldwide victims`
movement. NOVA`s mission is to promote rights and services for victims of crime
and crisis everywhere.

NOVA
Will Marling, 703-535-6682
Executive Director
willmarling@trynova.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009