Jackson Free Press

In an effort to have Mississippi residents understand the resources available to them through his office, Attorney General Jim Hood announced a statewide educational initiative yesterday.

"We think people understand that we're an agency of lawyers, that we prosecute various crimes, and that we bring lawsuits in the public interest," Hood said in a release. "But we also want Mississippians to understand that we are so much more than that. For example, did you know that this office awarded more than $3 million in financial assistance to eligible victims of violent crimes last year? Most importantly, we have some great resources available to our residents."

The release went on to list several resources that residents may not be aware of:

• The Victim Compensation Division provides financial assistance and support services to eligible victims of violent crimes.

• The Consumer Protection Division can provide assistance to you if you have a dispute with a business through its mediation process. Also, if you have been the victim of identity theft, home repair fraud or other consumer fraud the division can provide assistance to you on how to respond and combat these issues.

• The Cyber Crime Unit protects and in many cases rescues children through the investigation of computer crimes such as child pornography.

• The Administrative Division manages the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability Trust Fund, which provide financial benefits to eligible law enforcement officers and fire fighters injured in the line of duty.

• The Domestic Violence Division can provide materials on coping with domestic abuse, including information on domestic abuse protective orders and the address confidentiality program.

• The Child Desertion Unit criminally prosecutes deadbeat parents throughout the state for desertion, abandonment and the failure to pay court ordered child support.

• The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Vulnerable Adults Unit enforce the laws which prohibit abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults, such as those having mental or physical disabilities.

Employees from the attorney general's office will be mailing or delivering packets of information to churches, community and medical centers, and non-profits. The visits begin with Riverwood Nursing & Rehab in Greenwood, Thursday, Nov. 12.

"No money will be spent on media campaigns, and most of the materials being provided were printed in-house," Hood said. "Primarily, we plan to visit smaller, more rural communities and talk to our fellow Mississippians, but particularly the poor and busy working people. We want to get some of our publications into the communities so that Mississippians can know where to turn for specific types of assistance."

For additional information, call 1-800-281-4418 or visit http://www.agjimhood.com.