Crimes against children are often among the most difficult for prosecutors to deal with, on many levels. To help diminish the damage, especially the emotional impacts, District Attorney Offices team up with their Victim Witness Assistance Centers. And to this end, Nevada County youth are invited to participate in an art contest designed to increase child abuse awareness and create an even more friendly atmosphere in the interview room. Senior Victim Advocate, Lori Nunnink, says it’s called “Kindness is Contagious”…

click to listen to Lori Nunnink

Applicants 14 to 18 submit an original artwork to be voted on by a panel of judges. The author of the winning submission will reconstruct it as a wall-sized mural in the Victim Witness child interview room and also receive a one-thousand dollar award provided by sponsoring agencies. District Attorney Jesse Wilson helped create the contest, hoping to further soften any possible trauma…

click to listen to Jesse Wilson

Children under 14 can also submit something. Their top five selected designs will be framed and displayed at the Victim Witness Center and will each receive a 25-dollar Jamba Juice gift certificate. Submissions must be postmarked by January third.