WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons announced today that United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the nation’s highest ranking law enforcement official, will visit Delaware on Monday, December 19. Sen. Coons, co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Law Enforcement Caucus and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Attorney General Lynch, will visit the Wilmington Police Department during a roll call, tour New Castle County’s Children’s Advocacy Center, and host a community discussion at the Delaware Historical Society focused on juvenile justice.

“Providing resources to our cities, protecting our children, and understanding the challenges that face our youth in America’s judicial system are important topics that we will discuss with United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch,” said Sen. Coons. “I am honored to host her first visit to Delaware to see in person federal investments in the Wilmington Police Department, to help combat violent crime, and Children’s Advocacy Centers in Delaware, which address abuse impacting our most vulnerable citizens, our children.”

The day will begin with Sen. Coons and Attorney General Lynch joined by public officials, as well as faith and community leaders, for a discussion on juvenile justice in Delaware and across the country. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the press.

Shortly after, Sen. Coons and Attorney General Lynch will visit the Wilmington Police Department headquarters for a tour highlighting technology and training made possible by the Violence Reduction Network and a roll call with rank and file officers of the WPD.

Wilmington was among just five cities originally selected to participate in the elite network bringing all of the expertise and experience of the federal government — led by former local police leaders who have reduced crime in their communities — to help cities make their streets safer. Through VRN homicide investigation assistance and resources, the WPD improved the homicide case clearance rate from 10 percent to 50 percent.

The Attorney General’s time in Delaware will conclude with a visit to the Children’s Advocacy Center, located at the AI DuPont/Nemours Children’s Hospital. Attorney General Lynch and Sen. Coons will be joined by Children’s Advocacy Centers of Delaware Executive Director Randy Williams. Sen. Coons has fought fiercely to increase funding for the CACs nationwide, and the visit will emphasize the important work of the centers in forensics and post-trauma care.

Sen. Coons has advocated for federal funding for children advocacy centers for the last three years, and he successfully secured $21 million to fund these centers’ important work protecting Delaware’s children in Fiscal Year 2017.

“I’m honored that Attorney General Lynch has chosen to visit Delaware and to listen to constituents’ concerns about juvenile justice, public safety, and the protection of our children,” Sen. Coons said. “Throughout her tenue, Attorney General Lynch has proven to be an excellent leader of the Justice Department. She understands the importance of tackling violence in our cities; the need to faithfully safeguard our Constitution while protecting us from threats; and the responsibility we have to address the unjust impacts and unsustainable costs of our criminal justice system.”

About Attorney General Loretta Lynch

Loretta E. Lynch was sworn in as the 83rd Attorney General of the United States by Vice President Joe Biden on April 27, 2015. President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Ms. Lynch on November 8, 2014.

Ms. Lynch received her A.B., cum laude, from Harvard College in 1981, and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1984. In 1990, after a period in private practice, Ms. Lynch joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York—the city she considers her adopted home. There, she forged an impressive career prosecuting cases involving narcotics, violent crimes, public corruption, and civil rights. In 1999, President Clinton appointed her to lead the office as United States Attorney—a post she held until 2001. In 2010, Ms. Lynch resumed her leadership of the United States Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.

AGENDA FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017

Community Discussion on Juvenile Justice
10:30 a.m. 
Delaware Historical Society
505 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

WPD Tour to Demonstrate Impact of Violence Reduction Network
1 p.m.
Wilmington Police Department
300 North Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Tour of the Children’s Advocacy Center 
3 p.m.                   
Nemours/AI DuPont Hospital for Children
1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803