Detroit, Michigan - United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan, along with several law enforcement agencies and community members of Detroit One as well as the mother of a crime victim will hold an observance in memory of crime victims. The observance will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 2:30 pm at Lafayette Green Park, located on the corner of W. Lafayette Blvd and Shelby in the downtown area of Detroit. This event is being held in conjunction with the observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 21-27. This year's theme, "New Challenges. New Solutions," celebrates the spirit of Detroit One and also highlights the need for us to assist and serve each and every victim in need of hope and help.

A perennial cottage garden will be planted in remembrance of crime victims who have lost their lives to violence in the City of Detroit, with the event to serve as an announcement and invitation to come out and view this lovely memorial. The perennials will re-bloom each year symbolizing those who are not forgotten. The garden is tended regularly and is kept looking beautiful year round.

"The U.S. Attorney's Office is deeply committed to assisting victims of federal crimes, ensuring they are afforded their rights under the Crime Victims' Rights Act, protecting them from further harm, and helping them reshape their futures," said U.S. Attorney McQuade. "This week is a time to raise awareness about the rights and needs of crime victims, the challenges victims face in the recovery process, and the positive impact of those who provide services and support to victims."

The Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA), enacted in 2004, grants victims in federal criminal proceedings certain enforceable rights, including the right to be reasonably heard at public court proceedings and to receive full and timely restitution as provided by law. The Eastern District of Michigan, like other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, has a dedicated Victim Witness Unit that serves federal crime victims across the District's many counties. Members of this unit notify victims of significant case events through the Department of Justice's Victim (DOJ) Notification System (VNS). Such notice enables victims to participate in court proceedings and make their voices heard. According to Department of Justice Statistics, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, the U.S. Attorneys' offices provided notice of over 10.4 million case events, including notices regarding criminal charges filed, plea hearings, bond hearings and sentencing hearings. Notification of significant case events leads to increased victim participation in court proceedings.

In FY 2011, Victim-Witness personnel in the United States Attorney's offices accompanied over 28,000 victims to court hearings and trials. Court accompaniment helps ensure that victim participation in court proceedings is meaningful as Victim-Witness personnel can answer questions and explain the federal judicial process. In addition to notification and court accompaniment, the Eastern District of Michigan's Victim Witness Unit provides essential services to victims, such as making referrals for counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court to provide support and guidance during the proceedings. These services provide tools victims need to reshape their futures.

Further information about National Crime Victims' Rights Week is available at http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw

DETROIT (4/20/2013) – The Titans will play in their final regular season game on Sunday afternoon and will also recognize four seniors playing in their final home game as the University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team hosts Kennesaw State Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Titan Field.

Gameday Central
Titan fans can follow every UDM game this season through Women's Lacrosse Gameday Central located on the Titans Athletic Website that will keep fans one click away from all the action. This page will feature links for live stats (audio and video when applicable) as well as links for all the latest info while also making it easy to find the Titans on social media and to purchase photos and game tickets. Women's Lacrosse Gameday Central also carries all the information on each opponent from who is leading the all-time series to who won the last game.

Against the Bonnies
The Titans (3-13, 2-1 Atlantic Sun) fell 15-9 at St. Bonaventure on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Zaynib Hamze (Dublin, Calif./Dublin) scored a career-best six goals and added an assist. UDM was up 7-6 at the end of the first half but a 9-2 St. Bonaventure outbreak in the second period of play led to the victory. Erin Campbell (Orangeville, Ont./Orangeville) scored twice for Detroit, Michaela Schwartz (Hugo, Minn./Centennial) recorded her 14th goal of the year and Megan Callahan (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) added an assist to round out Detroit's offense.

The Senior Class of 2013
Detroit has four seniors it will recognize prior to Sunday's game. Britany Busch (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic), Megan Callahan, Zaynib Hamze, and Lindsey Saunders (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) have all spent four years with the red, white, and blue. Prior to the game on Sunday, each player will be joined by friends and family as they are recognized at midfield by UDM coaches, administration, and fans.

That's “Z” Way
Zaynib Hamze set a career high with six goals Wednesday at St. Bonaventure. She also tied a career-high with seven points as she added an assist. With that assist, she became the school's all-time career leader in assists with 35. She is also four ground balls away from becoming Detroit's new career leader in the category to top Emily Boissonneault's high mark of 193. Hamze leads this year's team with 34 goals and 10 assists for 44 points. She also is first with 39 draw controls and 26 caused turnovers.

NCAA Update
The NCAA releases weekly statistical rankings on Monday afternoon for the 105 teams in Division I and Detroit is 4th overall in ground balls per game with 19.6 a contest and 18th in the NCAA with 9.33 caused turnovers per game. Individually, UDM goalkeeper Lexie McCormick (Peterborough, Ont./St. Peters) still holds the overall lead in totals saves (148), she is third in saves per game (9.87), and 18th in both save percentage (0.46) and ground balls (2.67). Zaynib Hamze is ranked 12th in the nation with 2.87 ground balls per game and she is 23rd with 1.73 caused turnovers per contest. Amanda Guthrie (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs) is also 24th in ground balls (2.6) and 90th in caused turnovers (1.2).

Kennesaw State Owls
The Owls are in their first of women's lacrosse led by head coach Kristina Llanes. The Owls are 1-8 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Sun recording the first win in the school's history on Apr. 12 defeating Howard 14-13 home victory. Kennesaw State has played one game since that time falling 19-7 at Stetson on Apr. 14. Seneca Ward leads the team with 29 goals and 30 points overall while Emily Collins is second on the team in points with 23 scoring 18 times this season. Goalkeeper Beth Cochran has played in all nine of the team's games in the cage making 78 saves.

Next Stop: Jacksonville
UDM will head to Jacksonville, Fla. for the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament this weekend. The Titans have clinched a berth in the tournament and will await Sunday's result to determine their seeding. A win over Kennesaw State and Detroit will be the No. 2 seed and play at 3:30 p.m. on Friday against the No. 3 seed to be determined after this weekend's games. The championship game will be on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. between the winner of Detroit's semifinal and the winner of the other semifinal game between the No. 1 seed Jacksonville and the No. 4 seed with the other semifinal at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

Comerica Bank surprised Cass Technical High School with a $10,000 grant towards its baseball and softball programs. Pictured from left at a surprise assembly are Dejah Darkins, Cass Tech softball player; PAWS, Detroit Tigers mascot; Toia Dennis, Cass Tech softball player; Julie Schneider, head softball coach; Mike Ritchie, incoming Comerica Bank–Michigan president; Janice Tessier, president of Comerica’s Charitable Foundation; Lisa Phillips, principal of Cass Tech High School; Julius DuBose, Cass Tech associate baseball coach; Elaine Lewis, vice president of public affairs and strategic planning for the Detroit Tigers; Richard Miller, Cass Tech head baseball coach; Tom Ogden, president, Comerica Bank–Michigan; Dominick White, Cass Tech baseball player; Edward Tomlin, Cass Tech athletic director; and Ken Snapp, Cass Tech baseball player.

Springtime in Michigan is a time of uncertainty. For many, “Can I wear shorts or will I need my hat and scarf today?” is a common question. And when the forecast reads, “sunny and 60, with a chance of evening snow,” Michiganders aren’t surprised; it’s just a fact of life. Through all its uncertainty, spring always marks the start of baseball and softball season for communities across the state, including our own Detroit Tigers. Rain, snow or shine, you’ll find people breaking in their gloves, lacing up their cleats and dusting off their ball caps.

For the third consecutive year, Comerica Bank, with the help of the Detroit Tigers, set out to make baseball and softball season even more special by awarding two public high schools with a $10,000 Grand Slam Grant each. This year’s recipients were Cass Technical High School and Holland High School.

“The funding for high school athletics continues to dwindle. We applaud our partner Comerica Bank for stepping up to the plate and awarding the Grand Slam Grant to the baseball and softball programs at Cass Tech and Holland high schools,” said Elaine Lewis, vice president, public affairs and strategic planning with the Detroit Tigers. “The financial support provided to each school assists the teams with resources to foster a love for the great game of baseball.”

Starting in February, Comerica sent out a call for applications to high schools in southeast, central and west Michigan. Coaches, athletic directors and administrators got word of the Grand Slam Grant program and more than 60 applications were submitted. Next, Comerica selected the top three schools from southeast Michigan and another three from central/west Michigan. With the finalists chosen, it was up to the Detroit Tigers, including celebrity judge Andy Dirks, to select this year’s Grand Slam Grant recipients.

The fun didn’t end there, Comerica and the Tigers planned surprise pep assemblies at each school to announce the $10,000 Grand Slam Grant to students.

Cass Tech’s announcement came first. Students, including the baseball and softball teams, filed into the auditorium with no idea why they’d been summoned for a midweek assembly. Thomas Ogden, president of Comerica Bank–Michigan, called both teams on stage where he announced Cass Tech was the southeast Michigan 2013 Grand Slam Grant recipient. Detroit Tigers mascot PAWS, the DTE Energy Squad, DJ Kenny Valentino and Fox Sports Detroit celebrity emcee Shannon Hogan were on hand to provide entertainment for the students during the surprise assembly. The students received a congratulatory video message from Detroit Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks.

“Wow, this is giving back to the community at its best,” said Lisa Phillips, principal at Cass Technical High School. “It touches my heart that Comerica Bank and the Tigers would look down the street to Cass Tech and offer such support to our baseball and softball programs.”

“Comerica Bank is a proud supporter of Michigan’s hometown teams,” said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. “Cass Tech’s plans to use the Grand Slam Grant to fund much-needed equipment and uniforms and to increase participation in youth baseball and softball programs will prove to be a great value to the students and the community.”

“The Grand Slam Grant represents an opportunity for Cass Tech to be able to sustain its success as a program and allows us to give back to our community by offering an improved little league program,” said Julie Schneider, softball coach at Cass Technical High School.

The following day, Comerica representatives headed to Holland for the second surprise in as many days. Students poured into the Dutch Dome, Holland High School’s unique dome shaped gymnasium, for what they thought was a simple pep rally and nothing more. West Michigan Whitecaps mascot CRASH and celebrity emcee DJ Internio of 104.5 WSNX had the students pumped up throughout the assembly. The Dome erupted in applause when John Porterfield, Grand Rapids region president for Comerica Bank, announced Holland had been awarded the grant to finance field improvements, equipment and establish a training camp program.

“This creates more opportunities for the softball program to grow and will help us improve our facilities and equipment,” said John Anderson, softball coach at Holland High School. “The more good things we have, the more girls will probably want to come and play, and the more players we have the better things are going to get.”

In addition to the $10,000 grant, both schools received 60 tickets to see the Detroit Tigers take on the New York Yankees on April, 6 at Comerica Park, where they were recognized on the field. Coach Julie Schneider of Cass Tech and John Anderson of Holland threw out the ceremonial first pitches.

The Comerica Bank Grand Slam Grant program was created in 2011 to help public high schools in Michigan create, expand or improve a baseball or softball program. Past winners include Kalamazoo Central High School, Lincoln Park High School and Detroit Renaissance High School.

“At Comerica, we’ve enjoyed watching the Grand Slam Grant program grow to help so many community baseball and softball programs across Michigan, said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. “It’s inspiring to see the dedication and passion of local school administrators, coaches and future all-stars.”