Frederick, MD (March 20, 2006) - Witness Justice is in the process of organizing a new program for survivors of violent crime that will provide interested volunteers and faith communities an opportunity to pray for the specific needs and concerns of crime survivors. The program is called The National Prayer Group for Survivors.

Witness Justice, a Frederick-based non-religious national nonprofit organization focused on addressing gaps in victim services, has found that the spiritual struggles experienced by survivors in the aftermath are often overlooked by service providers. It is from that place of need that the organization is working to bring together volunteers and area faith communities (including St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jefferson and others) to organize The National Prayer Group for Survivors, and to build a solid foundation from which faith communities and volunteers around the country can participate. Witness Justice will be utilizing the services of Volunteer Frederick to help recruit volunteers through their media promotions, pool of registered volunteers, and on-line volunteer recruitment database, www.VolunteerFrederick.org. The National Prayer Group for Survivors initiative is multi-denominational and will include Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and other faiths, so that survivors can request prayer from their own faith or have multi-faith prayer for their concern or situation.

The initiative is slated for launch during National Crime Victims Rights Week (April 23-29, 2006). Organizers are asking that interested faith communities and volunteers contact volunteer@witnessjustice.org to participate. There is also a need to raise $2,000 to support the technical expense for the Web site applications needed for the program. Organizers hope that as faith communities sign on to volunteer, they will also contribute $100 to help cover start up costs.

"We believe this program will serve not only to help survivors heal and grow spiritually, but also to assist persons from all walks of life to maintain connections with their faith-based communities," says Helga West, President and Chief Executive Officer of Witness Justice. "For many, prayer can be a powerful instrument in the healing process and we look forward to working with area volunteers and faith communities to provide this new service for survivors across the nation."

Witness Justice is a national, grassroots, non-partisan and non-denominational nonprofit organization created by survivors for survivors. Our mission is to empower and assist victims of violent crime and their loved ones through both the trauma healing and criminal justice processes. Witness Justice provides direct services for victims in Frederick County and across the country, offering support regardless of where a victim lives, when or where the crime occurred, or whether the crime was ever reported. For more information, please visit us at www.WitnessJustice.org.