Assistant O.C. District Attorney honored for helping to prevent kids from joining gangs

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: May 15, 2017

Case # 15CF0617

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY TRACY MILLER RECOGNIZED AS “CHAMPION OF CHILDREN” FOR PREVENTING YOUTH FROM JOINING GANGS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Assistant District Attorney Tracy Miller of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) was honored as a “Champion of Children” in Orange County for her extensive work with Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP). The award was presented at The Raise Foundation’s 6th Annual Spring Soirée Garden Gala in Irvine on May 12, 2017.

Each year, The Raise Foundation, a non-profit organization with a focus on ending child abuse and neglect, honors two outstanding role models who directly strengthen families through community collaboration, education, and advocacy. Miller was one of several hundred individuals nominated for the award for her dedication to keeping children in school and out of gangs. During her acceptance speech at the awards gala Friday night, Miller stated, “For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of working with Orange County deputy district attorneys and law enforcement officers who inspire me every day by the level of commitment, dedication, and compassion that they have for members of our community.” She continued, “Watching them give hope to kids who live in almost impossible circumstances is the greatest reward. I accept the Raise Foundation award on their behalf and I am honored for the work of everyone involved in OC GRIP to be recognized.”

Miller founded OC GRIP under District Attorney Tony Rackauckas’ direction in 2008. OC GRIP is the largest gang prevention program in the United States. The OC GRIP program involves over 200 law enforcement partners, 12 School Districts, faith-based groups, private businesses, non-profit organizations, 300 community partners and over 4,000 volunteers to prevent kids from participating in gang activity. OC GRIP has set out to provide education and recreational opportunities for students who struggled with truancy, keeping up with their grades, and behaving appropriately in school. Most of these students had never participated in teams or programs outside of school due to a lack of resources or familial support. OC GRIP also supports students by holding hundreds of parent intervention meetings, faculty presentations, and gang prevention education courses prepared and delivered by law enforcement officials. OC GRIP sponsored clubs and camps provide a safe, confidence-building environment for at-risk juveniles across the county.

District Attorney Rackauckas shared, “This award recognizes the various people who work daily to keep children from being exposed to violence– from law enforcement officers to teachers to community leaders. The OCDA would like to congratulate Tracy Miller on being honored by The Raise Foundation. Tracy is a true ‘Champion for Children’ because she has changed the trajectory for countless kids and their families by inspiring them to make the positive choices and reject gangs.”

To see OC GRIP’s partners and participants in action, please visit www.youtube.com/OrangeCountyDA and type in “OC GRI0P” in the search function at www.orangecountyda.org.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Michelle Van Der Linden,Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486