D.A. Seeks Mural Entries for Child Victims of Sex Assault Interview Room

Santa Clara County District Attorney's staff are inviting high school seniors to submit mural art to redecorate an interview room for child victims of sexual assault, D.A. officials said Tuesday.

"Providing a child and a parent a safe, comfortable place that isn't scary helps them calm down and lessens the anxiety," said Kasey Halcon, director of Santa Clara County's Victim Witness Assistance Program.

Mural entries will be judged in a contest format with $1,000 prize money for the top three finishers, organizers said.

"The winning student designer will have their signed creation painted on the walls of this special office space and receive $500," Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman said in a statement.

The second place student will receive $300, and the third place winner will receive $200, Harman said.

Contest rules state that each student artist "must currently reside in Santa Clara County and must be actively enrolled as a senior high school student in Santa Clara County."

The emphasis and focus for contest contributors will be to help create "a safe, soothing office space" where prosecutors meet with young children who have been sexually assaulted, according to D.A. staff.

"We want this space to be as comfortable as possible under these circumstances," Harman said. "We want the mural to be colorful, creative, and convey a message of peace and hope."

Organizers with the D.A. call it the first annual "Justice For All" student contest.

Entries must be submitted to the Office of the District Attorney by 5 p.m. Friday May 17, contest organizers said. Winners will be announced on Friday May 31.

"Entries must be original with no copyright or trademark images," D.A. staff said. "We are accepting only one entry per student, on white legal size paper.

"The contest winner will not paint the mural in the room, however the winning design will be closely followed by a professional contractor."

Original designs must be submitted "on no larger than 8 ½ by 14 inch legal size paper" to:

Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
Mural Design Contest – Justice for All Award
Terry Harman, Assistant District Attorney
70 West Hedding Street, West Wing
San Jose, CA 95110

For more detailed contest rules and the interview room layout, see the pdf file attached to this report.

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