New crime victim services director in Washington County
Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone has named Marie Christinis of Charleroi the new crime victim services director.
Christinis has spent her career advocating for the elderly in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including 30 years with the Area Agency on Aging, most recently as supervisor of the protective services unit.
The agency provides resources and support to prevent, detect, reduce and eliminate abuse, neglect and exploitation of senior citizens. As supervisor, Christinis was responsible for investigating reports of abuse of the elderly in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.
Christinis, along with attorney Kathleen Gustine, director of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc., developed the protective services program after the state Legislature passed the Older Adults Protective Services Act in 1987.
Christinis worked with Vittone to establish the protective services/district attorney’s elder abuse unit 15 years ago, one of the first in the state.
Vittone said he and Christinis aim to make the office of crime victims’ services more visible and responsive to the needs of those who have been affected by crime.
Christinis has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Point Park University. She and her husband, Larry, have three children.