Co-Chairs Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) and Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) joined members of the bipartisan Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus to honor this year’s outstanding individuals that have given their time and service to helping victims at a special ceremony held in their honor. 

The 2008 Victim’s Rights Caucus Award Recipients:

(1)   Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award – Jamie Leigh Jones for her efforts in raising national awareness of the plight of American contractors victimized abroad. By creating the Jamie Leigh Foundation, Jamie Leigh provided a voice for other victims and enabled other victims to find strength and comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

§         This is the first year that the former Public Awareness Award will be entitled the Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award. Suzanne McDaniel is one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas and the nation. She has advocated for crime victims at the local, state, and federal levels. She created Harris County’s first community interagency councils on sexual assault and family violence and the first rape exam protocol for Houston Hospital and Medical Associations. She created the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, the first statewide resource in the nation. She also helped draft and pass the Texas Crime Victim Bill of Rights, the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Act, and the Texas Constitutional Amendment on Crime Victim Rights.

(2)   Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy – Jim Rowland, who completely changed the way the judicial system perceives and treats crime victims. He is known as the “father of the victim impact statement,” which is now instituted in every state and which refocused the court’s attention on the human cost of crime. In 1976, this was a revolutionary idea. It allowed written or oral information to be presented about the impact of the crime on the victim and the victim’s family. These statements allow the court to refocus its attention on the human cost of the crime and provides a way for the victim to participate in the criminal justice process. Because of his efforts, crime victims received the consideration, fairness, and support that they were lacking.

(3)   Allied Profession Award – Sheriff Michael Jackson, Prince George’s County, Maryland. Under his leadership, domestic violence cases are now a priority in Prince George’s County. By creating the Domestic Violence/Community Services Unit, he implemented a unique and comprehensive approach to victim services and protection. He also created the first 24 hour - 7 days a week Domestic Violence Intervention Unit, the first civilian Domestic Violence Intervention/Community Services Unit, and the Domestic Violence Victim Advocate Unit, which demonstrate his unparalleled and remarkable commitment to crime victims.

(4)   Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award – Laurie Dishman, who was sexually assaulted on a cruise ship. Since this tragedy, Laurie has fought to ensure justice for other cruise ship victims. She’s provided a voice and support network for other cruise ship victims.

(5)   Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation – Gloria Sandoval for her work as the leader and initiator of innovative programs such as “Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence,” and “Safe 4 US.” Gloria’s contributions changed the way state government agencies address the needs of crime victims. (Ms. Sandoval will not be present at the awards ceremony).

___________________________________________________________________________

NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS -- JUSTICE FOR ALL

Prelude Events -- Free and Open to the Public

Thurs. April 10, 2008: 6:30-7:30pm – National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony

US Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, NW
Washington DC

 
No RSVP Required

Fri. April 11, 2008: 2:30-4:30pm – National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Awards Ceremony

 
Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium
1301 Constitution Avenue
Washington, DC

 
Reception immediately following ceremony

Online RSVP required at www.yesevents.com/ncvrw08

For more information about these events, visit http://www.ovc.gov/

Sponsored by US Department of Justice – Office of Justice Programs – Office for Victims of Crime.

 
For individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, an ASL interpreter will be available.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is held every April to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.
___________________________________________________________________

10/1/07:   Congressman Poe Attends Domestic Violence Awareness Month Reception

Congressman Poe attended the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Reception, hosted by the Sheila Wellstone Institute. The reception honored the National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women and displayed artwork related to domestic violence. Verizon Wireless partnered with Free Arts Minnesota to bring the "Voices of Hope" quilt display to the Russell Senate Office Building from October 1-4. Under the guidance of Free Arts Minnesota, domestic violence survivors from 13 shelters in Minnesota and North Dakota created individual quilt squares depicting what “Hope” means to them and giving voice to their work through their accompanying artists’ statements.

Congressman Poe Congratulates the Awardees. Photo, Judy Rolfe.

______________________________________________________________________________________

9/25/07:     National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

______________________________________________________________________________________

9/16/07:    Social Worker Safety Briefing

            On July 16, 2007, Congressman Dennis Moore held a briefing on the importance of social worker safety and H.R. 2165 - Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act.  Attended by approximately 30 individuals, the briefing panel was composed of Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Executive Director of the National Social Workers Association, George Mason University Professor Molly Clark, Congressman Dennis Moore, Congressman Ted Poe, and Matt Zenner, husband of Teri Zenner. 

Social workers and professionals who with at-risk populations, are subjected to daily being spit at, cursed, attacked by angry parents, attacked by dogs, and threatened while trying to perform their duty and protect child and at-risk individuals - similar to the dangers police officers face.  However, social workers are not given the tools or the training necessary to defend themselves.  The lack of protection for social workers can sometime be fatal.  In 2004, Teri Zenner went to a home to check up on a client with a mental illness.  Her client kidnapped and brutally murdered Teri.  It is this country's duty to protect our nation's social workers and public service providers.

            H.R. 2165 will provide grants to assist in the provision of safety measures to protect social workers and other professionals who work with at-risk populations. 

Read H.R. 2165
______________________________________________________________________________________


5/22/07:     Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence Staff Briefing

            On May 22, 2007, the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus held a briefing for Members and staff on the importance of protecting victims of domestic violence.  A panel of experts from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Crime Prevention Council, National Sheriffs Association, My Sister's Place (DC domestic violence shelter), and ADT/Tyco AWARE program were on-hand to discuss the current legislation in place to aid victims of domestic violence, the services and programs available to victims, and what still needs to be done for victims of domestic violence.

______________________________________________________________________________________


4/18/07:    Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus Awards

From left to right: Congressman Poe, John Stein, Anne Seymour, Yvette Cade, Dr. Dean Kilpatrick, and Congressman Costa (not pictured - Mark Lunsford)

On April 18th, the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus held its second annual awards ceremony on Capitol Hill, in room B-338 in the Rayburn House Office Building. Presented by Congressman Poe and Congressman Costa, and attended by over 100 individuals, the VRC awards honored individuals who made great strides in protecting and speaking out for victims of crime. 

This year's awardees are: 

Mark Lunsford: Public Awareness Award – is a new category which recognizes an individual or organization that has used their voice, throughout the media, to promote and bring about change at the National level for crime victims.

John Stein: Lois Haight Award – pays tribute to California Judge Lois Haight, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, and who was the Chair of his 1982 President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime. She has led pioneering efforts on behalf of crime victims which resulted in significant public policy advances to promote crime victims’ rights and services. The awardee is a professional whose efforts have had a significant impact on local, state, national, or international public policy development and implementation, which promotes dignity, respect, rights, and services for victims of crime.

Congressman Costa presents John Stein with his award.

3. Dr. Dean Kilpatrick: Allied Profession Award – recognizes the efforts of individuals, organizations, and/or coalitions which directly benefit victims of crime, but who are not direct victim service providers.


Congressman Costa presents Dr. Dean Kilpatrick with his award

Yvette Cade: Eva Murillo “Unsung Hero” Award – recognizes a crime victim/survivor who has taken a personal tragedy to triumph over adversity. The awardee is a person who has utilized his or her experiences as a crime victim to promote public education and awareness, public policy development, and/or a greater awareness about crime victims’ rights and needs. Their efforts result in increased help and hope for other victims and survivors of crime.

Congressman Poe presents Yvette Cade with her award (also pictured: Daughter Champage, Mother Joyce, and Sister Shereen)

     Anne Seymour: Ed Stout Memorial Award – recognizes the memory of Ed Stout, the Director of Aid for Victims of Crime of St. Louis, MO – one of the Nation’s three oldest victim assistance organizations – who passed away in 2005. The recipient of this award is a professional or volunteer whose efforts directly benefit victims and survivors of crime, particularly in the areas of program development, public or agency policy development, community and public awareness, and collaboration among community and justice-based organizations who serve victims.

Congressman Poe, Anne Seymour, and Congressman Costa

4/10/07:   VOCA/VAWA Congressional Briefing

            On April 10th, the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus hosted a VOCA/VAWA briefing on Capitol Hill to educate staffers on the importance of the VOCA Fund and the Violence Against Women Act.  Attended by nearly 130 staffers, representatives from the National VOCA Administrators, domestic violence, and sexual violence fields came out to explain the effect that the loss of money would have on victims of crime. Staffers were also encouraged to get their bosses on a letter to the Appropriations Committee, asking for protection of the VOCA Fund.

Read the letter sent to the Appropriations Committee:

______________________________________________________________________________________

1/24/07 Stalking and Technology: High-Tech Terror Congressional Briefing

January 2007 was National Stalking Awareness Month. In order to raise awareness to the crime of stalking, the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus held a briefing on stalking and how technology is being used by stalkers to invade their victims’ lives.  Attended by nearly 80 congressional staff, representatives of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the Stalking Resource Center, Lifetime Television, and many other national victims' organizations spoke of the ways technology is being used by stalkers to prey upon their victims.  VRC Members Congressman Ted Poe, Congressman Jim Costa, and Congressman Steve Chabot spoke out about the dangers of stalking and the need of continued awareness.  The Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus also introduced a resolution honoring January 2007 as National Stalking Awareness Month.