The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“AMERICA'S UNSUNG HEROES--THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2365-E2366 on Nov. 15, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
AMERICA'S UNSUNG HEROES--THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES
______
HON. TED POE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, each and every Member of Congress has crime victim advocates in his or her District. It's likely you hear from them now and again, particularly when critical funding for crime victim services is at stake--like the Administration's proposal to drain the Crime Victim Fund to balance the budget--or you may hear from them when they plead that victims' rights are enforced in accordance with the law. It's also likely that you have an inkling of what these folks do for a living. But I'm pretty sure that you don't know just how much victim advocates are the ``unsung heroes'' of America today.
Back when I was a prosecutor in the great state of Texas, we didn't have ``victim advocates.'' There was nobody to provide the victim with support and guidance. The criminal and juvenile justice systems were like a maze to them and, let me tell you, the laboratory mice did a lot better in finding the cheese! Crime victims were lost. Crime victims were forgotten. Crime victims were merely ``evidence'' used to successfully prosecute criminal cases. Crime victims were ``re-
victimized'' on a daily basis by a system that should be designed to protect them.
At the end of my days as a prosecutor and the beginning of my days as a judge, I started to see these folks called ``victim advocates'' in court. Back then, their job was to notify victims of the status of their cases and offenders, and explain to them what is often an overwhelming criminal justice process. But if you listened to victims back then, they would tell you that their advocates were so much more. They were a ``Rock of Gibraltar'' in a rocking sea of confusion. They were there to hold their hands and provide comfort. They were, as one prosecutor from Texas last month noted, ``the centerpiece of the courtroom'' when it came to helping crime victims and witnesses.
I was privileged earlier this month to deliver a keynote speech at the National Conference of State VOCA Assistance and Crime Victim Compensation Administrators in New Mexico. These are folks that, every single minute of every single day, are on ``the front line for victims of crime.'' There were over 300 ``victim advocates'' in the house, and I think it is well worth the time of the U.S. Congress to recognize them.
You should know about the remarkable victim advocates who spent the last year planning this conference, and spent some really quality time learning from each other about how to better help crime victims. For 4 days, state-level victim advocates who oversee funding for vital victim services, and manage state victim compensation programs that help victims recover from the financial losses resulting from crime, came together to teach each other, and learn from each other, and figure out ways to improve assistance to crime victims in ALL our Districts.
Let me begin by saluting John Gillis, the Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. John knows too well the impact of crime on victims. When he was an LAPD detective almost 30 years ago, his beautiful daughter Louarna was murdered by gang members in a vicious ``kill a cop's kid'' murder that would move them up the gang hierarchy.
John and his wife Patsy reacted to Louarna's death as so many crime victims and survivors do. They became activists to change how our criminal justice system treats victims, and change how our society views victims. John has spent the last three decades fighting for crime victims' rights, and does so now at the helm of the Office for Victims of Crime, considered the ``mother ship'' of victim assistance in America. John has become a friend and someone whom I admire and deeply respect. He is our nation's leading ``victim advocate'' and crime victims everywhere in America are fortunate to have him at the Office for Victims of Crime.
Next, I would like to recognize the Directors of the two national associations that help states manage funding for victim services and victim compensation.
Steve Derene is the Director of the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators. Back in 1984, he helped craft the Victims of Crime Act, which uses fines and fees assessed against convicted Federal offenders to support crime victim services. He has been a true advocate for victims in Wisconsin and, in the past five years, for victims across our nation. He is known as ``Stevie Wonder'' because he, more than most, has embraced technology as a means to facilitate more effective justice processes and victim assistance; and because it seems he is on call 24/7 to help victims and those who serve them.
Dan Eddy is the Director of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards. Dan is a quiet, unassuming victim advocate, but the impact of his work is far-reaching. Under his direction, victims of crime in all of our Districts have received millions of dollars--again, not from taxpayers but from convicted offenders--to help them cope with the financial impact of crime. Dan Eddy is truly an ``unsung hero'' whose efforts are felt in states, communities, neighborhoods and homes across America each and every day.
The Presidents of both Associations--Joe Hood from Georgia and Larry Tackman from New Mexico--also deserve mention. These are two men with a true vision for the field of crime victim services. When they are not managing their state VOCA and compensation programs, they are working hard to promote strength and unity in victim services across our land. With their respective Boards of Directors, they put on a fine conference, and deserve our thanks.
I am guessing ya'll have attended events where everything ran very smoothly. I can assure you this doesn't happen by ``accident.'' So let me tip my hat to Ms. Gillian Nevers, who had an illustrious career as a Wisconsin victim advocate, and who earlier this month facilitated one of the best victim assistance training conferences ever.
And now I'd like to introduce you to some wonderful victim advocates from New Mexico, and know that my colleagues from New Mexico join me in thanking them. These are the folks who not only put on the conference I attended, but also help victims of their state every day, in ways large and small. These are people for whom compassion is part of their DNA. Let me introduce you to the staff of the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission: Kristy Ring, Deputy Director; Robin Brassie, VOCA Administrator; Sheila Allen, VAWA Administrator; Julie Duren, Reparation Officer Supervisor; Terri Ruegger, Financial & HR Officer; Dorothy Padilla; Randy Vallejos; Debra Yepa; Jacqueline Chavez; Denise Jaramillo; Mary Anne Garcia; Michele Threlkel; Moises Valdez; Paula Smith; Debra Simpson; Suzanne Gallegos; Wendy Archibeque, and Robert Norfor.
You are simply hearing their names. But I had the chance to meet them, and want you to know that our Nation is a better place because of their ongoing commitment to helping victims of crime.
And that's just the way it is.
____________________
