KEYNOTE ADDRESS

BY

AILEEN ADAMS

DIRECTOR

OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

FOR

NEBRASKA CRIME COMISSION'S

TRAINING CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 2, 1995

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME. THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME IS PLEASED TO JOIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEBRASKA CRIME COMMISSION, THE NEBRASKA COALITION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, THE NEBRASKA SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION, AND THE NEBRASKA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITION IN SUPPORT OF NEBRASKA'S FIRST STATE-WIDE CONFERENCE ON ALL CRIME VICTIMS' ISSUES.

I ESPECIALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE NANCY STEEVES, NOT ONLY FOR MAKING THIS CONFERENCE SUCH A SUCCESS, BUT ALSO FOR HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO CRIME VICTIMS. I KNOW WHAT A GREAT ASSET SHE IS TO YOU, BUT SHE IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR OUR OFFICE. IN ADDITION, I WANT TO THANK PAT DESSELL AND KAREN HARKER, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.

ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS AT OVC IS TO ENCOURAGE ALL PROFESSIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES FOR CRIME VICTIMS, SO IT IS A PARTICULAR PLEASURE TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE THAT EMPHASIZES COLLABORATION AND JOINT TRAININGS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM MANY DIFFERENT FIELDS.

IN SPEAKING WITH YOU THIS MORNING, I WANTED TO COVER SEVERAL TOPICS. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR CRIME VICTIMS WITH SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF HOW INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE WORKED AROUND THE COUNTRY. SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU SOME PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE. AND THIRD, I WANT TO BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SOME OF OVC'S RESOURCES, WHICH I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

IN VIRTUALLY EVERY SPEECH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CRIME VICTIMS. IN HER KEYNOTE ADDRESS LAST YEAR AT THE AMA-SPONSORED NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO SAID:

WE'VE GOT TO REALIZE THAT [VIOLENCE IS] NOT JUST A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM, NOT JUST A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEM, NOT JUST AN EDUCATORS' PROBLEM. IT IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED BY POLITICIANS. IT IS GOING TO BE SOLVED BY CITIZENS, BY EDUCATORS, BY DOCTORS, BY LAWYERS, AND BY SOCIAL WORKERS, BY PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE PROBLEM IN A REALISTIC WAY.

AS I TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY, I FIND THAT MANY OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS ARE BUILT UPON STRONG MULTIDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS [THE CONCEPT OF THIS CONFERENCE: THE TEAM APPROACH TO HANDLING CASES.]

IN NO AREA HAS THAT APPROACH BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN IN THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AREA. THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO HANDLING THESE CASES WAS PIONEERED IN 1985 BY BUD CRAMER, WHO WAS THEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. HE DECIDED THAT CHILDREN HAD TO BE TREATED IN A DIFFERENT WAY BY OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IF THEY COULD EVER BE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN THAT SYSTEM. HE WAS TIRED OF SEEING CHILDREN RE-VICTIMIZED --- OF BEING INTERVIEWED AS MANY AS TWELVE DIFFERENT TIMES BY NUMEROUS AGENCY OFFICIALS IN FRIGHTENING SETTINGS SUCH AS POLICE STATIONS. HE DEVELOPED AN ADVOCACY CENTER ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR KIDS, WHERE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKED TOGETHER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS AND COORDINATE CASES. HIS VISION LED TO A NATIONAL MOVEMENT, AND TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 250 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE TEAM OR PARTNERSHIP CONCEPT IS ALSO MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OLDER AMERICANS.

IN 1989 SHERIFF CHARLES FUSELIER IN ST. MARTIN PARISH, LOUISIANA INITIATED A LOCAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SENIOR CITIZEN ORGANIZATIONS, CALLED TRIAD. THE CONCEPT WAS LATER DUPLICATED IN BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, WHEN THE SHERIFF THERE MET WITH SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS AND DECIDED TO PAY FOR A BUS THAT WOULD TAKE SENIORS LIVING IN ONE HOUSING PROJECT TO THE MARKET EACH WEEK. MANY WERE AFRAID TO BUY FOOD ALONE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CRIME RATE. SOME OF THE SENIOR WOMEN CROCHETED ADORABLE OUTFITS FOR TEDDY BEARS, WHICH THE SHERIFFS THEN USED TO GIVE TO CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED. LIKE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS, THIS PROGRAM TO BENEFIT SENIORS, HAS SPREAD TO 224 COMMUNITIES.

SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS HAVE CREATED NEW WAYS OF HANDLING THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. INSTEAD OF HAVING DOCTORS HANDLE THESE CASES IN BUSY EMERGENCY ROOMS, THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE CREATED A SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR VICTIMS AND USE TRAINED NURSE PRACTITIONERS TO CONDUCT THE EVIDENTIARY MEDICAL EXAM. ONE SUCH PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN POLICE, PROSECUTORS, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL WORKERS. IT WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE FORD FOUNDATION AS AN IMPORTANT INNOVATION. AFTER MORE THAN 500 EXAMS CONDUCTED BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, TULSA POLICE OFFICIALS NOTED SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE, AND A HIGHER RATE OF CONVICTION DUE TO GREATER WILLINGNESS OF VICTIMS TO SUBMIT TO EXAMS. THEY ALSO REPORTED THAT ALL OF THE CASES PROSECUTED WITH NURSES PROVIDING TESTIMONY RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT INNOVATION THAT BENEFITS VICTIMS OF CRIME IS THE KIND OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO HANDLING VICTIMIZATIONS THAT ESPECIALLY IMPACT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PIONEERED BY THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A STATEWIDE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM THAT INCLUDES 110 MEMBERS FROM 16 DISCIPLINES, RANGING FROM MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS TO CRIME VICTIMS ADVOCATES, SOCIAL WORKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CLERGY. EVERY TEAM MEMBER RECEIVES A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS OF BASIC RESPONSE TRAINING. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE TEAM IS TO TRAIN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND INSTITUTIONS HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN LOCAL CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS TO RESPOND TO CRITICAL INCIDENTS.

IN THE HIGHLY PUBLICIZED SOUTH CAROLINA CASE IN WHICH SUSAN SMITH WAS CONVICTED OF DROWNING HER TWO YOUNG SONS, TWO GROUPS OF 25 TEAM MEMBERS EACH HELPED THE COMMUNITY OF UNION DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THIS TRAGIC EVENT. THEY PROVIDED DEBRIEFINGS FOR MANY GROUPS, INCLUDING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO WORKED ON THE CASE, AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO WERE ALSO GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE DEATHS OF THE TWO YOUNG BOYS.

AND FINALLY, AN EXEMPLARY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, WHERE THE NATION'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE VICTIM SERVICES CENTER WAS STARTED IN 1991. IT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES IN ONE LOCATION FOR ALL CRIME VICTIMS, EXPANDING UPON THE MODEL USED IN CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS. CENTER STAFF OPERATE AN EMERGENCY FUND FOR VICTIMS AND CAN PAY FOR SUCH ITEMS AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL ITEMS AND CHANGING THE LOCKS ON HOMES WHICH HAVE BEEN BURGLARIZED. COUNSELORS PROVIDE NEEDED THERAPY, RESPOND TO MAJOR CATASTROPHES AS PART OF A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, AS WELL AS TO ALL HOMICIDES ALONG WITH THE POLICE. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM AND SELF-HELP GROUPS, SUCH AS MADD AND POMC, ARE ALSO LOCATED AT THE FACILITY. OVC IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS CENTER BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS A PARTNERSHIP MODEL OF SERVICE FOR ALL CRIME VICTIMS.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT ALL OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SPEAR-HEADED BY DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES. IN HUNTSVILLE, IT WAS A PROSECUTOR WHO BROUGHT DIVERSE PROFESSIONS TOGETHER. IN JACKSONVILLE, IT WAS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. IN MARTIN PARISH IT WAS A SHERIFF. EACH OF US HERE, NO MATTER WHAT OUR PROFESSION IS, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INITIATE THESE KINDS OF PARTNERSHIPS --- TO BE A LEADER IN THESE EFFORTS --- OR AT LEAST TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT.

OVC SUPPORTS THESE EFFORTS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, INCLUDING THROUGH VOCA FUNDING. WE WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE 1984 VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT TO ADMINISTER THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND -- MONEY COLLECTED FROM FEDERAL CRIMINALS, NOT FROM TAXPAYERS. THIS PAST YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED $150 MILLION TO STATES. THIS PROVIDED NOT ONLY SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR ALL STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS BUT ALSO FOR SOME 3,000 VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS --- SANCTUARIES AND SERVICES FOR BATTERED WOMEN, ABUSED CHILDREN, AND VICTIMS OF RAPE, ELDER ABUSE, DRUNK DRIVERS, AND HATE AND BIAS CRIMES.

FROM 1986-1995 NEBRASKA HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL VOCA VICTIM ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION OF $4,548,000 AND A VICTIM COMPENSATION ALLOCATION OF $456,000. THIS AMOUNTS TO OVER $5 MILLION IN VOCA AWARDS. AND, I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, PAYOUTS FROM THE FUND EXCEEDED $1 BILLION.

OVC HAS ALSO PROVIDED FUNDING TO ASSIST THE NEBRASKA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN DEVELOPING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY INSTRUMENT FOR CRIME VICTIMS. THIS IS THE FIRST SUCH SURVEY OF ITS KIND, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THE SURVEY YOU DEVELOP HERE IN NEBRASKA TO IMPROVE YOUR CRIME VICTIM PROGRAMS BASED UPON INPUT FROM VICTIMS THEMSELVES AND THE PUBLIC CAN BE USED IN OTHER STATES AS WELL. IN FACT, WE HOPE TO DISTRIBUTE IT TO ALL STATES AT THE VOCA VICTIM ASSISTANCE CONFERENCE SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON DURING CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK-- APRIL 25-27, 1995.

THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME ALSO HAS OTHER RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A TRAINERS BUREAU. IF YOU ARE HOLDING A CONFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR NEED SPECIAL TRAINING OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY AN EXPERT IN THE VICTIMS FIELD, YOU CAN APPLY TO OUR TRAINERS BUREAU TO PAY FOR CONSULTANT FEES AND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR A NATIONAL EXPERT. WE REALIZE THAT YOUR RESOURCES ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED, SO THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAINERS BUREAU IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE FIELD FOR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

OVC ALSO FUNDS CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES FOR COMMUNITIES. FOLLOWING THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING -- THE LARGEST DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK IN OUR HISTORY -- WE FUNDED THREE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS OF 45 DIVERSE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONDUCTED MORE THAN 2,000 DEBRIEFINGS, FOR VICTIMS, FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL, AND FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN. IN ANOTHER CASE, WE SENT A PSYCHOLOGIST TO THE WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION IN WYOMING FOLLOWING A QUADRUPLE HOMICIDE IN THE CROW HEART COMMUNITY. IF YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS KIND OF SUPPORT, YOU CAN CALL ON US.

AS YOU KNOW, THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT CLINTON LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE CRIME ACT.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTION GRANTS PROGRAM, WHICH GOT UNDERWAY THIS YEAR, PROVIDES FUNDS TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORIAL STRATEGIES TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN, AS WELL AS SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF THIS VIOLENCE. EACH STATE RECEIVED A $426,000 DOWN PAYMENT IN FY 1995. THE PROGRAM WAS AUTHORIZED FOR $130 MILLION IN FY 1996.

ONE NEW VAWA PROGRAM OF INTEREST TO YOU WILL BE THE RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE ENFORCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. IT WILL ESTABLISH AND EXPAND COOPERATIVE EFFORTS TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE; PROVIDE TREATMENT AND COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS; AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES. THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN GRANTS OFFICE HAS DRAFTED PROGRAM REGULATIONS WHICH WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE FY 1996 BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE FINAL.

AS WE LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE, WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE IN MANY AREAS. LET ME SUGGEST A FEW.

1. VICTIMS RIGHTS

WHILE TODAY VIRTUALLY EVERY STATE HAS A VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS, IN MANY PLACES THESE RIGHTS REMAIN UNENFORCED; VICTIMS ARE NEVER INFORMED OF WHAT THEY ARE; AND THEY APPLY ONLY TO CERTAIN VICTIMS --- NOT TO ALL VICTIMS OF SERIOUS CRIMES. IN MOST STATES, RIGHTS ARE EXTENDED ONLY TO VICTIMS OF FELONIES. IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR DRUNK DRIVING, YOUR CASE IS LIKELY TO BE PROSECUTED AS A MISDEMEANOR. IN WHICH CASE, YOUR STATE VICTIMS BILL OF RIGHTS DOES NOT APPLY. YOU DON'T, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE THE RIGHT TO GIVE A VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT AT SENTENCING. I THINK THAT BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL VICTIMS BILLS OF RIGHTS SHOULD APPLY TO EVERY CRIME VICTIM, NOT JUST VICTIMS OF SOME FELONIES.

2. JUVENILE JUSTICE

MOST JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS ARE CLOAKED IN SECRECY. VICTIMS HAVE NO RIGHTS WITHIN MOST OF THOSE SYSTEMS, WHICH WERE DESIGNED YEARS AGO TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. TODAY, YOUTH VIOLENCE IS THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF CRIME. IT IS CHARACTERIZED, AT TIMES, BY UNTHINKABLE BRUTALITY AND INHUMANITY. IT IS TIME TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING RIGHTS FOR VICTIMS OF JUVENILE VIOLENCE SIMILAR TO RIGHTS THAT APPLY IN ADULT COURTS. A FEW STATES HAVE RECENTLY DONE THIS.

3. GRADUATE AND COLLEGE EDUCATION

MANY PROFESSIONALS WHO DEAL WITH CRIME VICTIMS ARE NEVER TAUGHT IN SCHOOL ABOUT THE IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION OR BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELD. THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM IN COLLEGES AND IN GRADUATE SCHOOLS FOR DOCTORS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THE CLERGY, AND OTHERS, SHOULD INCLUDE TRAINING ON CRIME VICTIMS ISSUES. SOME OF THESE COURSES SHOULD BE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND INFORM STUDENTS ABOUT EFFECTIVE TEAM APPROACHES TO HANDLING CRIME.

THIS YEAR OVC IS FUNDING A PROJECT TO IDENTIFY THE BEST VICTIM CURRICULUM BEING USED IN COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

4. PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION

THERE SHOULD BE COURSES ABOUT CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND VICTIMIZATION IN EVERY GRADE, BEGINNING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO THAT OUR CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, AND BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IF THEY DO BECOME VICTIMS.

5. CRISIS RESPONSE

EVERY COMMUNITY AND EVERY INSTITUTION SHOULD HAVE A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM PREPARED TO RESPOND TO MAJOR CRIMINAL CATASTROPHES.

6. MEDICAL EXAMS

MEDICAL EXAMS FOR VICTIMS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN SUPPORTIVE SETTINGS, NOT IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS, AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS SHOULD BE USED MORE WIDELY TO CONDUCT THESE EXAMS.

7. THERAPY SERVICES

WE MUST SUPPORT LONGER-TERM PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES FOR VICTIMS, ESPECIALLY SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN. A RECENT STUDY DOCUMENTS THAT MOST SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN NEED TREATMENT OF AT LEAST 6 MONTHS TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE. INVESTMENT IN NEEDED THERAPY WILL HELP PREVENT THE CYCLE OF ABUSE.

8. TECHNOLOGY

WE MUST USE TECHNOLOGY IN MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO BENEFIT CRIME VICTIMS. THROUGH COMPUTERS WE CAN INFORM VICTIMS WHEN ASSAILANTS ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON, AS THEY DO IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY; ENHANCE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SERVICE PROVIDERS; IDENTIFY WHICH SUSPECTS ARE CARRYING WEAPONS; AND TRACK STALKERS AND RAPISTS.

9. SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

WHILE IN SOME COMMUNITIES THERE ARE EXTENSIVE SERVICES FOR CRIME VICTIMS, IN TOO MANY COMMUNITIES -- PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS --- THERE ARE NO SERVICES. THESE COMMUNITIES MUST RECEIVE MORE ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

10. VICTIM IMPACT PANELS

CRIME VICTIMS SHOULD BE USED MORE WIDELY TO EDUCATE EVERYONE ABOUT VICTIMIZATION, INCLUDING SERVICE PROVIDERS. VICTIM IMPACT CLASSES SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES, AS WELL AS SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND OFFENDERS.

IN CLOSING, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE CRIME VICTIMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO ENHANCING VICTIM SERVICES. WE THINK OF THE LEADERS OF MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, LIKE CANDY LIGHTNER WHOSE DAUGHTER, CARI, WAS KILLED AT 13 BY A REPEAT OFFENDER. MADD HAS HELPED REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED FATALITIES BY 31% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WE THINK OF THE PARENTS OF MISSING CHILDREN, LIKE JOHN WALSH WHOSE SON, ADAM, WAS KIDNAPED AND KILLED WHEN HE WAS SIX, WHO HELPED TO ESTABLISH THE CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN WHICH HAS RECOVERED CLOSE TO 30,000 CHILDREN SINCE 1984. AND I THINK OF CHERYL BESS, ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE SURVIVORS OF CRIME THAT I MET THIS PAST YEAR WAS CHERYL BESS. TEN YEARS AGO, CHERYL WAS A STRAIGHT-A STUDENT IN THE 9TH GRADE. SHE DREAMED OF BECOMING A DOCTOR, AND WORKING IN HER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL ON A BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER DAY, CHERYL WAS OFFERED A RIDE BY THE JANITOR OF HER BUILDING. UNBEKNOWNST TO HER, JACK OSCAR KING WAS A REPEAT SEX OFFENDER ON PAROLE FOR RAPE AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL. HE DROVE CHERYL TO THE DESERT, WHERE HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER, THREW ACID ON HER FACE AND ARMS, AND LEFT HER TO DIE. CHERYL TOLD HERSELF THAT SHE HAD TO SURVIVE BECAUSE HER MOTHER WOULD NEVER RECOVER FROM HER DEATH. SHE WANDERED FOR EIGHT HOURS BEFORE BEING RESCUED.

CHERYL IS BLIND, DEAF IN ONE EAR, AND PHYSICALLY DISFIGURED BEYOND RECOGNITION. BUT HER ASSAILANT COULD NOT STRIP HER OF HER VOICE, NOR COULD HE TAKE HER OPTIMISTIC, DETERMINED SPIRIT. TODAY, CHERYL IS NOT ONLY A MAGNIFICENT GOSPEL SINGER, A COLLEGE STUDENT, AND THE HOST OF A RADIO TALK SHOW, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS RIGHTS AND SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY. SHE RECEIVED A SPECIAL COURAGE AWARD LAST APRIL FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. SHE REMINDS US ALL THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT CAN OVERCOME ANY TRAGEDY, AND THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR CRIME VICTIMS.

I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE HERE THAT AS YOU STRIVE TO IMPLEMENT YOUR GOALS FOR CRIME VICTIMS, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VOICE AND FIND A FRIEND AT THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME.

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