KEYNOTE ADDRESS

FOR THE TRIAD CONFERENCE

BY

AILEEN ADAMS

DIRECTOR, OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

"THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS IN HELPING CRIME VICTIMS"

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

DECEMBER 9, 1995

I AM VERY HONORED TO BE YOUR LUNCHEON SPEAKER TODAY. IN FACT, I AM REMEMBERING BACK TO THE FIRST TIME THAT I ADDRESSED A TRIAD CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER OF 1994 AFTER HAVING JUST BEEN SWORN IN AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME. MY PARTICIPATION IN THAT CONFERENCE WAS IN MANY WAYS A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR ME -- NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAID -- BUT BECAUSE I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF TRIAD. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A VERY COMMITTED ALLY AT THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME. NOT ONLY HAVE WE CONTRIBUTED FINANCIALLY TO YOUR PROGRAM ALONG WITH OUR SISTER AGENCY -- THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE; NOT ONLY DID WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING AT HHS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY AS WELL; BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERY TIME I GIVE A SPEECH WHETHER I AM IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, OR NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TRIAD. TO ME, TRIAD IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS, ONE THAT SHOULD BE REPLICATED AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND WE AT THE OFFICE OF VICTIMS OF CRIME WANT TO REMAIN YOUR PARTNERS BOTH AS FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS AND AS STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO.

I AM ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH A TRULY REMARKABLE MEMBER OF MY STAFF -- DUANE RAGAN WHO JUST COMPLETED HIS 50TH YEAR IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE. DUANE IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR US AT OVC AND FOR THE NATION. NO MATTER WHERE I GO AROUND THE COUNTRY PEOPLE ALWAYS COME UP TO ME AND SAY HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE DUANE'S LEADERSHIP ON MANY IMPORTANT VICTIM-RELATED ISSUES.

ONE OF HIS GRANTS PRODUCED AN OUTSTANDING CURRICULUM TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT ON ELDER ABUSE -- A MANUAL WHICH IS USED WIDELY AROUND THE COUNTRY. SEVERAL YEARS AGO BEFORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WAS A HOUSEHOLD WORD, DUANE MANAGED A GRANT WHICH DEVELOPED A PIONEERING CURRICULUM ON FAMILY VIOLENCE AND WAS USED TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ABOUT A DOZEN STATES. HE ALSO OVERSAW THE GRANT THAT DEVELOPED A HIGHLY ACCLAIMED CURRICULUM ON HATE & BIAS CRIMES. KNOWING DUANE, HE PROBABLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION TO ANY OF YOU, BUT I WOULD LIKE HIM TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS MANY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND HIS YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

I BRING GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO WHO HAS BEEN STRONGLY COMMITTED TO REDUCING CRIMES AGAINST OLDER PERSONS SINCE SHE WAS A FLORIDA COUNTY PROSECUTOR. HER STRONG COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY WAS UNDERLINED LAST DECEMBER WHEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED A TWO-YEAR JOINT FEDERAL AND STATE UNDERCOVER OPERATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF MORE THAN 400 DISHONEST TELEMARKETERS WHO PREYED UPON THE ELDERLY IN OVER A DOZEN STATES. MANY OF THEIR VICTIMS LOST THEIR LIVE'S SAVINGS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REMINDED US THAT "TELEPHONE PITCHES FROM ELICIT BOILER ROOM OPERATIONS COST AMERICANS $40 BILLION A YEAR" AND THAT THE VICTIMS COMMONLY RECEIVE FIVE OR MORE CALLS A DAY FROM THESE HIGH-PRESSURE SALES PEOPLE ONCE THEY MAKE THEIR FIRST PURCHASE OR CONTRIBUTION. HOW WAS THIS MASSIVE CASE MADE POSSIBLE? THROUGH THE COOPERATION OF DOZENS OF VOLUNTEER RETIREES, RECRUITED THROUGH AARP, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS. THEY POSED AS TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS AND TAPE RECORDED THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.

IF ANY OF YOU SAW NIGHTLINE THURSDAY EVENING, THE ENTIRE SHOW WAS DEDICATED TO TELEMARKETING FRAUD. THEY PLAYED SEVERAL TAPES OF THESE SCAM ARTISTS, AND YOU COULD HEAR THE PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES THAT THEY USED -- TRYING TO PERSUADE THEIR VICTIMS THAT THEY HAD WON $50,000, BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $500 TO ENSURE ITS DELIVERY. YOU CAN BUY YOUR CHILDREN A HOUSE, THEY WOULD SAY. YOU COULD HEAR VICTIMS CRYING ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE $500, BUT MAYBE THEY COULD SCRAPE TOGETHER $100.

THIS CASE EXEMPLIFIES THE POWER OF THE TRIAD CONCEPT. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ELDERLY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS THE KEY TO COMBATING THIS MASSIVE TELEMARKETING FRAUD -- TO ENSURING THAT HUNDREDS OF CONMEN WILL BE PROSECUTED -- AND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WILL BE DETERRED. I THINK WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO EMPHASIZES IN EVERY SPEECH THAT SHE GIVES AND ACTION THAT SHE TAKES THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION. THE MASSIVE TELEMARKETING CASE THAT WE WITNESSED ON THURSDAY IS INDEED A TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AT EVERY LEVEL CAN WORK TOGETHER, ALONG WITH CONCERNED CITIZENS TO COMBAT CRIME.

THE CASE ALSO REMINDS US OF THIS ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN PENALTIES. AS PART OF THE CRIME ACT WHICH THE PRESIDENT SIGNED IN SEPTEMBER 1994, SENTENCES WERE INCREASED IN CASES OF TELEMARKETING FRAUD --- RAISED BY FIVE YEARS OR BY AN ADDITIONAL TEN YEARS IF TEN OR MORE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE HARMED OR TARGETED. IT ALSO GAVE THESE VICTIMS THE RIGHT TO DELIVER A VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT.

IN MY REMARKS TODAY I WANT TO DESCRIBE BRIEFLY WHAT MY OFFICE -- THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME -- DOES AND THEN FOCUS UPON THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO IMPROVE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS. THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME ADMINISTERS THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND - MONIES COLLECTED FROM FEDERAL CRIMINALS -- NOT FROM TAXPAYERS. THIS YEAR OUR FUND EXCEEDED $233 MILLION -- THE MOST EVER. WE DISTRIBUTE MOST OF THESE VOCA FUNDS TO THE STATES TO SUPPORT ALL STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS WHICH HELP REIMBURSE VICTIMS FOR MEDICAL CARE, COUNSELING, AND LOST WAGES, AS WELL AS SOME 3,000 VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS -- SANCTUARIES AND SERVICES FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND VICTIMS OF RAPE, ELDER ABUSE, DRUNK DRIVERS, AND HATE AND BIAS CRIMES. MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT RECEIVE OUR VOCA FUNDS PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OLDER AMERICANS.

OVC ALSO PROVIDES VICTIM-WITNESS TRAINING FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL EACH YEAR. WE HAVE A TRAINERS BUREAU THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU. IN FACT, THE TRIAD CONFERENCE WHICH WAS HELD A FEW MONTHS AGO IN LOUISIANA USED THIS FUNDING RESOURCE. IF YOU ARE HOLDING A CONFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR NEED SPECIAL TRAINING OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY A SPECIALIST 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 NATION'S HISTORY, WE FUNDED THREE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS OF DIVERSE PROFESSIONALS THAT CONDUCTED MORE THAN 2,000 DEBRIEFINGS FOR VICTIMS, FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL, AND FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN. WE RECENTLY ENTERED INTO OUR FIRST INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TRAIN TEACHERS ACROSS THE NATION IN HOW TO RESPOND TO MAJOR VIOLENT CRIMES. IF YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS KIND OF SUPPORT, YOU CAN CALL ON US.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY -- ESPECIALLY WHEN CONFRONTED BY A MASSIVE TERRORIST ATTACK LIKE THE ONE THAT OCCURRED IN OKLAHOMA CITY -- WHO FEEL THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CANNOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SUCH A WIDE-SPREAD AND COMPLEX PROBLEM. I THINK THAT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US INVOLVED IN THE VICTIMS FIELD TO RECOGNIZE JUST HOW FAR WE'VE COME IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND HOW MUCH INDIVIDUALS -- OFTEN CRIME VICTIMS THEMSELVES -- HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR PROGRESS. YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO CRIME PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE THAT TRIADS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND THAT THIS POWERFUL MOVEMENT WAS BEGUN BY A VISIONARY SHERIFF FROM A SMALL TOWN IN LOUISIANA. LET US ALSO REMEMBER THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY ANOTHER UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL, CANDY LIGHTNER, AFTER HER 1 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, CARI, WAS KILLED WHILE WALKING WITH A FRIEND TO A CHURCH CARNIVAL IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THE DRUNK DRIVER WHO HIT HER WAS A REPEAT OFFENDER WITH 2 DRUNK DRIVING CONVICTIONS AND 4 ARRESTS, INCLUDING ONE JUST 2 DAYS BEFORE HE KILLED CARI. WITH THE SUPPORT OF CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MADD HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED ATTITUDES, LAWS, AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES REGARDING DRUNK DRIVING. LARGELY THROUGH ITS EFFORTS, THERE HAS BEEN A 31% DECREASE IN ALCOHOL-RELATED FATALITIES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. ABOUT 2,000 LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DRUNK DRIVERS AND INCREASE PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT THIS CRIME HAVE BEEN DRAMATICALLY CHANGED. DRUNK DRIVING IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED AN "ACCIDENT. " IT IS A CRIME. WE FINALLY RECOGNIZE THAT A LOADED DRIVER CAN BE JUST AS DEADLY AS A LOADED GUN!

IN 1981, 6-YEAR-OLD ADAM WALSH WAS ABDUCTED FROM A SEARS STORE, WHILE HIS MOTHER WAS SHOPPING. HE WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED BY A KILLER WHO HAS NEVER BEEN CHARGED. THE WORK OF HIS PARENTS HAS LED TO HUNDREDS OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO PROTECT CHILDREN, AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN, WHICH HAS HELPED TO RECOVER MORE THAN 28,000 CHILDREN SINCE 1984. YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN ADAM'S FATHER, JOHN WALSH, AS THE HOST OF "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED. " HE TOO IS AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF ONE PERSON WHO HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

I COULD NAME DOZENS OF OTHER REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS. AS ALL OF US PURSUE OUR PASSION FOR JUSTICE, WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT AS INDIVIDUALS, WE DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE IMPORTANT CHANGES, WHETHER WE ARE A MOTHER, A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, OR A RETIREE.

SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANCES FOR CRIME VICTIMS HAVE RESULTED FROM INDIVIDUALS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PROFESSIONS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND AMONG ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. LET ME DESCRIBE A FEW EXAMPLES WHICH HAVE LED TO REMARKABLE CHANGES.

FOR YEARS, ABUSED CHILDREN WERE SUBJECTED TO A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT REVICTIMIZED THEM. THEY WERE INTERVIEWED AS MANY AS A DOZEN DIFFERENT TIMES BY VARIOUS AGENCY OFFICIALS IN FRIGHTENING SETTINGS, SUCH AS POLICE STATIONS. IN 1985, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA -- BUD CRAMER -- 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 DEVELOPED A CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER -- A CONVERTED HOME ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR KIDS, WITH SMALL TABLES AND CHAIRS AND TOYS - A SAFE PLACE WHERE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKED TOGETHER TO INTERVIEW THE CHILD ONCE AND COORDINATE CASES. MUCH LIKE YOUR TRIAD PROGRAMS, HIS VISION BECAME THE BASIS FOR A NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THROUGH ANOTHER REMARKABLE PARTNERSHIP, THIS CONCEPT OF A TEAM APPROACH WAS EXPANDED TO ALL CRIME VICTIMS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA BY A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CITY COUNCIL. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, ERIC SMITH HELPED TO SECURE LAND FROM THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND FUNDS TO BUILD A VICTIMS SERVICES CENTER -- THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY. IT IS LOCATED IN A VICTORIAN HOME WHERE ALL CRIME VICTIMS CAN COME TO RECEIVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE THERAPY SERVICES FOR VICTIMS. A STATE COMPENSATION REPRESENTATIVE IS LOCATED THERE TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF VICTIMS' CLAIMS. SUPPORT GROUPS, LIKE MADD AND PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, ARE ALSO CO-LOCATED THERE. THE FACILITY HAS AN EMERGENCY FUND -- WHICH PAYS FOR REPAIRING BROKEN WINDOWS AND LOCKS, AS WELL AS NEEDED FOOD AND MEDICINES.

MANY OF THE VICTIMS SERVED IN JACKSONVILLE ARE ELDERLY. FOR EXAMPLE, A 73-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS RECENTLY TIED UP, PUT IN A CLOSET, AND ROBBED BY A MAN SHE HIRED TO MOW HER LAWN. A CENTER STAFF MEMBER PROVIDED HER WITH COUNSELING AND ACCOMPANIED HER TO COURT WHERE HER COURAGEOUS PARTICIPATION LED TO A STIFF PRISON SENTENCE. THE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT OF THE CENTER ENCOURAGES VICTIMS TO SEEK HELP THERE AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, A GROUP OF 11 OLDER WOMEN WERE HAVING A CHURCH MEETING WHEN A MAN ENTERED AND ROBBED ALL OF THEIR PURSES. THE WOMEN WERE EXTREMELY TRAUMATIZED BY THE EXPERIENCE AND THE VICTIMS' SERVICES CENTER STAFF ACTUALLY WENT TO ONE OF THEIR HOMES TO DEBRIEF THEM AND PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES BECAUSE THE WOMEN FELT SAFEST AT HOME.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE VICTIMS' SERVICES CENTER IS ITS EMERGENCY FUND WHICH IS OFTEN USED TO BENEFIT ELDERLY VICTIMS. FOR EXAMPLE, AMONG THE POSSESSIONS STOLEN FROM THE WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN LOCKED IN HER CLOSET WAS HER SPACE HEATER. A CENTER STAFF MEMBER TOOK THE VICTIM TO THE STORE, ALLOWED HER TO PICK OUT A NEW HEATER, AND PAID FOR IT WITH MONEY FROM THE CENTER EMERGENCY FUND. IN OTHER INSTANCES, THE TRUST FUND HAS BEEN USED TO BUY ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS MEDICATION TO TREAT INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING AN ATTACK OR TO PAY THEIR RENT OR UTILITY BILLS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ROBBED. THE JACKSONVILLE EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF EMERGENCY FUNDS WHICH EXIST IN TOO FEW PLACES. EVERY COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE A CENTER LIKE THE ONE IN JACKSONVILLE WHICH PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO ALL CRIME VICTIMS IN A SETTING THAT IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THEIR NEEDS.

IF YOU ANALYZE THE 3 KINDS OF PARTNERSHIPS WE'VE DISCUSSED -- TRIAD WHICH WAS BEGUN BY A SHERIFF; CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS WHICH WERE INITIATED BY A DISTRICT ATTORNEY; AND VICTIMS' SERVICES CENTERS WHICH WERE BEGUN BY A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CITY COUNCIL, THEY TEACH US THAT OUR LEADERS CAN COME FROM ANY PROFESSION -- ANY WALK OF LIFE -- AND THAT THEIR MOST REMARKABLE QUALITY IS THEIR ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS -- TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AS ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO SAID IN ONE OF HER KEYNOTE ADDRESSES LAST YEAR: "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 LAW ENFORCEMENT], BY PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE PROBLEM IN A REALISTIC WAY. NO GROUP THAT I KNOW OF BETTER EXEMPLIFIES HER WORDS THAN TRIAD

I WANT TO ENLIST YOUR COUNSEL AND ASSISTANCE IN 4 AREAS:

1. EMERGENCY FUNDS -- THESE FUNDS ARE CRITICAL AFTER MANY CRIMES OCCUR BECAUSE THEY CAN BE PROVIDED TO VICTIMS IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS SET UP IN OKLAHOMA CITY AFTER THE BOMBING TO PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH IMMEDIATE HELP. YOU CAN'T WAIT EVEN FOR A FEW DAYS TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF YOU HAVE NO FOOD OR MEDICINE. I HOPE YOU WILL HELP ESTABLISH THIS KIND OF FUND IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

2. ONE-STOP CENTERS FOR CRIME VICTIMS -- WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE JACKSONVILLE CENTER WHICH I DESCRIBED AND WORK TOGETHER TO REPLICATE ONE-STOP SERVICE CENTERS FOR ALL CRIME VICTIMS IN AS MANY COMMUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.

3. SERVICES FOR TELEMARKETING VICTIMS -- WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR TELEMARKETING VICTIMS. CURRENTLY VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES RECEIVE COMPENSATION BENEFITS AND COUNSELING SERVICES WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HELPS TO FUND. THESE SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR TELEMARKETING VICTIMS.

4. REFORMS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM -- IF WE DON'T TAKE PREVENTIVE ACTION NOW WE MAY WELL EXPERIENCE A MASSIVE CRIME WAVE BY JUVENILES IN THE FUTURE. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT ALTHOUGH VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 4%, CRIMES COMMITTED BY JUVENILES ARE UP 7%. TODAY, THERE ARE 39 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE -- THE MOST THAT WE'VE HAD IN DECADES. TO CHANGE THIS, WE MUST SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT GIVE HIGH RISK KIDS SOMETHING TO SAY YES TO AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT RIGHTS FOR CRIME VICTIMS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS.

IN CLOSING, I WANT TO TELL YOU THE STORY OF ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE SURVIVORS OF CRIME THAT I MET THIS PAST YEAR. HER NAME IS CHERYL BESS. 10 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 9-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 8 HOURS BEFORE BEING RESCUED.

CHERYL IS BLIND, DEAF IN ONE YEAR, 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 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 -- AS YOU CARRY ON THE WORK OF TRIAD -YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VOICE AND FIND A FRIEND AT THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME.