KEYNOTE ADDRESS

BY

AILEEN ADAMS

DIRECTOR

OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

THE 2ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE

NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN IN POLICING

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

MARCH 11, 1997

THANKS SO MUCH, KATHY, FOR THAT WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION -- BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO PROMOTE WOMEN IN POLICING AND TO ENSURE WOMEN'S EQUALITY AND ACCESS TO SERVICES IN SO MANY OTHER AREAS.

I AM PERSONALLY THRILLED TO BE IN A ROOM WITH SO MANY PIONEERS IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION. AS A FORMER L.A.P.D. RESERVE OFFICER AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE CITY'S FIRE COMMISSION, I KNOW FIRST-HAND THE COURAGE AND COMMITMENT IT TAKES TO BE AMONG THE FIRST IN ANY FIELD AND HOW IMPORTANT YOUR WORK IS TO OPEN DOORS FOR OTHER WOMEN. IT IS A TRUE HONOR TO BE HERE.

AND, I SHOULD ADD, IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK WITH SO MANY EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT -- WOMEN LIKE BONNIE CAMPBELL WHO YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM SHORTLY AS HEAD OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE. BONNIE WAS ALSO A REAL PIONEER AS ATTORNEY GENERAL IN IOWA -- HELPING TO WRITE AND PASS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST STALKING LAW IN THE COUNTRY AND VISITING EVERY COLLEGE CAMPUS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CAMPUSES. WOMEN LIKE JAMIE GORELICK, THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, WHO IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREAT ADMINISTRATORS IN GOVERNMENT. AND OF COURSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HERSELF, JANET RENO WHOSE LEADERSHIP ON VICTIMS' ISSUES, INCLUDING YOUTH VIOLENCE, CRIMES WITHIN FAMILIES, AND THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE UPON CHILDREN IS UNPARALLELED IN GOVERNMENT AND AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. SHE HAS GIVEN THESE ISSUES FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PRIORITY AND THE FOCUS THAT THEY DESERVE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. WE HAVE AN EXCITING FAMILY OF WOMEN WORKING FOR POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, JUST AS YOU HAVE A FAMILY OF POLICE WOMEN GATHERED IN THIS ROOM. THE SYNERGISM CREATED IS UNIQUE, AND I TRULY BELIEVE ITS POWER CAN OVERCOME ALL ODDS.

I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE HOW FAR WE'VE COME IN PROVIDING CRUCIAL SERVICES AND RIGHTS TO CRIME VICTIMS IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. VICTIMS' RIGHTS -- A NOVEL IDEA TWENTY YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BECAME INVOLVED WITH CRIME VICTIMS' ISSUES -- IS NOW A REALITY IN EVERY STATE. TWENTY-NINE STATES HAVE AMENDED THEIR STATE CONSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE THESE CRUCIAL RIGHTS. VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE FEW IN NUMBER IN THE LATE 1960'S AND GENERALLY SERVED RAPE VICTIMS AND BATTERED WOMEN, NOW NUMBER OVER 10,000 AND PROVIDE CRUCIAL SERVICES TO ALL TYPES OF CRIME VICTIMS, INCLUDING VICTIMS OF HATE AND BIAS CRIMES AND DRUNK DRIVING, AS WELL AS SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDES. TWENTY YEARS AGO THERE WERE FEW VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS TO HELP REIMBURSE VICTIMS FOR THE MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER COSTS RELATED TO CRIME. TODAY, EVERY STATE HAS A PROGRAM TO HELP COVER THESE EXPENSES. AND WITHIN THE PAST FEW YEARS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ALONE, WE HAVE SEEN EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S CRIME ACT WHICH IS PUTTING 100,000 COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICERS ON OUR STREETS AND GREATLY EXPANDS THE RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS; THE PASSAGE OF THE LANDMARK VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT WHICH AUTHORIZED $1.6 BILLION TO SUPPORT INCREASED SERVICES AND PROTECTION FOR THESE VICTIMS; THE ENACTMENT OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN WHICH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MADE IT ILLEGAL TO MAKE, SELL, OR OWN A SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON -- WEAPONS THAT WERE USED IN THE STOCKTON SCHOOLYARD AND SAN FRANCISCO LAW FIRM MASSACRES HERE IN CALIFORNIA; AND THE ENACTMENT OF THE BRADY BILL WHICH REQUIRES A WAITING PERIOD BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF HANDGUNS. SINCE ITS PASSAGE, THE BRADY BILL HAS HELPED TO DETER EACH MONTH AN AVERAGE OF 6,600 CONVICTED FELONS FROM PURCHASING A HANDGUN. THAT IS OVER 180,000 FELONS WHO COULD NOT PURCHASE GUNS BECAUSE OF ONE LAW. I AM SURE YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT OTHER IMPORTANT INITIATIVES FROM BONNIE -- THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE; THE LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT WHICH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TAKES GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE CONVICTED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MISDEMEANORS; AND MEGAN'S LAW WHICH ENCOURAGES STATES TO NOTIFY COMMUNITIES WHEN CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS ARE RELEASED INTO THEIR MIDST. NAMED FOR MEGAN KANKA, A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD VICTIM WHO WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND MURDERED IN 1994 BY A TWICE-CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, THE LAW WAS NAMED FOR ONE CHILD BUT WAS PASSED TO PROTECT EVERY CHILD.

IN 1996, WE ALSO OBTAINED PASSAGE OF THE ANTITERRORISM ACT, WHICH PROVIDED ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN ANTITERRORISM EFFORTS, MADE RESTITUTION MANDATORY FOR VICTIMS, AND EXPANDED THE COMPENSATION AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF TERRORISM BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACT, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF THE TRAGIC BOMBING OF THE ALFRED P. MURRAH BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA CITY -- PROVIDING FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL VICTIM-WITNESS STAFF IN U.S. ATTORNEYS' OFFICES, SAFE HAVENS FOR VICTIMS IN BOTH DENVER WHERE THE TRIALS WILL BE HELD AND IN OKLAHOMA CITY WHERE MANY VICTIMS WILL VIEW THE TRIAL OVER CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION, AND CRISIS COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS IN BOTH CITIES THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL.

WE HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF -- BUT IF WE ARE TRULY TO PROVIDE ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME WITH THE SERVICES AND RIGHTS THAT THEY NEED AND DESERVE, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE.

IN MY REMARKS THIS MORNING, I WANT TO BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT OUR OFFICE IS DOING AND FOCUS ON PROMISING PRACTICES IN POLICING THAT I HAVE SEEN IMPLEMENTED AROUND THE COUNTRY TO BENEFIT CRIME VICTIMS -- INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO IMPLEMENT IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, I ADMINISTER THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND WHICH IS A UNIQUE FORM OF JUSTICE DERIVED -- NOT FROM TAXPAYERS -- BUT FROM FINES AND PENALTY ASSESSMENTS LEVELED AGAINST FEDERAL CRIMINAL OFFENDERS. OVER 90 PERCENT OF THESE FUNDS -- WHICH LAST YEAR AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $530 MILLION (BY FAR THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE HISTORY OF THE FUND) -- ARE DISTRIBUTED TO STATES TO SUPPORT LOCAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND STATE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS. THESE ARE THE LIFELINE SERVICES THAT ENABLE VICTIMS TO HEAL. FEDERAL FUNDS HELP TO SUPPORT CLOSE TO 3,000 VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTERS, RAPE TREATMENT CENTERS, AND CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS. SOME VOCA FUNDING IS USED TO SUPPORT 113 VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES $121,000 FROM VOCA TO FUND ITS RAPE COUNCIL WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, INCLUDING HOSPITAL ACCOMPANIMENT, COUNSELING, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY. IN ADDITION, OVC PROVIDES STATES WITH 40 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS THEY PAY OUT FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION IN A PREVIOUS YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, CALIFORNIA THIS YEAR WILL BE RECEIVING OVER $25 MILLION FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION SERVICES, AS WELL AS OVER $44 MILLION TO HELP FUND ITS VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX IN THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND, ALL STATES WILL BE RECEIVING THREE TIMES MORE MONEY FOR VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAN EVER BEFORE. I MENTION THIS TO YOU BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO CREATE OR EXPAND VICTIM ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, NOW IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO TRY TO DO SO.

I THINK WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS FOR VICTIM SERVICES -- A TIME WHEN EVERY PROFESSION, WHETHER IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS, DOCTORS, CORRECTION PERSONNEL, OR THE COURTS ARE REEVALUATING AND REDEFINING THE WAY THEY PROVIDE SERVICES. AND DIVERSE PROFESSIONALS ARE COMING TOGETHER IN UNPRECEDENTED WAYS TO ENHANCE SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS. I RECENTLY VISITED NEW YORK WHERE MANY OF THE POLICE PRECINCTS HAVE POLICE OFFICERS WORKING TOGETHER WITH SOCIAL WORKERS TO RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS. WHEN I HEARD ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS CALL THE SOCIAL WORKER "PARTNER", I KNEW THAT THIS NEW ALLIANCE -- THIS NEW KIND OF RESPONSE -- WAS ONE THAT BENEFITTED BOTH PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS THE VICTIMS THEY SERVE. WE SEE CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY REDEFINING THEIR ROLES TO BE MORE VICTIM-ORIENTED. INSTEAD OF VIEWING THEMSELVES AS WORKING SOLELY ON BEHALF OF OFFENDERS, MANY CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS TODAY VIEW VICTIMS AS A PRIORITY -- INFORMING VICTIMS OF THE STATUS OF OFFENDERS AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SENTENCING. DOCTORS ARE DEVELOPING NEW WAYS OF DELIVERING MEDICAL CARE TO VICTIMS THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY. A DOCTOR IN A LARGE CITY CAN SUPERVISE A NURSE PRACTITIONER IN A RURAL AREA THROUGH VIDEO MONITORING TECHNIQUES AND HELP TO DELIVER IMPROVED SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY LACKED MEDICAL CARE. ONE CAN TRAVEL TO MANY COMMUNITIES AND OBSERVE NOT ONLY COMMUNITY POLICING BUT COMMUNITY PROSECUTORS WHO DEFINE THEIR JOBS IN THE FIELD WITH THE INPUT OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. AND EVEN THE COURTS ARE BECOMING MORE SENSITIVE TO CRIME VICTIMS. SOME COMMUNITIES NOW HAVE CHILDREN'S COURTS -- COURTROOMS DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR CHILD VICTIMS WHERE JUDGES DO NOT WEAR ROBES OR SIT AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

AND CERTAINLY POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY -- MANY OF YOU -- ARE COMING UP WITH CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE WAYS OF PROVIDING MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICES FOR CRIME VICTIMS. YOU ARE USING THE RESOURCES OF YOUR COMMUNITIES -- TECHNOLOGY, OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES, AND THE ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE -- TO MEET THE HUMAN NEEDS OF THE VICTIMS YOU WORK WITH. LET'S SPEND A MOMENT LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE INNOVATIVE VICTIM-ORIENTED PROGRAMS.

• WE KNOW THAT SOME HIGH CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL COMPLETELY NEGLECTED BY THE POLICE. IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, POLICE ARE GETTING OUT INTO THESE COMMUNITIES COURTESY OF "MOBO-COP" -- A MOBILE POLICE SUBSTATION THAT IS ACTUALLY IN A VAN. IT IS STATIONED AT TROUBLE SPOTS IN HIGH-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IS STAFFED BY A POLICE OFFICER, A COUNSELOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, AND A CITY SERVICES COORDINATOR WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL "BEAT" OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE VAN AS WELL. WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED TO "TAKE BACK" NEIGHBORHOODS FROM CRIME AND NEGLECT.

OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE USING MOBILE VANS AS CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS. THEY TRAVEL TO RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS WITH MEDICAL TREATMENT AND SERVICES FROM POLICE AND PROSECUTORS.

• IN ANOTHER AREA, WE KNOW THAT MANY CRIME VICTIMS NEED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS TO RECEIVE VICTIM COMPENSATION. IN MONROE, WASHINGTON, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HELPS TO PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH EMERGENCY FUNDS BY SERVING AS AN "OUTLET" FOR THE VARIOUS FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP VICTIMS WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL NEEDS. MANY VICTIMS HAVE IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR: FOOD, GAS, TEMPORARY HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, MEDICATIONS, UTILITIES, AND CLOTHING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SHORT, SIMPLE FORMS THAT HELP VICTIMS APPLY FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDS TO MEET THESE NEEDS WHICH ARE FINANCED BY SUCH GROUPS AS THE UNITED WAY, THE SALVATION ARMY, AND THE SAFEWAY CORPORATION.
• IN OTHER AREAS, POLICE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN NEW WAYS TO BENEFIT BOTH OF THEIR WORK. THE NEW HAVEN DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICE AND THE CHILD STUDY CENTER AT THE YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HAVE DEVELOPED A UNIQUE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF THEIR CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT-COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAM (CD-CP) BRINGS POLICE OFFICERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE EACH OTHER WITH TRAINING, CONSULTATION AND SUPPORT AND TO PROVIDE DIRECT INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION TO CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS, WITNESSES OR PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENT CRIME. WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, THE NEW HAVEN PROGRAM SERVES AS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR POLICE/MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
• YOU WILL HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT PROMISING PRACTICES THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DEVELOPING TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM BONNIE, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST ONE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LARGO, FLORIDA COLLABORATES WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WITH THE LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER TO ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND TO IMPROVE THE PROSECUTION RATE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. A SPECIAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT RECEIVED FOCUSED TRAINING ON RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS. THEY USE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES TO HELP GATHER EVIDENCE -- LIKE LAPEL MICROPHONES TO RECORD AUDIO ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE; CAMCORDERS TO VIDEOTAPE VICTIM AND WITNESS STATEMENTS ON THE SCENE; AND THEY IMMEDIATELY FAX A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT TO THE LOCAL SHELTER, THAT THEN CALLS THE VICTIM.
• MANY OF YOU MAY ALSO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TRIAD PROGRAMS WHICH WORK TO REDUCE CRIME AND UNWARRANTED FEAR OF CRIME AFFECTING OLDER PERSONS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 400 TRIAD PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. EACH INVOLVES A THREE-WAY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ONE OR MORE POLICE CHIEFS, AND SENIOR COMMUNITY LEADERS. THEY WORK TOGETHER -- MEETING MONTHLY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF SENIORS REGARDING THEIR COMMUNITY, AND DRAWING ON VOLUNTEERS TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, THE SHERIFF MET WITH SENIORS LIVING IN A HOUSING PROJECT AND LEARNED THAT THEY WERE AFRAID TO GO TO THE MARKET. THE SHERIFF HIRED A BUS ONCE A WEEK AND HAD DEPUTIES AND VOLUNTEERS ACCOMPANY SENIORS WHILE THEY WERE BUYING FOOD. SOME OF THE SENIORS IN RETURN CROCHETED ADORABLE OUTFITS FOR TEDDY BEARS WHICH THE SHERIFFS GIVE TO SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN. THIS IS THE KIND OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT TAKES A DIFFERENT FORM IN EVERY COMMUNITY, AND IS ONE IN WHICH ALL INVOLVED BENEFIT.
• EACH OF YOU ALSO WORKS TO RESPOND TO THE TRAGEDIES THAT FOLLOW IN CRIME'S WAKE. YOU ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO CONTACT THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF VICTIMS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED. DEATH NOTIFICATION IS WRENCHING AND DIFFICULT FOR THE VICTIMS -- AND TAKES AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON THE OFFICERS AS WELL, WHO ARE CALLED ON TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL NEEDS OF THE SURVIVORS. IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALLOWS SURVIVORS TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS THEY WANT WITH THE VICTIM -- TO VIEW AND TOUCH THE BODY, REGARDLESS OF ITS CONDITION. IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND, A CHECKLIST IS GIVEN TO THE SURVIVORS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM GET DEATH CERTIFICATES, APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CHOOSE A FUNERAL HOME, AND GET BENEFITS, AMONG OTHER NEEDED INFORMATION. THIS HELPS THE MANY SURVIVORS WHO SIMPLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AFTER A LOVED ONE HAS DIED. IT HELPS THEM NAVIGATE THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THAT, CLOUDED WITH GRIEF, THEY MAY FIND CONFUSING AND OVERWHELMING. OUR OFFICE HAS FUNDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINING PROGRAM WITH A MANUAL AND FILM REGARDING DEATH NOTIFICATION THAT WAS WRITTEN BY MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING AND WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU.
• IN SOME AREAS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN DEVELOPING NEW WAYS OF HANDLING THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE CASES BY HELPING TO SUPPORT SPECIALIZED SETTINGS AND THE USE OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS. INSTEAD OF HAVING DOCTORS HANDLE THESE CASES IN BUSY EMERGENCY ROOMS, SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE CREATED A SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR VICTIMS AND USE TRAINED NURSE PRACTITIONERS TO CONDUCT EVIDENTIARY MEDICAL EXAMS. ONE SUCH PROGRAM WAS INITIATED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE LOCAL POLICE AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. IT WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE FORD FOUNDATION AND KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AS AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION. I VISITED THE FACILITY LAST SUMMER. IT CONSISTS OF THREE ROOMS WHICH ARE IN A QUIET SECTION OF A HOSPITAL AND WHICH ARE DECORATED IN A VERY WARM WAY, PROVIDING A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR VICTIMS. AFTER MORE THAN 500 EXAMS CONDUCTED BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN THIS SPECIAL SETTING, 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. THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS ARE AN INDICATION THAT WE CAN DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE HIGHER QUALITY SERVICES AT A LOWER COST.
• ANOTHER INNOVATIVE PRACTICE THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD CONSIDER ARE SPECIALIZED GANG VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAMS WHICH OFFER A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES AND MULTILINGUAL, MULTICULTURAL SUPPORT TO VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GANG VIOLENCE. SIMILAR TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF GANG VIOLENCE GENERALLY LIVE WITH AND/OR AMONG THE PERPETRATORS OF THE CRIMES AND ARE ESPECIALLY RELUCTANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SYSTEM, FEARING RETALIATION. ONE EXCELLENT PROGRAM EXISTS NEAR HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY WHERE FIVE VICTIM ADVOCATES WORK CLOSELY WITH POLICE AND PROSECUTORS TO ENSURE THAT COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EMERGENCY CRISIS RESPONSE; SENSITIVE DEATH NOTIFICATION; ACCOMPANIMENT OF SURVIVORS TO EMERGENCY ROOMS; ORIENTATION TO CORONER PROCEDURES AND POLICIES; ASSISTANCE WITH BURIALS AND FUNERALS; CRIME SCENE CLEAN UP; INTERVENTION WITH EMPLOYERS AND THE MEDIA; ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING VICTIM COMPENSATION; REFERRALS FOR COUNSELING SERVICES; ORIENTATION TO POST-TRIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS HOW TO OBTAIN NOTIFICATION OF THE OFFENDER'S STATUS AND PAROLE HEARINGS; AND TRAINING FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS, SUCH AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL PERSONNEL REGARDING EFFECTIVE AND SENSITIVE RESPONSES TO GANG VICTIMS.

• THERE ARE CONSTANT REMINDERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS THE FOCUS OF THE NEXT PANEL. JUST A WEEK AGO, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTED THAT THE CITY OF L.A. HAD AGREED TO PAY OVER $2 MILLION TO THE SURVIVING CHILDREN OF TWO PEOPLE KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISPUTE THAT HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE PREVIOUSLY. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, THERE WAS A 5-YEAR PERIOD ENDING IN 1992 DURING WHICH AS MANY AS 62 OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS INVESTIGATED BY THE LAPD, BUT NONE OF THE OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED. THE PRACTICE OF TREATING POLICE OFFICERS WHO BATTER WITH FAVORITISM MUST CHANGE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ESTABLISHED AN OFFICE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE TO ENCOURAGE ABUSED WIVES AND PARTNERS OF POLICE OFFICERS TO REPORT THE INCIDENTS SO THAT APPROPRIATE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST UNIFORMED OFFENDERS. THE ADVOCATE WORKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE BATTERED VICTIMS AND TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS AND SPOUSES OF NEW RECRUITS COMPLEMENTS THE ADVOCATES WORK.

• AND FINALLY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS CAN PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ESTABLISHING CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE CENTERS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS INITIATED IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA IN 1983, PROVIDE A CHILD-ORIENTED SETTING WHERE CHILD VICTIMS ARE BROUGHT TO RECEIVE MOST OF THE SERVICES THEY NEED IN ONE LOCATION. IN MANY OF THESE CENTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CO-LOCATED WITH PROSECUTORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND ADVOCATES. CHILDREN CAN BE INTERVIEWED ONCE WITH ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES WATCHING THE INTERVIEW IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, INSTEAD OF 12 DIFFERENT TIMES IN VARIOUS INSTITUTIONALIZED SETTINGS, SUCH AS POLICE STATIONS. THIS TEAM APPROACH TO HANDLING CASES ENCOURAGES VICTIMS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS RATHER THAN REVICTIMIZING THEM.

IN ADDITION TO UNDERLINING SOME OF THE PROMISING PRACTICES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BENEFIT CRIME VICTIMS, I ALSO WANT TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS DISCUSSING POLICE TRAINING INITIATIVES BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING IS SOMETHING OUR OFFICE HAS GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT TO. OVC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING VICTIM-WITNESS TRAINING TO OVER 70 FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THESE INCLUDE THE FBI, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. IN PROVIDING THIS TRAINING, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE FOLLOWING FIVE ELEMENTS ARE CRITICAL TO ENHANCING SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

FIRST, TO ENCOURAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOCUS ON SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS, STRONG LEADERSHIP MUST COME FROM THE VERY TOP OF THE AGENCY. THIS IS AS TRUE FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AS IT IS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. IN MEMOS AND SPEECHES, IN TRAINING VIDEOS AND IN POLICY STATEMENTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TOLD FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THE PROVISION OF RIGHTS AND SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS IS OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. THERE MUST BE LEADERSHIP --- A STRONG MESSAGE --- FROM THE TOP FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF VICTIM SERVICES TO SINK IN.

SECOND, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS REDEFINED IN THE MINDS OF MANY THE MEANING OF JUSTICE. A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO THINK OF JUSTICE AS THE DRAMATIC EVENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: THE SIREN OF THE POLICE CAR AS IT PASSES; A POLICE OFFICER MAKING AN ARREST; OR THE CONVICTION OF SOMEONE WHO HAS COMMITTED A CRIME. THEY THINK ABOUT JUSTICE ONLY IN TERMS OF APPREHENDING THE CRIMINAL. BUT AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NOTES, "JUSTICE HAS A BROADER MEANING. IT ALSO ENCOMPASSES HEALING." IT IS CRITICAL TO CONVEY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THEY ARE THE CRUCIAL LINK TO VICTIM SERVICES, WITHOUT WHICH MANY VICTIMS WOULD HAVE NO POSSIBILITY OF HEALING. AND THE SERVICES THAT OFFICERS PROVIDE TO VICTIMS SHOULD BE PART OF THEIR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.

THIRD, SHE HAS ASKED FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO BEYOND THE LETTER OF THE FEDERAL LAW WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO NOTIFY VICTIMS OF THEIR RIGHTS AND TO INFORM VICTIMS OF AVAILABLE SERVICES, SUCH AS COUNSELING. SHE RECENTLY STATED, "THE STANDARD WE MUST ALL HOLD IS TO TREAT EVERY VICTIM AS YOU WOULD WANT YOUR MOTHER, YOUR FATHER, YOUR CHILD, OR INDEED YOURSELF TO BE TREATED." THIS IS A HIGH STANDARD OF TREATMENT, I THINK, THAT EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND.

FOURTH, IT IS VITAL THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RECOGNIZE THAT FOR MANY VICTIMS, THEIR VICTIMIZATION AND ITS AFTERMATH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, TRAUMATIC EVENT OF THEIR LIVES. SERVICE PROVIDERS SHOULD TRY TO VIEW THE CASE THROUGH THE EYES OF VICTIMS. VICTIMS EXPECT THE SYSTEM AND THE PEOPLE IN IT TO SUPPORT THEM AND WHAT THEY FIND MOST DEVASTATING IS NOT WHEN A JURY COMES BACK WITH A NOT GUILTY VERDICT, BUT RATHER WHEN SOMEONE LIKE A POLICE OFFICER WHO THEY PERCEIVE SHOULD BE THEIR ALLY LETS THEM DOWN OR TREATS THEM WITH A LACK OF RESPECT OR DIGNITY.

FIFTH, TO HELP MAKE THE CULTURE MORE VICTIM-ORIENTED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE POLICE TO THE VOICES OF CRIME VICTIMS. CRIME VICTIMS THEMSELVES SHOULD BE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF EVERY POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM. THEY ARE THE BEST, MOST ARTICULATE TEACHERS WE HAVE AND WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES AND LEARN FROM THEM. IN A RECENT TRAINING THAT WE SPONSORED FOR 800 FEDERAL VICTIM-WITNESS COORDINATORS, THE VICTIM IMPACT PANEL WAS ONE OF THE MOST EDUCATIONAL AND MEMORABLE PARTS OF THE WEEK-LONG TRAINING. ONE VICTIM, DIANE LEONARD WHOSE HUSBAND WAS KILLED IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMB BLAST, DESCRIBED THE RELUCTANCE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO NOTIFIED HER OF HER HUSBAND'S DEATH TO TELL HER ANYTHING ABOUT THE CONDITION OF HIS BODY. AS A RESULT, WHEN SHE WENT TO VIEW HIM FOR THE LAST TIME SHE WAS COMPLETELY UNPREPARED FOR WHAT SHE SAW. THESE KINDS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF VICTIMS ARE CRITICAL TO EFFECTIVE TRAINING ABOUT DEATH NOTIFICATION AND ALL OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH CRIME VICTIMS.

IN SENSITIZING MUCH OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE NEEDS OF CRIME VICTIMS, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE MUST BE A CHANGE OF CULTURE, PRIORITIES, AND ATTITUDE. THIS REQUIRES NOT ONLY STRONG LEADERSHIP FROM THE TOP BUT THE STRONG VOICES OF CRIME VICTIMS WITHIN OUR POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE NOT ONLY THE ROLE THAT CRIME VICTIMS SHOULD PLAY IN PROVIDING TRAINING FOR ALL PROFESSIONALS WITH WHOM THEY INTERACT, BUT ALSO THE ROLE THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED IN SECURING THE PASSAGE OF IMPORTANT LEGISLATION FOR CRIME VICTIMS. CERTAINLY IN THAT REGARD, WE THINK OF THE FOUNDERS OF MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING WHO TAUGHT AMERICA THAT A LOADED DRIVER CAN BE JUST AS DEADLY AS A LOADED GUN. LARGELY THROUGH MADD'S EFFORTS, ALCOHOL-RELATED FATALITIES DECREASED BY 31 PERCENT IN A 10-YEAR PERIOD. THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE TRULY REMARKABLE. WE THINK OF JOHN WALSH, WHO EFFECTIVELY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH THE CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN AFTER HIS SIX-YEAR-OLD SON ADAM WAS KIDNAPED FROM A LOCAL STORE AND BRUTALLY KILLED. HIS EFFORTS AND THOSE OF THE CENTER HAVE LED TO THE SAFE RECOVERY OF THOUSANDS OF MISSING CHILDREN.

WE THINK OF STEPHEN SPOSATO, WHO WORKED SO HARD TO HELP PASS THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN AFTER HIS WIFE AND SEVEN OTHERS WERE MURDERED IN SAN FRANCISCO BY AN ASSAILANT WIELDING A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WE THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE JOHN AND PAT BYRON OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, WHOSE ADVOCACY LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTERIZED CALL-BACK SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES VICTIMS WHEN THEIR OFFENDERS ARE BEING RELEASED FROM JAIL. THEIR DAUGHTER, MARY, HAD BEEN MURDERED ON HER 21ST BIRTHDAY BY A FORMER BOYFRIEND AFTER HE POSTED BAIL ON A CHARGE OF RAPING HER. ALTHOUGH HE HAD RAPED HER, STALKED HER, AND THREATENED TO KILL HER, NO ONE NOTIFIED MARY OF HIS RELEASE. THROUGH THE BYRONS' EFFORTS, THE VICTIM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN ADOPTED STATEWIDE.

WE THINK OF FRANCIS DAVIS OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, WHOSE THREE SONS WERE SHOT AND KILLED IN BEDFORD STUYVESANT. FRANCIS HAS CHANNELED HER ANGER AND GRIEF INTO ACTIVISM BY FOUNDING AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION CALLED "MOTHERS OF ALL CHILDREN." IT SUPPORTS AND COUNSELS SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS, AND ORGANIZES COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS CALLED "SHOOT HOOPS, NOT GUNS."

VICTIMS WHO TURN THEIR AGONY INTO ACTIVISM ARE POWERFUL TRAINERS AND ALLIES FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I WANT TO CONCLUDE BY TELLING YOU ABOUT TWO REMARKABLE VICTIMS WHOM I MET RECENTLY -- VICTIMS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST YOUTH VIOLENCE NOT SO FAR FROM HERE IN SAN DIEGO. AZIM KHAMISA WAS THE FATHER OF 20-YEAR-OLD TARIQ WHO WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT EARNING EXTRA MONEY BY DELIVERING PIZZAS. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, HE VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE THE LAST PIZZA RUN AT WORK. UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM, SOME YOUNG GANG MEMBERS HAD CALLED FOR THAT PIZZA AND WHEN TARIQ REFUSED TO TURN THE PIZZA AND HIS MONEY OVER TO THEM, THE OLDEST GANG MEMBER ORDERED THE YOUNGEST -- 14-YEAR-OLD TONY HICKS -- TO SHOOT. TARIQ DIED MOMENTS LATER IN ONE MORE SHOCKING AND TRAGIC EPISODE OF GANG VIOLENCE.

IN A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY ALLIANCE, TARIQ'S GRIEVING FATHER -- AZIM -- HAS JOINED WITH TONY'S GRANDFATHER AND GUARDIAN

-- PLES FELIX -- TO EDUCATE SCHOOL KIDS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF GANG VIOLENCE. TOGETHER THEY GO INTO CLASSROOM AFTER CLASSROOM IN SAN DIEGO, ENCOURAGING KIDS TO SEEK ALTERNATIVES TO GANGS.

IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH A REPORTER, AZIM SAID, "I CHOSE TO REACT NONVIOLENTLY. I REALIZED THAT CHANGE HAD TO START WITH ME."

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE IN A ROOM FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT CHANGE HAD TO BEGIN WITH THEM. THAT'S WHY YOU ARE PIONEERS IN YOUR PROFESSION. I HOPE THAT THIS CONFERENCE WILL HELP GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO CONTINUE BEING LEADERS AND INNOVATORS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHETHER IT'S FIGHTING TO IMPLEMENT INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO CRIME, COMMUNITY POLICING, OR MORE EFFECTIVE VICTIM-WITNESS SERVICES -- OR WHETHER IT'S OPENING DOORS FOR MORE WOMEN IN POLICING -- EVERYONE HERE HAS THE CAPACITY TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE. CHANGE CAN START WITH US. IN ALL OF OUR JOBS WHERE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HELP SO MANY OTHERS, WE MUST MEET THE CHALLENGE OF CONTINUING TO BE AGENTS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.