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Office of Justice Programs
April 18-24, 2010
OVC2010 NCVRW Resource Guide. Crime Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.
The Resource Guide is published by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

2010 NCVRW Theme Video

Transcript

OPENING MONTAGE

Meg Garvin
Speaks as a photograph of the Statue of Liberty slowly dissolves to the cover page of the original Crime Victim Rights Act.
Fairness is a fundamental concept in our criminal justice system.
Meg Garvin
Speaks as we see a push in towards "An Act" on the cover page.
Fairness for victims means that they get a voice through the entire process.
Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see a photograph of a Hispanic woman with a flag.
We have a responsibility to champion victims, to be with them through every phase of their experience.
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a push in on Chapter 237 - Crime Victim Rights from the Act.
It means being treated with dignity -- being treated as a human being.
Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see a photograph of a multi-ethnic male holding a vigil candle.
It’s making sure that victim has an opportunity to begin that path toward healing.
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a pan down the list of 8 rights in the Act.
Respect really means being brought into the process --
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a photograph of a victim advocate accompanying a victim into court.
-- and not being treated as an afterthought.

TRANSITION INTO VIDEO

William Kellibrew
Speaks as we see a portrait of the Kellibrew family with a 1984 headline: 3 Killed in Capitol Heights Shooting.
My mother and my brother were murdered in front of me. I was ten. I'd just turned ten.
William Kellibrew
Speaks on-camera with ID:

  William C. Kellibrew IV
  Advocate for Victims
  William Kellibrew Foundation
He put the gun to my head and he had me beg for my life.
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see 1984 news footage of police at the Kellibrew's home.
We in law enforcement, we're many times the first responders.
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks on-camera with ID:

  Mike Johnson
  Detective, Plano Police Department
  Plano, Texas
We have not traditionally been adequately trained on victims’ issues--how to deal with shock and numbness and surprise.
William Kellibrew
Speaks on-camera.
I felt isolated. I lost my self-worth.
William Kellibrew
Speaks as we see text from a newspaper story: "…Kellibrew’s 10-year-old son, William, who they said witnessed the shootings but was unhurt."
Nobody knew what I was going through. To go three years without talking about it—I imploded.
William Kellibrew
Speaks on-camera.
I mean, everything inside of me came out at 13 and I wanted to die.
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see images of a USDOJ publication "Responding to Child Victims and Witnesses”.
We know in the field now that the single area that probably causes --
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see images of a USDOJ publication "The Effects Of Violence Can Be Devastating”.
-- the most problematic behavior in both boys and girls --
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see images of an OJP 2009 publication "Children's Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey".
-- and specifically violent behavior in the future, are children that witness violence.
William Kellibrew
Speaks as we see a photograph of William as an adolescent.
A social worker got me a therapist. She sat with me and listened to me.
William Kellibrew
Speaks on-camera.
And that was my first time anybody ever wanted to listen to me that way.
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see a photograph of the family of a murder victim.
Crime itself robs you of a terrific amount of dignity.
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see an image of a rape victim on the Voices and Faces website.
But when you report a crime, like rape,
Anne Ream
Speaks on-camera with ID:

  Anne K. Ream
  Writer and Founder
  The Voices and Faces Project
your body literally becomes a crime scene.
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see photos and text from rape victims from Anne's book.
You become evidence. And you become a witness.
Anne Ream
Speaks on-camera.
It’s rare to meet a survivor of sexual violence who has not encountered --
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see a quote from a rape victim from Anne’s book.
-- some form of indignity throughout the process.
Meg Garvin
Speaks on-camera with ID:

  Meg Garvin, JD
  Executive Director
  National Crime Victim Law Institute
The dignity component of victims' rights is really about treating people humanely --
Meg Garvin
Speaks as we see a USDOJ publication "Indian Country, Protecting Elders".
-- recognizing the human side of crime --
Meg Garvin
Speaks as we see a USDOJ publication "Human Trafficking".
-- and the very individual hurt that happens to someone.
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see a newspaper headline: "Shock at N.C girl's death in prostitution case".
It means listening.
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see an on-line story headline: "Cyber Bullying Led to Teen's Suicide”.
It means not being afraid to go to very dark places --
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see an OJP publication "Crime Against People with Disabilities".
-- with people who have suffered greatly.
James Meadours
Speaks on-camera with ID:

  James R. Meadours
  Self-Advocacy Specialist
  Advocacy, Inc.
I met a guy at the church and he wanted to be my friend and I thought it would be great.
James Meadours
Speaks on-camera.
Instead he assaulted me and I felt very scared.
James Meadours
Continues to speak on-camera.
Often times, people with disabilities who are victims,
James Meadours
Speaks as we see James training volunteers at SafePlace.
-- sometimes people do not believe them.
TRACK UP: James Meadours training at SafePlace It's so important as volunteers to be sensitive when the person calls on the hotline number.
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see James Meadours training at SafePlace.
When the criminal justice system --
Laurie Robinson
Speaks on-camera with ID:

  Laurie O. Robinson
  Assistant Attorney General
  Office of Justice Programs
  U.S. Department of Justice
-- really embraces the notion of victim rights and of treating the victim with respect --
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see James Meadours training at SafePlace .
-- that means that every part of the system really responds.
James Meadours
Speaks as we see text detail from a SANE publication.
Lucky for me, the SANE nurse understood when I said,
James Meadours
Speaks on-camera.
"I need a detective who has a good caring heart." And the guy really took the time to talk to me. I decided to prosecute this person. And the DA really took the time and explained things about the court procedure and how that is affecting my life.
TRACK UP: Susan Russell training at the Vermont Police Academy I felt like the detective really treated me with fairness, dignity, and respect.
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a training session at the Vermont Police Academy.
One of the things that has been wonderful about the crime victims movement—I think there is a resurgence of energy.
Laurie Robinson
Speaks on-camera.
There's now a growing movement of younger pioneers who are coming forward with new ideas.
TRACK UP: Anne reviewing layouts for a book with the photographer I love this one!
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see Anne reviewing layouts for a book with the photographer.
Testimony around the issue of sexual violence takes a huge amount of courage. But I would argue that without it, the movement will stall.
TRACK UP: Anne reviewing layouts for a book with the photographer. She looks strong. She is strong!
Anne Ream
Speaks as we see Anne reviewing layouts of the book, the Voices and Faces web page, and uplifting quotes from the book.
We founded The Voices and Faces Project with a really clear mission to create a space for healing for survivors while knowing that with the right support, they have the capacity to rebuild their lives.
Meg Garvin
Speaks on-camera.
We passed laws affording victims' rights, and those laws have been on the books for thirty-plus years in most jurisdictions.
Meg Garvin
Speaks as we see a brochure from the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center with a push towards free legal representation.
But we have to take the next step, which is rights enforcement...
TRACK UP: Meg Garvin at Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center listening to lawyers working with victims (Lawyer) She was heard and she did have her day in court and I think that really made a difference to her and other victims.
Meg Garvin
Speaks as we see a National Crime Victim Law Institute newsletter on enforcement.
That really does mean holding courts' feet to the fire to treat victims' rights as legal rights.

TRANSITION TO THE CLOSE

TRACK UP: William singing at a candlelight vigil. When I am down and, oh, my soul, so weary...
William Kellibrew
Speaks as we see photographs of his grandmother and others listening at a candlelight vigil.
Even though I've been through what I've been through,
William Kellibrew
Speaks on-camera.
to be able to help somebody else, to be able to affect somebody else's life in a positive way--
William Kellibrew
Speaks as we see candles being lit at the vigil and photographs from the domestic violence exhibit at the vigil.
There is fairness. And you can restore your dignity. Respect starts with yourself. But if we can't get to people,
William Kellibrew
Speaks on-camera.
to help them, then it's a difficult road.
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks on-camera.
The bar has been raised for us professionals --
Detective Mike Johnson
Speaks as we see a photograph of an attorney with a victim in a courtroom.
-- as to how we're supposed to respond.
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a photograph of a family delivering a victim impact statement.
This is about justice, after all! It’s ensuring that, when people have suffered --
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a photograph of a woman at a candlelight vigil.
-- we reach out to them and we say to them, “We want to bring you back and help make you whole.”
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see a photograph of men and women at another vigil.
-- we reach out to them and we say to them, “We want to bring you back --
Laurie Robinson
Speaks as we see an animated graphic appear on-screen: Crime Victims' Rights:
-- and help make you whole.”
The animated graphic is fully on the screen: Crime Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect. Crime Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.

END

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