N AT I O N A L C R I M E V I C T I M L AW I N ST I T U T E P R OT E C T I N G , E N F O R C I N G & A DVA N C I N G V I C T I M S ’ R I G H T S
December 2012
Every day family, friends, and neighbors are victimized. In fact, in this country a violent crime occurs every 26.2 seconds and a property crime every 3.5 seconds. What does this look like? 1 person is murdered every 36 minutes; 1 person is raped every 6.3 minutes; 3.3 million people are victims of stalking each year; and 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. What does this mean? In the midst of their trauma, many of these victims and their families are thrust into the criminal justice system. A system that can be foreign and frightening. In the words of Judith Herman, M.D., “if one set out intentionally to design a system for provoking symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, it might look very much like a court of law.” But it doesn’t have to be this way. When victims are afforded the rights promised to them by law amazing things can happen. A court that hears from the victim can better achieve justice; a defendant compelled to face the harm that (s)he caused may gain insight; and a victim who is empowered can take steps toward surviving. As the only national organization focused on victims’ legal rights, NCVLI is fighting to ensure victims are empowered and justice is enhanced. We: • P rov i d e g u i d a n ce o n h ow to i m p rove v i c t i m s ’ r i g h t s • Ed u c a te co u r t s o n h ow to a p p l y t h e l aw • E n s u re t h a t v i c t i m s h ave we l l - t ra i n e d a t to r n eys a n d a d vo c a te s w h o h ave a cce s s to o u r ex p e r t l e g a l s u p p o r t
Let me tell you about just one of our cases:
JANE DOE, A YOUNG GIRL IN CALIFORNIA, was an ordinary high school student. Then she
was raped by two perpetrators, both of whom she knew. Overcoming the odds, Jane reported the crime. During the prosecution of one of the perpetrators, Jane and her parents received a subpoena for Jane’s rape crisis center records and her Facebook records spanning a 17-month period. Imagine – a teenage girl having everything about her private life known by her perpetrator and paraded before strangers. The basis for the subpoena added insult to injury – it boiled down to the idea that Jane may have said some things on Facebook that are not what a “real rape victim “ would say, and that because she didn’t disclose the rape on Facebook the rape must not have happened. The prosecutor fought for Jane, but it wasn’t enough – she needed a lawyer by her side whose only agenda was to protect her rights. NCVLI secured a pro bono attorney who, with research, support, and strategic advice from NCVLI, is fighting for Janes’s privacy and dignity.
THE IM PAC T O F YO UR GI F T $50 ensures that staff can respond to a victim’s call $200 supports emergency legal research to make a difference in a victim’s case
MAKE A GIFT ONLINE TODAY www.NCVLI.org
$500 distributes the latest law to advocates and attorneys $1,000 provides online training for attorneys and advocates $2,500 provides a week’s worth of legal expertise for victims $5,000 provides cutting-edge victims’ rights legal publications to the country $10,000 supports NCVLI standing beside a victim as amicus curiae in appellate courts ANY AMOUNT ensures victims have access to caring and committed professionals
3 10 SW 4 TH AVENUE, S UI TE 54 0, P ORTLA N D, OR 97204 |
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WWW. N CVLI.OR G
OUR IMPACT WHAT OUR PARTNERS AND THE VICTIMS WE Jane’s fight is not uncommon. Every day victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, kidnapping, trafficking, stalking, homicide, fraud, and child abuse imagery face a justice system that treats them more as evidence than as human beings with rights. We are fighting to change this because no victim should be revictimized. This year NCVLI provided assistance in more than 100 cases and filed amicus briefs in 16 more to protect victims’ rights to privacy, protection,
HELP ARE SAYING “Thank you for your assistance with our family. We are grateful that we had an organization that helps victims find the help they so desperately need. We appreciate your time and most of all your concern.” - A survivor
participation, and restitution. But, we cannot do this work on our own. We rely on generous supporters like you to keep our doors open and crime victims thriving. Together we have helped thousands of individuals move from victim to survivor to thriver. But there are many more who need our help. I hope that you will choose to support the National Crime Victim Law Institute and crime victims this holiday. A gift of any amount makes a difference.
From all of us at NCVLI, we wish you and your family a peaceful and joyous season.
“Thank you so much for your assistance. I used your materials in part of my brief and the defendant actually withdrew his motion to get copies of the [child abuse] images.” - A prosecutor
“With the assistance of NCVLI I was able to help my client stand up for herself to her attackers. NCVLI made all the difference for my client, because I couldn’t have helped her without the support I got from NCVLI.”
With gratitude,
- Experienced civil litigator
P.S.
Helping a victim not only
impacts them individually but
also impacts their families and
c o m m u n i t i e s . Yo u r d o n a t i o n c a n truly make a difference.
M EG G ARVIN, E X E C UT IVE DIRECTOR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sean M. Beers • Doug Beloof • Carl K. Davis • Helene Davis • John M. Gillis • Sarah Geary Gustafson • Douglas H. Houser • William P. McCormick • Diane Moyer • Candace Newland-Holley • Lisa Zauner ADVISORY BOARD Jody O. Bassfield-English • Diane Humetewa
“Without NCVLI, we would be unable to provide no-cost legal representation and other victims’ assistance even in the most egregious cases. NCVLI’s technical assistance in the form of expert advice, legal research, and pleading reviews is invaluable.” - Experienced victims’ rights lawyer
THANK YOU
Yo u r g i f t i n ve s t s i n a b e t t e r f u t u r e f o r c r i m e v i c t i m s !
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WE’VE GONE GREEN! Remittance envelope are available upon request. Simply contact ncvli@lclark.edu or (503) 768-6819.