This year’s theme — Strength. Resilience. Justice. — reflects this vision of the future. One in which all victims are strengthened by the response they receive, organizations are resilient to face challenges and communities are able to seek collective justice and healing. The theme highlights the need for multiple avenues of victim support.
We have seen the headlines that announce another homicide, robbery, sexual assault, domestic violence or drunk driving death. The focus is on the event and the offender, not those impacted by the crime, whether the victim, or a survivor. The long range effects to the victim, family, friends and our community goes well beyond the trial. A guilty plea or jury verdict does not always bring solace. We need to provide resources that can help those affected to heal.
A triple homicide in west county resulted in a guilty verdict against the killer in 2016. Hours of support services, court accompaniment and coordination were provided to the many members of families in three different states on this case. Family, friends and community members attended different stages of the trial. This was an example of a community coming together to cry together, hug each other, provide support and foster hope. The support continues as the survivors seek assistance through the resources they have been provided. It is all of our support that can aid them indefinitely.
As families and whole communities experience the compounding effects of violence and trauma, we must unify our efforts to create accessible and appropriate systems that interrupt this cycle and allow communities to heal. Widespread and fundamental justice in our communities must include victim-centered, trauma-informed, culturally competent services for all victims of crime.
Collaboration is critical. By bringing together victim service providers, law enforcement, criminal justice professionals and key community leaders, we can create cooperative environments and spur creative solutions to provide comprehensive, informed responses to victims of all types of crime. These multidisciplinary teams are best equipped to meet victims and their families where they are — with holistic, research-based services.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) is a time to recognize victims and survivors in our community and promote healing through understanding and providing direct services. We invite those needing support to contact us at 565-8250 for information to obtain resources in our community. This is also a time to acknowledge the hard work of the service providers. The Victim Services Division is led by a 20-year veteran in victim services, and includes a team of dedicated advocates, victim compensation claims specialists, restitution specialists and support staff. They assist in providing services to victims that range from information about the process to referral to resources to assistance with preparing and filing VCB claims and obtaining restitution orders. Additionally, the Family Justice Center provides free wraparound services to victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse in collaboration with nonprofit and governmental partners to county residents.
Why are victim services so important? When victims and witnesses feel understood and supported, they are more likely to seek services. Victims of crime can have a wide variety of feelings including but not limited to fear, shame, anxiety, PTSD, shock, anger, etc. When a victim has to face their offender on the witness stand to testify it can feel overwhelming and re-victimizing. The Victim Services Division works to help reduce those feelings through meetings addressing what to expect as well as accompanying the victim to the witness stand in certain types of cases. In addition, our comfort dog Miranda can offer a way to reduce anxiety prior to and during testimony. Once a victim gains confidence to tell his or her story, the offender can be brought to justice and the entire community can heal.
On April 4, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors issued a Gold Resolution proclaiming National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. For more information about our work visit www.sonomacounty.org/da/victimservices.
Michelle Carstensen is the Director of Victim Services for the Office of the District Attorney
