MCVRC News Room

Training Institute Pro Bono Attorneys

2008-04-15T11:34:00.002-05:00

CIVIL JUSTICE FOR
VICTIMS OF CRIME IN MARYLAND
Presenters
Jeff Dion, Esq.
Sharon Christie, Esq.
Keith Franz, Esq.
Judson Lipowitz, Esq.
Pauline Mandel, Esq.
If you can’t answer these questions, how can a victim?
• What do victims gain through civil actions?
• What civil options are available?
• Where can victims find a lawyer?
• What is the appropriate role of a victim service provider?
Comments from previous attendees of "Civil Justice for Victims of Crime":
"Really enjoyed the presenter. He kept my attention the entire time. He was very compassionate and excited about helping victims."
"Presentation was great. Explained material without too much lawyer jargon."
"Very helpful; as a mental health therapist I feel that I don’t have a lot of opportunities to even understand the basics of litigation and court process, and it is better to support my clients when I’m educated. Very comprehensive."
"I learned a lot to help victims and myself. Out of my 25 years of attending law enforcement classes, this was the best class I have ever attended."

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Owen Brown Interfaith Center
7246 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, Maryland 21048
(410) 381-2000
Who should attend?
• Victim Advocates working in government agencies and community based organizations;
• Mental Health Service Providers;
• Law Enforcement officers;
• Social Workers;
• Sexual Assault and Forensic Nurse Examiners;
• Prosecutors; and
• Probation and Parole Officers.
The training is free, but space is limited ● Register no later than May 19, 2008 ● Register on-line! Go to www.ncvc.org and click on "Conferences and Trainings" ● For more information, call (800) 394-2255.
The Maryland Crime Victim Resource Center
The National Center for Victims of Crime is the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization dedicated to helping victims of crime rebuild their lives. www.ncvc.org

Press Release NCVRW 2008

2008-04-01T10:32:00.001-05:00

For Immediate Release

Contact: Krista Burich, Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center
301-952-0063 or krista@mdcrimevictims.org

The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. Supports the 2008 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Observance

[Upper Marlboro, MD]— National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be held April 13-19. These events include public rallies, candlelight vigils, and other activities held across the nation, honoring victims, their families, and those who serve them.
“This year’s theme is ‘Justice for Victims. Justice for All.’”, said Russell Butler, executive director of Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center. “That means there will be no justice for any one of us if we don’t seek greater fairness for victims of crime. It’s time for our community to stand behind those harmed by crime.”
Justice for victims has progressed dramatically since the 1980s. All states and the federal government have comprehensive victims’ rights laws, and 33 states have constitutional amendments to protect victims’ rights. Every state has a victim compensation fund, and thousands of victim service agencies help victims nationwide. Important laws, such as the federal Justice for All Act of 2004, extend protections to victims and close gaps in victims’ rights.
Despite such impressive progress, however, our nation has a long way to go. Even states with strong victims’ rights laws do not always honor these rights. Jurisdictions may fail to notify victims about court proceedings or offender status, deny them the opportunity to be heard at sentencing, fail to issue or enforce orders of restitution, or fail to inform victims about compensation they are entitled to receive. Some states limit specific rights to victims of violence, and in almost half of the states, victims of nonviolent felonies have no rights.
“Injustice to victims weakens public safety”, said John W. Gillis, director of the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. “If victims are too discouraged to report crimes or serve as witnesses, our criminal justice system grinds to a halt. Every American has a stake in victims’ rights.”
The U.S. Department of Justice will launch National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Washington, DC, with its annual National Candlelight Observance Ceremony on April 10, and its Awards Ceremony, April 11, to honor extraordinary individuals and programs that provide services to victims of crime. The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with their Annual Ceremony of Remembrance on May 03, 2008, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Prince George’s County Courthouse.
Community members are encouraged to join in the week’s activities and get involved in helping victims of crime. For additional information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and events in your community, please contact: The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center at (301) 952-0063 or 1-877-VICTIM1 or visit MCVRC’s Web site at www.mdcrimevictims.org. For information about national resources available to help crime victims, visit www.crimevictims.gov.

New HOPE II grants now available

2007-05-29T08:02:00.000-05:00

MCVRC, in partnership with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), is pleased to announce a new round of HOPE II grants. The HOPE II program offers awards of $50,000 to faith-based and/or community based organizations that serve underserved crime victims in high-crime urban areas. The goal is to create, expand or improve victim services.

The Request for Proposal is on the MCVRC website. The deadline to apply is July 9, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. EST. The award period runs 12 months from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. Both established and new organizations are eligible to apply. For more information email HOPE II Project Director Josh Cohen.

Trauma article quotes Roberta Roper

2007-05-29T07:58:00.000-05:00

The March/April 2007 edition of the Crime Victims' Report quotes MCVRC's Board Chair Roberta Roper. The newsletter features the article Incorporating Trauma-Informed Practices in Federal Victim Services. The article, written by Randy West of Witness Justice, focuses on psychological trauma as a central crime victim issue.

The Crime Victims' Report is a newsletter published by Civic Research Institute. Written by professionals for professionals, the newsletter focuses on new programs and legal developments that affect and assist victims of crime.

MCVRC staff to present at victim conference

2007-05-29T07:53:00.000-05:00

Two of MCVRC’s own are slated to present workshops at the 2007 Mountain State Victim Assistance Symposium. Executive Director Russell Butler and Director of Services Pauline Mandel have been tapped to present “Legal Clinics for Crime Victims” and “Legal Representation for Victims of Federal Crimes.”

This free, annual conference is geared towards helping professionals better provide comprehensive services to victims of crime, violence and abuse. It is scheduled for July 18-20, 2007 in Charleston, West Virginia. For more information contact Tracy Dorsey-Chapman in the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 800-659-8726 or by email.

Roberta Roper participates in panel discussion

2007-05-17T11:44:00.000-05:00

On May 10, 2007, MCVRC founder and Board Chair Roberta Roper participated in a panel discussion on media ethics in crime reporting. The discussion, titled "Crime, Mass Media and Virginia Tech: an Examination of Ethics" was hosted by the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and moderated by National Public Radio's Robert Segal.

You can listen to the entire panel discussion in either Windows Media or Real Audio.

Russell Butler discusses truth-in-sentencing

2007-05-17T11:16:00.001-05:00

MCVRC Executive Director Russell Butler discusses truth-in-sentencing in a recent May 10, 2007 Baltimore Sun article.

Governor honors former MCVRC attorney

2007-05-17T11:14:00.000-05:00

On May 4, 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Board of Victim Services honored one of MCVRC’s own.

Former Staff Attorney Tracy Delaney received a Governor’s Citation in recognition of her exemplary efforts to assist victims of crime. Until this past April, Tracy had worked as MCVRC’s Senior Staff Attorney, helping numerous victims pursue justice through the legal system. She recently left MCVRC to join a private law practice in Charles County, Maryland.

In the picture at left, MCVRC's Roberta Roper and Tracy pose for a picture at the Awards Ceremony.