2018 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Theme Video Clip Transcript
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: The innocent victims of crime have frequently been overlooked by our
criminal justice system, and their pleas for justice have gone unheeded.
JUDGE LOIS HAIGHT, CHAIR, 1982 PRESIDENT’S TASK FORCE ON VICTIMS OF CRIME: When I look back into the history of the victims' movement, I'm amazed at how far we've come.
MACK JENKINS: CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER (RETIRED), SAN DIEGO COUNTY: Crime victims, at one point in the criminal justice system, were an afterthought.
LOIS HAIGHT: Victims felt very isolated. First of all, they were blamed--Why were you on that street? Why did you do that? Why'd you open your door? It wasn't until some of the grassroots organizations made people aware that, hey, these are people that are suffering. They need our help.
MACK JENKINS: Now victims in the system have rights that generations ago weren't recognized.
LOIS HAIGHT: We were able to create an Office for Victims of Crime in the Department of Justice. That
was huge.
JEREMY NEVILLES-SORELL, WHITE EARTH OJIBWE AND WINNEBAGO TRAINING AND RESOURCES DIRECTOR, MENDING THE SACRED HOOP: People are more aware of trauma-informed practices and how do we make sure the voices of who we're advocating for are included in the way
that we design services.
NANCY SMITH, DIRECTOR, CENTER ON VICTIMIZATION & SAFETY, VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE: When systems are not connected, there's a high likelihood that people are falling through the cracks.
MACK JENKINS: And our job is done more effectively in a collaboration.
JEREMY NEVILLES-SORELL: We're for healing. We're for building a community. We're for reestablishing
a strong foundation so our communities are better places.
ELIZABETH DUGAN, CLINICAL DIRECTOR, VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM, BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER: So the more we build the circle, and the bigger the circle gets, the healthier communities we have.
