Tillie Black Bear
White Buffalo Calf Women's Society
Mission, South Dakota
Ellen Griffin Dunne
Justice for Homicide Victims, Inc.
Beverly Hills, California
The Honorable Charles D. Gill
Litchfield, Connecticut
Louis and Patricia Herzog
Fairfax, Virginia
Stephen M. McNamee
United States Attorney
District of Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Dr. Jack S. Russell
Potomac, Maryland
Tillie Black Bear White Buffalo Calf Women's Society
Mission, South Dakota
Tillie Black Bear has been a long time advocate for victims of domestic violence. In 1979, she was a founder of the White Buffalo Calf Women's Society and then helped the Society open the first shelter for battered women in the State of South Dakota on the Rosebud Sioux Indian reservation. The shelter serves approximately 200 women and 1500 children each year.
Tillie Black Bear serves as Director of the Shelter and has helped others to start two other shelters in South Dakota. She is a strong advocate of education to help victims. She counsels victims, conducts classes with batterers to help them end their violent behavior, works with law enforcement to improve their response to domestic violence calls and believes in the importance of spiritual healing to aid in the recovery process.
Tillie Black Bear's pioneering efforts are indeed laudable. The Attorney General of the State of South Dakota has described her as "epitomizing the dedication required to help crime victims -- young and old -- who live in every corner of the state."
Ellen Griffin Dunne
Justice for Homicide Victims, inc.
Beverly Hills, California
After her only daughter was murdered, Ellen Griffin Dunne founded the California Center for Family Survivors of Homicide in Los Angeles County. She set out to convince people that homicide is the ultimate offense against humanity, that its punishment must reflect the gravity of the crime, and that the scales of justice must be balanced, not weighted in favor of the accused leaving the victim with little or no representation. Her innovative philosophy extends the notion of victimization and energizes the community-at-large to join in to tackle the crime problem. Her favorite statement is "Justice will be served only when those who are not injured by crime feel as .indignant as those who are."
The organization Mrs. Dunne created in 1984 started with six members, grew to six hundred in a year, and now the membership is approaching six thousand. Under her guidance, the group has provided a multitude of services and outstanding support to over fifteen hundred survivors of homicide. Her supporters include representatives of the crime victims advocacy community, public officials and several notable celebrities who, moved by her cause and her self-sacrifice, assist her in championing the cause of victims rights.
Due to multiple sclerosis, Mrs. Dunne has been confined to a wheelchair for several years but her physical condition has not dampened her spirit. She is a truly remarkable individual and has been an inspiration to all who have worked with her on behalf of innocent victims of crime.
The Honorable Charles D. Gill
Litchfield, Connecticut
Judge Gill's most distinguished legal career has focused on neglected and underserved people, particularly children and youth. His concern for abused children was the result of studying the common patterns of childhood victimization. In 1965, when few attorneys represented children, he laid the groundwork for providing legal representation for juveniles. His efforts on behalf of the forgotten poor individuals in Connecticut encompassed a variety of community development, legal, health and mental health projects which Challenged the professional community to do more to protect the unprotected. Moreover, he focused much attention on expanding the spirit of volunteerism to tap this great but overlooked resource on behalf of neighborhoods and individual citizens.
As a superior court judge, he appointed lawyers for children and he ordered child-comforting techniques in the courtroom long before statutes allowed for such measures. Judge Gill had social workers, psychologists, and victim assistance staff work with young victims, and thereby demonstrated how state agencies could work together to achieve a common goal of better services for child victims. Because he has felt that children have been doubly victimized by the system which was meant to protect them, Judge Gill has toiled endlessly to better the lot of children.
Throughout his career he has shown compassion and concern for the rights of all citizens. Recently, he established a multidisciplinary task force to study the feasibility of amending the United States Constitution to extend much needed protection to child victims. An important aspect of this task force's work will focus on the need to prevent childhood victimization. Judge Gill's dedication and his vision of an America where our vast resources are channelled toward helping our most vulnerable citizens, our children, deserves special recognition.
Louis and Patricia Herzog
Fairfax, Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. Herzog were instrumental in the founding of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) after their 18 year old daughter was killed by a drunk driver on January 1, 1982. Due to their hard work and perseverance, MADD realized a major goal: Virginia officially raised the legal drinking age to twenty-one. It is largely through their efforts that the Northern Virginia Chapter of MADD has a membership of over 22,000.
The Herzogs have worked hard to transform their loss into a positive force in Northern Virginia. Their dedication has resulted in efforts focused on many community activities and at the drunk driving and drug abuse problems.
Louis Herzog has served as the President of the Northern Virginia Chapter of MADD for four years. Now, he is Chairman of the Virginia MADD Coordinating Committee which works with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Board and the Virginia Department of Education. He also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Commission.
Patricia Herzog is Chairman of the Victim Assistance Program for the Northern Virginia Chapter of MADD. She has served on the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Problems and on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Commission. When Virginians are killed in other states or residents of other states are killed in Virginia, Mrs. Herzog performs invaluable services; she coordinates victim assistance with other state chapters of MADD.
Mr. and Mrs. Herzog are tireless in demonstrating their particular sensitivity to the needs of other victims. They have spent countless hours in court and helped victims in many ways. The Herzogs have turned their personal grief into action and involvement for the good of others.
Stephen M. McNamee
United States Attorney
District of Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Under the leadership of United States Attorney Stephen M. McNamee, the District of Arizona has developed a model program for assisting victims and witnesses of Federal crimes, especially Native American victims.
Because his District includes 17 Indian reservations and he has jurisdiction for prosecution of felonies, Mr. McNamee has made violent crime within Indian country a top priority, particularly the prosecution of individuals who victimize innocent Native American children. In his testimony before Congressional subcommittees he has recommended stiffer penalties for child molesters and improved treatment of victims and their families. Mr. McNamee has also done an outstanding job implementing model collection procedures for fines and penalty assessments of Federal defendants -- the source of funding for the entire Victims of Crime Act program.
Mr. McNamee has been a consistent supporter of victims of crime throughout his 4-year tenure as U.S. Attorney. His efforts clearly demonstrate how effectively a United States Attorney can help the cause.
Mr. Jack Russell
Potomac, Maryland
Mr. Russell became an outspoken advocate for victims rights after the murder of his "best friend," his sister, in Washington, D.C. Peggy Russell Gee came from a small town in the mountains of South- West Virginia. Her dream was to become a nurse, to care for others. She spent many years at Parkside Clinic as head nurse, mentor, and big sister to area residents. Realizing that the assailant would not be adequately punished, he channeled his energy towards reforming the criminal justice system to ensure conscientious treatment for all victims, regardless of their abilities or means.
During the course of the trial, Mr. Russell became extremely concerned about the impact of D.C.'s Good Time Credit Act of 1986. He discovered that the Act can drastically affect the actual time served by applying good time credit to both the minimum as well as maximum prison term for a given offense. Mr. Russell began to speak publicly on his concerns. He joined the D.C. Crime Victims Network Legislative Committee in an effort to draft and pass a District of Columbia Crime Victims Bill of Rights. During sentencing, his letter to the Judge described the devastating effects of the loss of his sister. He called the District of Columbia crime problem a "war... causing destruction to my family and Black families in this country." His letter served as a catalyst for eventual passage of the victim impact section of the Crime Victims Bill of Rights. Mr. Russell's courage in the face of personal tragedy is commendable.
Special Note: Jack Russell, Director of Human Resources at the Appalachian Regional Commission, held this position when then Governor Thornburgh was a member of the Commission.
AWARD CEREMONY INVITATION LIST WILL INCLUDE
REPRESENTATIVES OF MAJOR CONSTITUENCY GROUPS,
A FEW HILL REPRESENTATIVES, AND DOJ PERSONNEL.
THIS WILL BE SUBMITTED ON 4/11/89.