| Gail Abarbanel Director Rape Treatment Center Santa Monica, California |
| Josephine Bass Executive Director Neopolitan Lighthouse Chicago, Illinois |
| Frank Carrinqton, Esq. Crime Victims Litigation Project Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Jayne Crisp Project Coordinator for Training and Community Development South Carolina State Office of Victim Assistance Greenville, South Carolina |
| John W. Gillis Parole Commissioner California Board of Prison Terms Alhambra, California |
| Nancy Stoner Lampy LECC/VW Coordinator U.S. Attorney's Office District of South Dakota Pierre, South Dakota |
| Barbara Reed Coordinator for Remove Intoxicated Driver (RID) Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
Gail Abarbanel
Director
Rape Treatment Center
Santa Monica, California
For the past 20 years, Gail Abarbanel's life work has been focused on bringing justice and effective care to rape victims. In so doing, she has helped to raise the nation's consciousness about the crime of rape and the way in which rape victims are treated. Ms. Abarbanel is credited with the founding of the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica Hospital, a comprehensive multidisciplinary program that provides treatment to rape victims, including forensic examinations, medical treatment and counseling. This program was selected by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) as a model for an NIMH training film on hospital-based rape treatment services.
Ms. Abarbanel was instrumental in launching a national campaign to stop campus rape. Two years ago, she published a landmark report setting forth recommended policies and programs for colleges to adopt in order to prevent rapes and provide effective victim support. As a result of this work, campus rape victims now have identified rights and protections.
In addition, Ms. Abarbanel has initiated, directed, and raised funding for other programs: Senderos, a program providing bilingual/bicultural Rape Treatment Center services to Latino victims; and Stuart House, an internationally recognized, model facility serving sexually abused children through the multidisciplinary approach--an approach that brings police, prosecutors, mental health specialists, child protective service providers and medical experts together to investigate, prosecute and treat child abuse victims.
Josephine Bass
Executive Director
Neopolitan Lighthouse
Chicago, Illinois
Josephine Bass is to be commended for her dedication to and service on behalf of women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. She first became involved with victims of domestic violence in 1980 when she was employed as a social worker at the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge, and later as director of counseling at Rainbow House, a shelter for battered women.
Ms. Bass is the founder and Executive Director of Neopolitan Light- house, a not-for-profit, grassroots social change agency which serves Chicago's West Side Garfield Park community. She was the driving force that first brought services to victims of domestic violence residing in Garfield Park, as well as the driving force that has kept it firmly rooted in that community. Ms. Bass has made personal as well as professional contributions to victims of domestic violence, donating her own money to insuring that the doors of the shelter remain open.
In 1989, Neopolitan Lighthouse became unable to accommodate the growing number of domestic violence victims seeking its services. Thus, in response, Ms. Bass and the Board of Neopolitan Lighthouse were instrumental in opening a second shelter, the Lifeline Homeless Shelter.
Frank Carrinqton, Esq.
Crime Victims Litigation Project
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Frank Carrington's sincere personal commitment and outstanding legal contributions have served to open many doors for crime victims in the criminal justice system. His professional and volunteer involvement in the crime victims movement spans decades. Mr. Carrington has lectured, written, and advocated on behalf of crime victims from a number of various perspectives. As a police officer, legal counselor to police departments and law enforcement associations, leader of national advocacy organizations, as well as an attorney in private practice, he has left no stone unturned in his pursuit of the rights of crime victims. He has experienced and shared the effects of violent crime within his own family.
Mr. Carrington was a member of President Reagan's Task Force for Victims of Crime and now directs the activities of the Coalition of Victims' Attorneys & Consultants (COVAC); a clearinghouse of legal information and a provider of support for those undertaking victim-related litigation. He was instrumental in securing passage of the Federal Students' Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990. Through Security on Campus, Inc., Mr. Carrington has provided legal research and opinions to victims of campus crimes. Often providing his legal services free of charge, he has helped many victims and victims' attorneys bring successful litigation against perpetrators and negligent third parties. He is widely regarded as one of the "founding fathers" of the crime victims movement.
Jayne G. Crisp
Project Coordinator for Training and Community Development
South Carolina State Office of Victim Assistance
Greenville, South Carolina
Jayne Crisp is a dedicated, energetic victim service provider who has devoted years of hard work to not only the people of Greenville County, but also to those victims throughout the State of South Carolina. Her contributions in the area of victim services are numerous. Ms. Crisp established the Rape Crisis Council of Greenville in 1974; and in 1978, the first
prosecutor-based Victim Witness Assistance Program in South Carolina, a program which she directed for 13 years. Her victim witness program has been recognized as a service model for sensitively addressing the needs of victimized children faced with the procedural complexities of our criminal court system and the difficulties of testifying against perpetrators. In her present capacity, as state Project Coordinator for Training and Community Development, Ms. Crisp provides training and shares her victims service and program management expertise with field programs throughout the State of South Carolina.
Ms. Crisp produced a video tape for child witnesses, "Taking the Stand," which is now used in forty-five states, and she is also credited with the "Housewise, Streetwise Program," one of the first comprehensive and nationally recognized child safety education curriculums.
Ms. Crisp helped coordinate South Carolina's first Volunteer Crisis Response Team, established a free counseling program for crime victims, and co-authored a survival guide for victims and their families. She was a board member of the National Organization for Victim Assistance, for 6 years; member, Governor's Criminal Justice Crime and Delinquency Commission, for 5 years; trainer and consultant, the Crime Victims Research Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, and the National Victim Center.
Ms. Crisp continues to influence victims' rights legislation on federal, state and local levels, and is recognized for her training seminars directed at developing an insightful awareness of victims' rights and issues.
John W. Gillis
Parole Commissioner, California Board of Prison Terms
Alhambra, California
John Gillis's commitment to crime victims is grounded in personal tragedy. His 21 year old daughter was murdered in 1979 by a gang which targeted her because she was the daughter of a law enforcement officer. Mr. Gillis was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department from 1962 until his retirement in 1988. In his capacity as Detective Lieutenant, he supervised detectives responsible for investigating all types of crimes, including over 100 homicide investigations.
After the murder of his daughter, Mr. Gillis became active in Parents of Murdered Children, a support group for homicide survivors, and founded Justice for Homicide Victims--a legislative action arm of the California Center for Family Survivors of Homicide. This advocacy group articulates the unique interests and works to further the rights of homicide survivors. Mr. Gillis is also the founder of Coalition of Victims, Equal Rights (COVER), a statewide umbrella organization that works to maximize the impact of all victims organizations within the State of California.' In so doing, COVER advocates on behalf of victims at both the state and federal levels and monitors judicial decisions that affect victims' rights.
As a result of Mr. Gillis' legislative advocacy, the State of California recently passed Proposition 115, the Judicial Reform Act. This new law streamlines and simplifies court procedures for the benefit of crime victims as they interact with the court system during the prosecution of alleged perpetrators.
In 1990, Mr. Gillis was appointed a Commissioner of the Board of Prison Terms, the California parole board, by former Governor Deukmejian. His appointment was strongly supported by former Senator and present Governor, Pete Wilson. In his work as a Commissioner, he is a strong advocate for consideration of the effects of crime on victims and their families.
Nancy Stoner-Lampy
LECC/VW Coordinator
Office of U.S. Attorney
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Nancy Stoner-Lampy is the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee/- Victim-Witness Coordinator for the District of South Dakota. In this capacity, she has developed an excellent rapport with Indian communities in a state which encompasses nine Indian reservations. Her ability to extend herself and involve Native American law enforcement officers and social service providers has resulted in a more effective, better coordinated law enforcement response in South Dakota. She also worked to establish a victim/witness subcommittee for the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee.
Ms. Stoner-Lampy has been an outstanding advocate for Native American victims of violent crime, often personally seeking and arranging for much needed services for victims. She worked diligently with the Office for Victims of Crime to provide therapy to 20-30 victims of child sexual abuse at the Rocky Ford School On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She sought funding to finance mental health services for two children who were victims of sexual molestation by a minister on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. She also sought out post-conviction mental health treatment services for two Native American child sexual abuse victims who were raped by their father on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.
Whether it be counseling for sexually abused children, shelter for a battered woman and her infant child, or support for a family who has lost a loved one to homicide, Nancy Stoner-Lampy has been there to give of herself to those who need her.
Ms. Stoner-Lampy has been a leader in developing the model for how victim/witness services can be provided in remote areas where transportation is often difficult and telephones are not a common convenience.
At every opportunity, Ms. Stoner-Lampy presents seminars and workshops concerning unique victim issues on Indian reservations. Since 1988, she has worked with the Crow Creek Reservation Child Protection Team in developing a reservation child abuse plan. These efforts have built a cooperative and trusting relationship between agencies and have served to benefit the children of Crow Creek.
Barbara Reed
Coordinator for Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID)
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Barbara Reed, moved by the death of a close friend and her friend's children--victims of an intoxicated driver--co-founded Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) in Anderson County, Tennessee. She then proceeded to establish more chapters throughout the state and, ultimately, became Coordinator for RID/Tennessee. Recognizing another need--that of explaining court system procedures to victims and their families--she undertook the task of learning about the complexities of court and parole procedures. As a result of this self-education, she has become an effective liaison between victims and their families, and law enforcement. In this capacity, she encourages the victims to describe their victimization experiences to law enforcement officers, and other criminal justice system professionals, through the drafting and submission of victim impact statements.
Mrs. Reed worked for the passage of the Tennessee Victims' Rights Law and is a member of the Steering Committee and the Legislative Committee of the East Tennessee Victims' Rights Task Force. She has also organized a Court-Watch system for drunk driving cases statewide to ensure that applicable laws are applied as intended by the state legislature. She has also helped other groups to establish similar systems for victims of child abuse and spouse abuse.
Mrs. Reed has given presentations regarding victim impact statements, the Court-Watch program, and victims support groups at Tennessee Highway Safety Conferences, Tennessee Law Enforcement Conferences, and Drunk Driving Conferences.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OVC
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1991 202/307-0781
PRESIDENT BUSH, ATTORNEY GENERAL THORNBURGH PRESENT AWARDS
TO SEVEN INDIVIDUALS FOR ASSISTANCE TO CRIME VICTIMS
- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Bush and Attorney General Dick Thornburgh today honored seven persons who have made outstanding contributions in assisting victims of crime in a White House ceremony. The President presented awards to the honorees who were selected from nominations submitted by federal, state and local criminal justice and victim assistance officials; national victim assistance organizations; and individual citizens.
- Before the ceremony, President Bush signed a proclamation commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week (April 21-27, 1991).
- "I commend these outstanding men and women who have worked tirelessly for many years to ensure that our criminal justice system treats crime victims and their families with equity and sensitivity,,, Thornburgh said. "Through the concerted efforts of these individuals--and others like them throughout the country--significant progress has been made in ensuring that':' innocent victims of crime are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, while criminals are held accountable for the terrible harm they have inflicted upon law-abiding citizens."
- Honored were:
- --Gail Abarbanel, Santa Monica, California. For the past 20 years, Abarbanel's life work has focused on bringing justice and effective care to rape victims. Through her work, she has helped raise the nation's awareness about the crime of rape and the way in which rape victims are treated. Abarbanel is founder and director of the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica Hospital, a comprehensive multi-disciplinary program that provides treatment to rape victims. She also was instrumental in launching a national campaign to stop rape on college campuses, and published a landmark report recommending policies and programs colleges can adopt to prevent rape and assist victims.
- --Josephine Bass, Chicago, Illinois. Bass was recognized for her dedication to and service on behalf of women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. She first became involved with domestic violence victims in 1980 as a social worker at the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge, and later as director of counseling at Rainbow House, a shelter for battered women. Bass is founder and executive director of Neapolitan Lighthouse, a nonprofit, grassroots social services agency serving Chicago's West Side Garfield Park community, and was instrumental in opening a second shelter in the area, the Lifeline Homeless Shelter.
- --Frank Carrington, Esq., Virginia Beach, Virginia. Carrington's involvement as a lawyer and volunteer spans decades. He has lectured, written, and served as an advocate of crime victims as a police officer, legal counselor to police departments and law enforcement organizations, leader of national advocacy organizations, and as an attorney in private practice. Carrington was a member of the 1982 Presidential Task Force on Victims of Crime and currently directs the Coalition of Victims' Attorneys & Consultants (COVAC), a clearinghouse of legal information on victim litigation that is supported by the National Victim Center. He also was instrumental in securing passage of the Federal Students' Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, and has provided legal research and information through Security on Campus Inc. and the National Victim Center.
- --Jayne G. Crisp, Greenville, South Carolina. Crisp has devoted years of hard work to serving crime victims in Greenville and throughout South Carolina. In 1974, she established the Rape Crisis Council of Greenville, and, in 1978, created the first prosecutor-based Victim-Witness Assistance Program in South Carolina, which she directed for 13 years. The program is considered a model for sensitively addressing the needs of child victims. In her present position as Project Coordinator for Training and Community Development for South Carolina, Crisp provides training and shares her victims service and program management expertise with field programs throughout the state.
- --John W. Gillis, Alhambra, California. Gillis's commitment to crime victims is based on a personal tragedy--the murder of his 21-year-old daughter by a gang which targeted her because her father was a police officer. Gillis served with the Los Angeles Police Department from 1962 until his retirement in 1988. After the murder, Gillis became active in Parents of Murdered Children, a support group for families of homicide victims, and rounded the California Center for Family Survivors of Homicide, which works on behalf of the rights of families of victims. He also founded the Coalition of Victims, Equal Rights (COVER), a statewide organization that assists victims service agencies and advocates on behalf of victims issues.
- --Nancy Stoner Lampy, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Lampy is the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee/Victim-Witness Coordinator in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota. In this capacity, she has developed an excellent rapport with Native American communities in a state that encompasses nine Indian reservations. She has arranged mental health counseling for scores of victims of child sexual abuse on several Indian reservations in the state. Since joining the U.S. Attorney's Office as the first victim-witness advocate, she has provided support, information, and assistance to hundreds of Native American victims of violent crime. In addition, Lampy has been a leader in developing model programs for providing victim- witness services in remote areas where transportation is often difficult and telephones are often lacking.
- --Barbara Reed, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Reed -- moved by the death of a close friend and her friend's children as the result of an automobile crash caused by a drunk driver -- co-founded Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) in Anderson County, Tennessee, which provides assistance to victims of drunk drivers and their families and acts as a liaison between victims and law enforcement. Reed founded additional chapters throughout the state, and, eventually, became coordinator of RID/Tennessee. She also has worked toward passage of the Tennessee Victims' Rights Law, and organized a statewide court-watch system for drunk driving cases.
- "I would like to add my gratitude and commendation to these seven individuals for their hard work and dedication in serving the needs and protecting the rights of the innocent victims of crime and their families," said Jane Nady Burnley, director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), which administers the annual awards program. "Through their outstanding efforts, they have contributed significantly to institutionalizing victims rights in our criminal justice system."
OVC, a component of the Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs, serves as the federal focal point for addressing the needs and improving the treatment of crime victims. OVC administers the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program, which awards grants to states to expand victim compensation and assistance and supports innovative crime victim projects. OVC also sponsors training for criminal justice officials to help them better meet the needs of crime victims and their families. The VOCA program is primarily financed by the Crime Victims Fund. Monies in the fund come--not from taxpayers--but from fines, penalties, and bond forfeitures assessed on convicted federal defendants.
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