ABOVE PHOTO: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner
In celebration of Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner recently announced the creation of a Crime Victims’ Advisory Committee (CVAC). The CVAC will not only empower witnesses and victims to improve the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s (DAO) victim and witness services, but will work to eliminate the trauma felt by crime victims and witnesses.
“In each one of the hundreds of cases the District Attorney’s Office works on each day, there is one thing in common, they all have witnesses and victims,” Krasner said. So, as we get ready to celebrate Crime Victims’ Rights Week, I’m excited to launch this new advisory committee, I thank all our partners for their participation, and I cannot stress enough the importance of the work that they will do. Our criminal justice system needs you and will benefit from your guidance on how we can recognize trauma, support victims and witnesses as they recover, and break the cycle that exists between victim and perpetrator.”
“The inclusion of survivor voices is fundamental to the process of administering justice in a meaningful way,” said Jennifer Storm, PA Victim Advocate. I applaud the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for creating this committee and elevating the voices of victims. Far too often victims are left without recourse for violations of their rights, Marsy’s Law and its passage in Pennsylvania will ensure that all victims have equal footing in the courtroom.”
In addition to professionals from the DAO’s Office of Victim and Witness Services, the CVAC will include Philadelphians who have personally experienced incidents of assault, sexual and/or domestic violence, or homicide and area organizations who serve the victims and witnesses of crime.
“The issues that victims face when entering the justice system are multi-layered and complicated,” said Toni Thorn of The CHARLES Foundation. “Many victims of crime are further traumatized by the very systems that are responsible to ensure that they receive advocacy and services. My family was one of those families that was harmed. This is one of the reasons why we created The CHARLES Foundation. It is hopeful to see that the District Attorney’s Office is looking at the problems that victims of crimes encounter and including the voices of the victims to develop solutions to reduce the probability of further harm,” added Thorn.
CVAC members will meet monthly to discuss current and available victim services, share service delivery and crime victim support best practices, and establish measurable performance standards. The CVAC will also work to improve the DAO’s current portfolio of programs to better meet the needs of current and future victims to find ways to reduce future victimization and eliminate crime victim secondary and residual trauma.
In addition to announcing the CVAC, Krasner noted Marsy’s Law, which would create a set of constitutional, legal protections for the victims of crime.
“Legislation such as Marsy’s Law and my proposal – Senate Bill 1082 – which ensures victims’ rights and provides an opportunity for victims to be heard and compensated are critical to the effective operation of the justice system,” State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery).
The Marsy’s Law bill calls for victims to:
- Receive information about their rights;
- Be notified about and be present for legal proceedings concerning them or the case they are involved in;
- The right to be treated with fairness;
- Respect for their privacy and dignity; and
- To be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse in the criminal or juvenile justice process.
“Change in the realm of violence begins when people in leadership positions listen to the voices of those affected by violence and then utilize those concerns as a driving force to make a difference from the top down. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness month, which is commemorated every April, this is a step in the right direction to ensure survivors of sexual assault are receiving proper treatment and support,” said Laquisha Anthony, who is a survivor of sexual assault.
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