Voice of victims

Local fair raises awareness of victims service groups

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS University of Maryland College Park criminal justice students Ally Krikorian and Drew Fisher check out materials at the Center for Abused Persons table during the April 15 awareness fair held at the Waldorf Parole and Probation Office. Maryland students attended the event for extra credit. University of Maryland College Park criminal justice students Ally Krikorian and Drew Fisher check out materials at the Center for Abused Persons table during the April 15 awareness fair held at the Waldorf Parole and Probation Office. Maryland students attended the event for extra credit. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Rosemary Raiman with CAP speaks about the programs offered by the center. Click here to enlarge this photo Connie Gray, a community organiser with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, speaks about available services.

In an effort to give victims organizations and services more exposure in the communities being served, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services held community awareness fairs around the state during April 10 to 16 in recognition of National Crime Victims Rights Week.

This is the first year that the fairs have traveled around Maryland setting up in the parole and probation offices in Silver Spring, Baltimore, Waldorf and on college campuses in Hagerstown and Salisbury.

"This is the first year we've done it regionally," said Danielle Lueking, spokeswoman for the department of public safety and correctional services. "We wanted to get out into the communities."

The event also offered a chance for agencies to network, although many of the groups have established relationships.

Jennie Boden, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault works closely with the state's 18 rape crisis centers, including Waldorf-based Center for Abused Persons and Walden in Lexington Park.

In addition to pushing for tougher sexual offense laws, the group provides legal services for victims through its legal institute and trains law enforcement, social workers, forensic nurses and others who are involved in sexual assault cases. MCASA is preparing to launch a campaign against sexual violence on college campuses.

Founded in 2002 by Roberta Roper, the mother of 1982 murder victim Stephanie Roper, the Maryland Victims Resource Center strives to aid victims of violent crimes in all ways.

The organization was founded in October 1982 as the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation Inc.

It was 20 years later that it, along with sister organization, joined to become the current center, which is dedicated to serving the interests of crime victims in Maryland.

The center was born from the Ropers' treatment by the criminal justice system following their daughter's death, said Kim Truitt, a victim advocate with the center.

"The court system can be overbearing," Truitt said. "We make sure victims get everything they are entitled to. So much is going on when you have lost a loved one, your head is spinning.

"We step in to help [victims and their families]," she said.

The state's division of correction victim services also has a wealth of programs designed to give victims some power over devastating situations.

The division will help with victim impact statements that are used to address the emotional, financial and physical pain a crime has caused; it operates other services like VOD or victim/offender dialogue, a program that allows victims to speak with the offender under a therapist's supervision; the Victim Information Notification Everyday or VICE is an automated phone service allowing victims to get information on an offender; the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board works with victims to receive monetary assistance following a crime. Other services are available as well.

staylor@somdnews.com

To learn more

For more information on programs offered through the Maryland Division of Correction Victim Services, go to www.dpscs.maryland.gov or call 410-339-5000.

Center for Abused Persons can be reached by calling 301-645-8994 or 301-843-1110. The office is at 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf.

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault can be reached at 410-974-4507 or online at www.mcasa.org. Email info@mcasa.org.

The Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center can be reached at 301-952-0063 or go to www.mdcrimevictims.org.

Walden Sierra can be reached by calling 301-997-1300 or go to www.waldensierra.org.