[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN TRIBUTE--NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

                                 ______


                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with countless 
Americans who are staunch supporters of the rights of victims of crime. 
This is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Almost any daily newspaper 
you read will have front page headlines that scream out accounts of 
violent acts perpetrated against a host of victims. Readers are 
bombarded by statistics on murders, armed robberies, rapes, gang 
violence, domestic violence, drugs and much, much more. Where are the 
stories about the victims of those crimes? When is the last time that 
you read an account of the impact of a victim's statement on the 
outcome of a legal proceeding? All too often, victims are the last 
thought of while the criminal is protected by a long list of rights.
  Those who work on behalf of victims of crime rarely receive the 
recognition that they deserve. Advocates come from all walks of life. 
Some are professionals, people who try to make a difference. Most, 
however, are volunteers who give selflessly of their time, energy and 
talents.
  They are tireless; they are insistent; they are creative.
  Along with my husband, Dexter Lehtinen, I worked on placing the 
protection of victims' rights in Florida's Constitution and then 
pressured the agencies to implement the provisions.
  National Crime Victims' Rights Week is a time of reflection and a 
call to action. As an example of what a concerned community can 
achieve, I would like to share with you just a few of the 
accomplishments of victims' rights advocates from the Miami area. In 
selecting just a few examples, I salute the work of these individuals. 
But more importantly, by extension, I would like to pay tribute to all 
to have taken up this cause.
  Victims themselves are often the best advocates. They have turned 
their misfortune, their grieving toward some wonderfully positive 
activities. John Walsh, father of six-year-old Adam, was instrumental 
in the founding of the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children. He will never have Adam back, but Adam's spirit is alive 
through the Center.
  Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ryce, grieving over the loss of their son, Jimmy, 
have stepped forward to share their message with anyone who will 
listen. They are working to establish a special training center at the 
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which will be 
dedicated to educating law enforcement officers in how to investigate 
these sensitive cases, as well as bettering coordination among all our 
law enforcement agencies.
  Mr. and Mrs. Luis Melendi lost their daughter, Shannon, over 2 years 
ago. Shannon disappeared from a softball field near the campus of Emory 
University in Atlanta, GA, and has not been heard from since. The 
Melendi's have taken their case to the public, pushing for stronger 
measures to prevent known criminals from victimizing others.
  Potential victims can help themselves before they become victims. 
Taking a proactive approach, the Miami Junior League, in conjunction 
with AT&T, is collecting used cellular telephones in order to give them 
to women at risk of domestic violence. The phones will be preprogrammed 
with access to 911, so that help can be summoned immediately in case of 
attack.
  These examples highlight just a few of the many, diverse ways in 
which victims can assert their rights. I would especially like to 
highlight the work of Howard Greenstein, the Director of the Dade 
County Department of Justice System Support, who has been a staunch 
defender of victims' rights for years. May these individuals and their 
organizations have great success; may their creativity be encouraged 
and supported. May we remember the victims.

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