[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CHRISTINE LOPEZ 1997 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT

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                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 16, 1997

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time to honor Ms. 
Christine Lopez as recipient of the Crime Victim Service Award by the 
Attorney General Janet Reno on Friday, April 18, 1997. Ms. Lopez is 
being recognized for her outstanding dedication to the Gang Victim 
Assistance program offered by the Community Service Programs, Inc. of 
Orange County, CA. The Gang Victim Assistance program was started in 
1990 as a private nonprofit human service organization that helped 
extend other services provided by the Community Service Programs, Inc. 
Ms. Lopez contributes her expertise in gang-related victim and witness 
issues as the program's supervisor. Furthermore, Christine Lopez's 
involvement with the Latino community provides another benefit to a 
team specially created to handle victim and witness issues. This team 
comprises eight bicultural and bilingual victim specialists and is 
therefore able to respond to problems that Latino crime victims face 
when confronted by gang violence.
  These specialists are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 
respond to an array of crimes that require victim support and 
counseling. Ms. Lopez's team services include accompanying 
investigating officers to the crime scene, delivering death 
notifications, assessing crime victim's safety and emergency needs, 
providing counseling services, and referrals to support groups. The 
team not only provides these services at the time of the crime, but 
continues to serve victims with support and counseling throughout the 
course of each case. This remarkable program has been so successful and 
filled with praise that the Office for Victims of Crime in the Justice 
Department is in the process of creating a protocol for other 
communities that are in need of similar programs.
  Ms. Lopez's dedication has earned her State and national recognition 
for her efforts. This recognition includes Ms. Lopez being selected to 
serve on the advisory board for training and technical assistance for 
service providers helping Hispanic victims of crime. She was the first 
recipient of the annual Doris Tate Award that recognizes outstanding 
commitment and service to victims of crime presented by Governor Pete 
Wilson in 1993. I would like my colleagues in Congress to join me in 
recognizing Christine Lopez's contributions to the victims of crime and 
to commend her selection as a recipient of the Crime Victims Service 
Award by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Janet Reno.

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