[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   MARGOT CARLSON 1997 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT

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                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 1997

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor the 
Gang Victim Assistance Program and its executive director, Margot 
Carlson. This unique program from Orange County, CA started as a 
project of Community Service Programs, Inc. The Gang Victim Assistance 
Program and Ms. Carlson were honored with a Crime Victim Service Award 
by Attorney General Janet Reno on Friday, April 18, 1997.
  Last year, the program helped more than 970 victims of gang-related 
violence and their families. Since the launch of the program in 1990, 
it has worked closely with the Orange County district attorney's gang 
unit by providing support to victims and witnesses through the 
investigation and prosecution of each case of gang-related violence. 
The nonprofit human service organization is comprised of eight 
bicultural and bilingual victim specialists, enabling it to respond to 
problems that Latino crime victims face when confronted by gang 
violence.
  The program's victim specialists are continuously on call and respond 
to various situations which include accompanying investigating officers 
to the crime scene, delivering death notifications, assessing crime 
victims' safety and emergency needs, and providing referrals to support 
agencies. These situations utilize the victim specialists' training in 
victim support and counseling. This program has been so successful that 
the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime is creating a 
protocol based upon gang victim assistance for other communities 
needing similar programs.
  I would like my colleagues in Congress to join me in recognizing Ms. 
Margot Carlson and the Gang Victim Assistance Program of Orange County, 
CA. Their contributions to the Orange County community have been 
invaluable and inspiring. I commend the Department of Justice and 
Attorney General Janet Reno for honoring them with the Crime Victims 
Service Award.

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