[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5798-5799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, this past Sunday marked the start of 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Since 1981, people across the 
Nation have observed this week with candlelight vigils and public 
rallies to renew our commitment to crime victims and their families. It 
is vitally important that we recognize the needs of crime victims and 
their family members, and work together to promote victims' rights and 
services.
  My involvement with crime victims began more than three decades ago 
when I served as State's attorney in Chittenden County, VT, and 
witnessed first-hand how crime can devastate victims' lives. I have 
worked ever since to ensure that the criminal justice system is one 
that respects the rights and dignity of victims of crime, rather than 
one that presents additional ordeals for those already victimized.
  I was honored to support the passage of the Victims of Crime Act of 
1984, VOCA, which has been the principal means by which the Federal 
Government has supported essential services for crime victims and their 
families. This critical piece of legislation provides grants for direct 
services to victims, such as State crime victim compensation programs, 
emergency shelters, crisis intervention, counseling,

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and assistance in participating in the criminal justice system. These 
services are entirely funded from a reserve fund created from criminal 
fines and penalties, and are provided without a single dime of funding 
from Federal taxpayers.
  I have worked hard over the years to protect the Crime Victims Fund. 
State victim compensation and assistance programs serve nearly 4 
million crime victims each year, including victims of violent crime, 
domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and drunk 
driving. Several years ago, we made sure the fund had a ``rainy day'' 
capacity so that in lean years, victims and their advocates would not 
have to worry that the Crime Victims Fund would run out of money, 
leaving them stranded. More recently, an annual cap has been set on the 
level of funding to be spent from the fund in a given year. When this 
cap was established, and when President Bush then sought to empty the 
Crime Victims Fund of unexpended funds, I joined with Senator Crapo and 
others from both political parties to make sure that the Crime Victims 
Fund was preserved. These resources are appropriately set aside to 
assist victims of crime and their families. We have had to work hard to 
protect the Crime Victims Fund, and I have consistently supported 
raising the spending cap to allow more money out of the fund and into 
the field.
  As we observe Crime Victims' Rights Week, I would like to highlight a 
program in Vermont that has developed a unique and innovative approach 
to supporting victims of crime. In 2006, I was pleased to help the 
Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services secure funding to design and 
implement the Burlington Parallel Justice Project. This program 
addresses the limitations of traditional criminal justice and 
restorative justice models, and represents a collaborative approach to 
repair the harm caused by crime. Under this program representatives 
from different sectors of the community, from government to law 
enforcement to service providers to local business, come together to 
address the needs of crime victims in a comprehensive manner.
  The concept of parallel justice was developed by Susan Herman, a 
former executive director of the National Center for Crime Victims, who 
emphasized the importance of having a victim-driven path through the 
criminal justice system. With the help of Susan and the National Center 
for Crime Victims, the Vermont Center for Crime Victims Services, the 
Burlington Community Justice Center and the Burlington Police 
Department implemented her vision in their community by forming a 
Parallel Justice Commission. The commission responds to the needs of 
victims by working with local service providers and others to address 
those needs, whether it is emotional support, medical cost assistance, 
or property repair. By hearing from victims about their experiences 
with the criminal justice system, they also bring about systemic change 
where needed. The result is a comprehensive approach to victim 
assistance that enhances the relationships between different parts of 
the community and builds safer and stronger neighborhoods.
  The Burlington Parallel Justice Project is a national demonstration 
project for parallel justice and has been able to thrive and expand due 
to funding from VOCA assistance grants. Last month, Burlington police 
chief Michael Schirling, a member of the Parallel Justice Commission, 
testified before the Senate Judiciary committee about innovative crime 
reduction strategies. He spoke about the success of the parallel 
justice program as an example of a community policing model and 
emphasized that developing innovative and effective strategies will be 
increasingly crucial to effective public safety. I could not agree 
more. I have often advocated for Federal support of meaningful, 
community-based solutions to crime and other issues we face in Vermont 
and across the Nation.
  Both Congress and the States have become more sensitive to the rights 
of crime victims since I was a prosecutor. We have greatly improved our 
crime victims' assistance programs and made advances in recognizing 
crime victims' rights. But we still have more to do. As we observe 
National Crime Victims' Rights week this year, we must renew our 
national commitment to help crime victims by supporting programs like 
the Parallel Justice Project, and protecting the Crime Victims Fund.
  I want to commend and thank Judy Rex, Karen Tronsgard-Scott, and the 
many other victims' advocates and service providers in Vermont and 
across the country who show their dedication every day of the year to 
crime victims. I am thankful for their advice and insights over the 
years, and I look forward to continuing our work to address the needs 
of victims everywhere.

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