October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

It is far too often that I learn of yet another domestic dispute that tragically advances into domestic violence (DV). While many reports do not show an increase in the number of DV cases, many California studies are showing an increase in the level of violence in reported cases.

Domestic violence, often referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), occurs between two people in a close relationship and includes current and former spouses and dating partners. It can be a single episode of violence to ongoing battering and includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats and emotional abuse. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Division of Violence Prevention reports the following unsettling statistics:

• Each year, 4.8 million women fall prey to intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes.
• Each year, 2.9 million men fall prey to intimate partner related physical assaults.
• IPV resulted in 2,340 deaths in 2007. Of these deaths, 70% were females and 30% were males.

Here at CalVCP, we understand that when tragedy strikes, it can be a frightening and traumatic experience that often includes physical, emotional, or financial harm. Many victims have questions about whom they can trust and where they can go for help. When it comes to financial assistance, CalVCP may provide needed compensation to help cover treatment and other support services for victims and their families. It is imperative that victims and their loved ones know that CalVCP can help.

Just last year, our program helped nearly 14,000 domestic violence victims pay for expenses related to their crime. CalVCP provided more than $18.5 million in reimbursement costs last year covering mental health treatment, medical bills, relocation fees, income and support loss, funeral and dental expenses for those inflicted by domestic violence.

CalVCP stands firm in our commitment to do all that we can to help. During October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, many will be doing their part to raise awareness and provide tangible resources for victims. Let us encourage our friends, families and neighbors to report intimate partner violence when it is suspected.

If you suspect someone is in danger please direct them to the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), 1-800-787-3224 TTY, or www.ndvh.org.

There is hope. CalVCP can help.

Parents of Murdered Children — National Day of Remembrance

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

September 25th marked the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, a day set aside each year to honor the lives of loved ones taken by violence. Once again, the local Sacramento Chapter of “Parents of Murdered Children” (POMC), in coordination with chapters around the nation, held a special ceremony to remember and pay honor to the sons, daughters and other family members that have been taken away all too soon.

I was privileged to be one of the selected speakers at this year’s POMC event on the north steps of the State Capitol. When I addressed the supporters and families, I conveyed that CalVCP is committed more than ever to helping parents recover from such tragedy. For many, the road to healing is long and arduous and now is a time when victims need our help the most, as well as our support. We understand that and provide mental health treatment, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages and much more for those who have no other means.

There were several other speakers on this day, including: Sean Laird, Sacramento Deputy District Attorney; Ahmale Dorsey, Victim Advocate; and Mindi Russell, Senior Chaplain, Sacramento Law Enforcement. All were on hand to share their thoughts and provide support to grieving parents and family members and be part of this community of victims and survivors.

Sadly, 38 percent of the victims that we help are under 18 years of age. And last year, 31 applications for assistance came to us from a parent or guardian who lost a child to violence. Every day, I see how important it is that we have this service for the thousands of families who have nowhere else to turn. We are continuing to work with our sister agencies to provide the necessary resources and care for these victims and their families. By doing this, we can ensure that Californians have somewhere to turn when the inconceivable happens.

As a united front, we shall always remember and honor all those who have become victims of murder and all those families who lost so much.

The Long Road to Recovery

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

Last month the LAPD announced that they had made arrests in the case of the brutal beating of Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan who was assaulted in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium on March 31st of this year. Two men, believed to be responsible for the assault on Mr. Stow, that left him with severe brain injuries, were taken into custody and charged with mayhem, assault and battery.

Despite the progress toward bringing Mr. Stow’s alleged attackers to justice, the true emotional and physical cost to Mr. Stow and his family can never be fully measured. This story, although unique in terms of the public interest it has attracted, is like so many other stories of victims of violent crime, entailing great financial toll and a long struggle for recovery. In the five months since the attack, Mr. Stow remains hospitalized and battling very serious injuries.

News headlines seldom follow the personal aftermath of violent crime and the long road to recovery faced by victims. Once the tragedy is out of sight, we tend to forget about the burden victims are left to carry. Even more sobering, we know that for each story that we hear about in the media, there are literally thousands of other violent crimes in California, some which go completely unnoticed in the public eye. Whether we hear their stories or not, these are all victims who may travel this path without knowing where to turn, in order to find the support they need.

Though no one can ever erase another’s suffering and struggles, we can work together to make sure victims of crime receive assistance with the bills they can’t pay. At CalVCP, we work with victims to connect them with victim advocates and get them compensation for expenses incurred as the result of a violent crime.

For these victims, CalVCP assistance may be a critical step in the recovery process. We will continue our mission to provide the best service possible to all victims of crime and never forget the struggles they suffer and the long road to recovery they must endure.

The Cost of Drunk Driving

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

The statistics are absolutely staggering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in the U.S. It is truly devastating that every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash. NHTSA reports that one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime and that, on average, someone is killed by a drunk driver every 50 minutes.

In California alone, the most recent Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) report shows that nearly 210,000 DUI arrests were made in 2009. In that same year, there were nearly 1,300 alcohol-involved fatalities in the state. Fortunately, CalVCP is here to help victims of drunk driving. Over the last two years, CalVCP has assisted nearly 3,000 DUI victims and survivors and paid nearly $6.5 million to help these victims. CalVCP provided financial reimbursement for dental care, income and support loss, medical bills, mental health treatment, rehabilitation, relocation, funeral and burial expenses.

CalVCP also works closely with organizations that provide critical services that make a difference in the lives of California violent crime victims. As one of the largest victim service organizations in the U.S., Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is one such nonprofit we proudly partner with and support. CalVCP has been diligent to provide training to their victim advocates on CalVCP assistance to victims of drunk driving, promote events such as Walk Like MADD, and participate in their Annual Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope.

There is hope to this tragic epidemic; drunk driving and its consequences can be prevented. Education and advocacy will help lower California DUI rates. I thank individuals and organizations like MADD who are taking action to make our communities safer.

A Victim’s Survival: Lessons for Us All

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

I was moved and inspired when I watched, along with 14.8 million other viewers, Jaycee Dugard’s first televised interview since being rescued in August 2009. Jaycee opened up about her experiences at the hands of her captors and explained she did what she had to do “to survive.”

As we all listened to this brave young woman recount the horrifying details of her 18-year ordeal, what kept resonating was the strength and courage demonstrated by both Jaycee and her mother. It gave us all a glimpse of what victims go through before, during and after a crime.

As victim advocates, we recognize the long-term impact a crime like this has on an entire family. Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children and even in-laws share the consequences, to some degree. Jaycee mentioned the lasting impact a crime has on the family, not just her family, all families.

While Jaycee’s story has gained worldwide attention, there are other countless victims enduring horrific circumstances on a daily basis, but you will never see their faces, or hear their names on the news. They deserve to have their voices heard too.

Jaycee understands this and has started her own organization called the JayC Foundation. The organization’s mission is to “provide support and services to ensure the timely treatment of families that are recovering from abduction and the aftermath of other traumatic experiences.” Despite what happened to her, she is determined to change the future for the other countless victims out there.

We all have much to learn from Jaycee’s story on so many levels. To move forward is to never give up hope, no matter how dire things may appear. It also reminds us to reach out and do something when we see something that isn’t quite right.

Jaycee is truly an inspiration to us all and a remarkable example of how one little girl can have such an enormous impact on other victims, advocates and the general public.

Like many others who have been following this story, I wish Jaycee and her family much success in their continued recovery.

Hate Crimes

Guest Blog by District Attorney Jeff Reisig, Yolo County

As we observe hate crimes awareness month, let me explain the nature of a hate crime. They are crimes motivated by a particular bias such as disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Crimes based on race or ethnicity generally represent 60 percent of all hate crime events, followed by sexual orientation-based crime and then closely by crime based on religion. According to statistics through 2009 from the Department of Justice, hate crimes have been on a general decline since 2001. However, violent crimes still make up around 63% of hate crime.

I want to highlight a case my office recently prosecuted and convicted two men for the beating of a Sikh taxi driver based on the perception that the driver was Muslim. On November 28, 2010, Harbhajan Singh, the cab driver, drove the defendants and their wives home from Harlow’s Bar in Sacramento. Mr. Singh wore a traditional Sikh turban and beard. At the conclusion of the trip, one of the men demanded more change than the fare allowed. Singh merely hesitated to the demand, and then was attacked by the men just as Singh turned to comply. One of the men shouted racial epithets and accused Mr. Singh of being Muslim, then punched Singh in the face repeatedly while the other man attacked from behind. Mr. Singh was almost pulled from the car, but this was prevented by the wife of one of the men and Mr. Singh’s seatbelt. Mr. Singh was able to escape while the two men were distracted by the wife’s efforts. Mr. Singh suffered significant injuries, including a fracture to his eye socket.

The West Sacramento Police were able to find the assailants because the wife who intervened lost her cell phone in the process. The police used the phone and fingerprints collected from the victim’s blood to find two suspects, and a series of interviews established the roles of the two men in the attack. The man with the greater part in the attack pled to the assault and the “hate crime” enhancement and was given a 13 year sentence, due in part to his conviction for a prior assault.

Mr. Singh did nothing to provoke this vicious attack except to be from a different culture. Attacking someone because of their race, religion or other protected basis is not only heinous, but against the ideals we hold as Americans, and must not be tolerated. My office remains committed to diligently prosecuting this type of crime.

Information on hate crime statistics may be found in the latest report by the Attorney General.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: June 15th, 2011

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

This week we observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th. Elder abuse is a very disturbing topic and one that must be addressed as our senior population continues to grow. Each year, one to two million elderly people are injured, exploited or mistreated by someone they depend upon for care or protection. Elder abuse can include physical, psychological, financial, emotional abuse or simply neglect. The sad irony is that those chosen to protect the elderly are usually the ones who cause the abuse.

Here are some important statistics:

• In 2010, California led the country with 632,693 cases of reported elder abuse, accounting for nearly 11% of all elder abuse cases.
• Two-thirds of offenders are family members or caregivers.
• The elderly (65+) population will more than double, from 3.6 million in 2000 to 8.3 million by 2030 in California.
• By 2030, one in every five persons in the country will be a senior citizen.

One county that is taking a proactive approach is Napa County. Recently, they adopted an ordinance that requires caregivers to pass a criminal background check and pay for an annual permit in order to care for seniors or disabled persons. Other counties are sure to follow their lead in developing new methods to help prevent elder abuse and ensure the safety of our senior citizens.

There are reporting agencies in each state to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse or neglect. If you suspect an elderly person is being abused, please call the National Center on Elder Abuse at 1-202-898-2586, or call your county Adult Protective Services agency. And if someone you know has been a victim of elder abuse and they cannot pay for crime-related expenses, please call the CalVCP Victim Helpline at 1.800.777.9229.