Diamond Park event meant to raise awareness of victims' rights
A dozen women gathered in Diamond Park at noon Wednesday to participate in Walkout Wednesday.
The event was organized as part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week by the victims witness unit of the district attorney's office, Victim Outreach Intervention Center, Neighborhood Legal Services and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
The women walked north on Main Street and south back to Diamond Park, carrying signs that read “We support victims of crimes” or “Victims have a voice.”
The event was meant to raise awareness of victims' rights and services, highlight local programs and celebrate progress in services for victims and professionals in the field.
Gloria Armstrong, systems advocate supervisor at VOICe, said in many violent crimes, the focus is on the rights of the offender and not the victim or witnesses who cooperate with police.
She said many victims of violent crimes are unaware of the Crime Victims Rights Act of 2004, which lists eight specific rights afforded to violent crime victims.
Armstrong said the first right — the right to be reasonably protected from the accused — is a key goal for VOICe.
“We spend a lot of our time safety planning,” she said.
Victims are not always aware of the safety issues they might face after police become aware they were victimized, Armstrong said. For that reason, VOICe explores each client's needs and gives them options for a safety plan.
“They then make the choice of whether to follow that safety plan,” Armstrong said.
Another little-known right victims have is the right to full and timely restitution as provided in law, Armstrong said.
Victims in Pennsylvania are given the opportunity to seek reimbursement for any medical expenses they paid for copays, medication or an apparatus, such as a cane or new glasses to replace a pair broken during the violence they experienced, she said.
Other eligible expenses are loss of earnings, relocation or funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup or money stolen or defrauded from individuals on a fixed income.
Victims can fill out a reimbursement form within two years of the crime through the state's Victims Compensation Assistance Program online or with the help of VOICe staff, Armstrong said.
The monetary cap for reimbursement is $30,000 per incident and certain stipulations apply, Armstrong said.
Kelly Ferrari, a freelance court reporter who takes digital dictation in the court system, participated in Walkout Wednesday to advocate for the victims she sees as she works inside the county's courtrooms.
She also extolled the virtues of the hardworking county victims witness unit.
“They do a wonderful job for victims in the county and guide them through the legal system,” Ferrari said. “I just wanted to come out and support them.”
She stressed that the victims witness unit represents and assists victims of all violent crimes, not just domestic violence.
Maeve Gannon of Neighborhood Legal Services said she came to Wednesday's event to support Crime Victims' Rights Week.
“I hope people learn about the organizations doing work to support crime victims and awareness is raised about victims of violent crimes,” Gannon said.
