Media Relations Office:
ADC Donates $66, 357.58 to area Victims' Rights Organizations
ADC inmates and staff raised a record amount of money in honor of the 2006 National Victims' Rights Week. Here in Arizona the week was kicked-off Monday morning with a ceremony at the State Capital hosted by the Governor's Office. Governor Napolitano presented the "Triumph Over Tragedy" Award to Lorel Stevens. Ms. Stevens, a domestic violence survivor, escaped with her son from an abusive relationship shortly after her employer stopped a violent attack in her workplace parking lot. The Governor then signed into law a bill mandating that victims of crime be provided with a copy of the police report documenting the offense. Prior to this law being passed, victims would have to pay up to $80 for a copy of this report.
Attorney General Terry Goddard presented four Distinguished Service Awards. The winners were Arizona's C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program", the Volunteer Services Department of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, the City of Tempe's Crisis Response Team ("CARE 7"), and Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Reinstein. Concluding the event was ADC's Director Dora Schriro, who presented two checks totaling $66,357.58 to Beckie Miller, chapter leader for Parents of Murdered Children for the Valley of the Sun and Yvette Black from Homicide Survivors, Inc. The checks represented funds raised by ADC staff and inmates and represented a 366% increase over 2004 donation levels. "Running groups, responding to crime scenes, accompanying families to court, Parents of Murdered Children is made up of brave souls reaching out to others who walk in their shoes," said Director Schriro. "The National Coalition of Homicide Survivors is generous in the dissemination of information, resources and victim assistance to homicide survivors." The Office of the Attorney General will be conducting two subsequent Victims' Rights week award ceremonies, one on Tuesday, April 25 in Phoenix and one Wednesday, April 26th in Tucson. For more information visit the Attorney General's web site. Several media outlets attended the event. Click here to view CBS Channel 5's broadcast of the event. |
