Welcome to IllinoisVictims.org, Illinois’ grassroots victims rights organization, sharing information and resources for victims of violent crime, advocating for the enforcement of our Constitutionally guaranteed victims rights, and for public safety.
February 2012 The Illinois House of Representatives voted 116-2 to pass Marsy’s Law.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7IJ0ofSXH4
Marsy’s Law has been filed for the new 2013-2014 Legislative session. We overwhelmingly passed both the Illinois House and Senate in different forms in 2012, and was one vote away from being on the 2012 ballot during the concurrence process when we ran out of time in the session. We will not rest until we have joined the rest of the nation with enforcement mechanisms for our narrowly defined, but important rights to participate in the cases of the crimes committed against us. Please join us in our campaign for the next legislative session.
Contact IllinoisVictims@gmail.com or call 312-882-4584 for more information. Visit www.MarsysLawforIllinois.org for much more information and to make your voice heard to help crime victims in Illinois.
This constitutional amendment is supported by Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), and many other state leaders, community organizations, and law enforcement.
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOLANDA WALLACE
A billboard at the corner of Sheridan Road and Loucks Avenue in Peoria, Illinois promotes the Sept. 25 Day of Remembrance event. Event organizer and IllinoisVictims.Org Board Member Yolanda Wallace reached out to members of the community who have lost someone through violence or other tragedy to submit a photo of their loved one for the billboard.
News and Events
Congrats to New Jersey! Crime victims now have STANDING in court to assert their rights.
The sixth annual National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims took place on September 25, 2012: Learn more about national events at www.pomc.org
NCJRS has compiled some great resources to promote National Campus Safety Awareness Month (September), including documents about crime and safety, violence prevention and substance abuse. You can access these resources at https://www.ncjrs.gov/campussafetyawareness/.
IllinoisVictims.org supports the efforts of a wonderful mother of a victim to pass Chris’ Law. This common sense measure would change Illinois law to require drug/alcohol screening within ONE hour after an accident caused by an impaired driver in which someone else is injured or killed.
Homicide survivors help organize new victim support group in Chicago Heights: Every 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month from 1:00 to 2:30pm, FAMILY COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER has started A Support Group for Families of Murdered Victims. The location is 268 W. Lincoln Hywy., Chicago Hts. Ill. The directors are Bishop Greg Jacobs & Pastor Tina Jacobs. If you have any questions in regards to this support group please contact Karen D. Bouldin @ 708 476 1029 “Choose not to LIVE as a damage VICTIM but rather as a VICTORIOUS SURVIVOR”
Marsy’s Brother Given Keys to the City for his Work Helping Crime Victims
Read the Federal Office of Victims of Crime national newsletter
The FBI released its preliminary data for the 2011 Uniform Crime Reports, which found a four percent decrease in violent crimes brought to its attention in 2011, and a slight decrease in violent crimes compared to 2010.
The Office for Victims of Crime has announced that it is accepting applications for the 2013 National Crime Victim Services Awards, which are given out during 2013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April. There are nine award categories, and I hope you check them out and honor a program or individual who brings honor to crime victims and survivors. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, September 5, 2012, and award and application information is available at https://ovcncvrw.ncjrs.gov/awards/default.html.
The Human Rights Campaign recently released “Growing Up
LGBT in America,” a study of 10,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people and straight youth ages 13-17. Among the study’s major findings is one that indicates that LGBT youth are twice as likely as their peers to say they have been physically assaulted, kicked or shoved at schools.
http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Growing-Up-LGBT-in-America_Report.pdf.
Congratulations to Representative Rita Mayfield and Senator Terry Link on their passage of HB 5187. This measure strengthens crime victims rights to NOTICE in their cases. IV.org helped shape this bill early on and we are grateful to these heroic legislators for the work they do to help us. Governor Quinn signed these and two other important victim protections into law in July 2012.
Congrats to one of IllinoisVictims.Org’s own Brenda Payton for this media coverage of her good work to help prevent victimization after her son’s death.
Correctional personnel work under demanding circumstances and face danger
daily. To recognize the contributions made by the men and women who work in jails, prisons, and community corrections across the country, see the
Correctional Officers’ Week Special Feature, which is a compilation of resources related to correctional facilities and their staff.
Summer national victim conferences all over the USA are available for victims to attend and grow and connect to partners all over the nation. Please see our events page, which includes many conferences at which IllinoisVictims.org board members are speaking at.
It has been 6 years since the unsolved murder of Terrell Bosley, son of Pam and Tommy Bosley of IllinoisVictims.org. Please help bring justice for Terrell and this family. Download the flyer and spread the word in Chicago.
Support Parole and Proabtion Officers in Illinois – “like” their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SaveIllinoisParolePreservePublicSafety
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has put out a special publication discussing the importance of victims and victims rights.
The “Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance” have just been published. The Guidelines establish policy and provide guidance to be followed by U.S. Department of Justice personnel in their interactions with crime victims and witnesses. The revised guidelines have been updated to reflect best practices and integrate new case law.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has just released “Criminal Victimization 2010,” – the most recent year for which statistics are completed – which found that violent crime decreased 13 percent in 2010, and property crime decreased six percent. And 50 percent of violent crime and 40 percent of property crimes aren’t reported to police. You’ll want to check out these and other crime data!
MADD’s Spring edition of the MADDvocate is now available, and features a summary of MADD’s “Report to the Nation” on each state’s efforts to eliminate drunk driving, and a great article on death notification (among other highlights). You can download the MADDvocate at http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9de38fee#/9de38fee/1.
The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics report on statistical tables of Criminal Victimization in the United States BJS has also just published an astonishing report that found that between 1993 and 2009, only nine percent of serious violent crime victims received assistance from a victim service agency. This 16-page report is a serious wakeup call to our nation!
St. Sabina’s Parish in Chicago debuts a permanent memorial for homicide victims. To be included please email your loved one’s picture along with their DOB/DOD to pbosley@thearkofstsabina.org.
The National Governors Association has released guidelines for public safety during tight budget times. Victims are concerned with early release of violent offenders from prison simply because of budgetary pressures.
State Governments collaborated to create these guiding principles for the treatment of all crime victims.
Making restitution real: Released by National Center for Victims of Crime
For varied reasons, jurisdictions throughout the United States have a poor record of collecting court-ordered restitution from offenders. Uncollected criminal debt at the federal level totals more than $50 billion, most of which is restitution owed to individuals and others harmed by defendants. State-level restitution collection is equally disappointing, especially in Illinois.
The Sheila A. Doyle Foundation seeks partners in helping children of murder victims to attend the Illinois-based Comfort Zone Camp for grieving children, ages 7-17. The foundation generates scholarships for children of homicide for their education.
One of the state’s great victims rights advocates is remembered by Senator Toi Hutchinson
Northwestern University’s Homicide History Project
Pictured -Victims Families at their Booth at the Information Fair at the Cook County Victim Witness Annual Victim Memorial in Chicago, formerly held each year at the South Shore Cultural Center, now each fall at the UIC Pavillion.
IllinoisVictims.Org is for All Victims of Crime in Illinois
Victims who wish to post activities, events, announcements, or a memorial page for a murdered loved one, or tell a story of victimization, send the story to IllinoisVictims@gmail.com and we will create a page for it or post it here for you. It will have an interactive comment section so that families can share announcements, and friends and family can post supportive comments.
The Illinois Victim Assistance Network
IllinoisVictims.Org has joined with other organizations to form IVAN. The Illinois Victim Assistance Network is a not for profit organization that strives to unite the private and public sectors for a comprehensive, victim-centered approach to advocacy, education and provision of services for those affected by crime. Please download this membership form and join.
