Photos of few of our victim loved ones.
Welcome to Crime Victims United of Illinois at IllinoisVictims.org, the state’s only grassroots victims rights organization, sharing information and resources for victims of violent crime and advocating for public safety and the enforcement of our Constitutionally guaranteed victims rights.
The Coalition for Enforceable Victims Rights Brings Marsy’s Law to Illinois
Illinois’ Constitution has guaranteed victims rights since 1992. But unfortunate wording denied victims a remedy if their rights were violated. Other states nationally have moved to protect the enforceability of victims rights. We are working together with other victim and interested Illinois groups to pass MARSY’S LAW for enforceable victims rights. We are part of the Illinois Coalition for Enforceable Victims Rights to pass HJRCA 29, providing a remedy for victims whose rights have been violated.
Download a Fact Sheet on the legislation. And read our response to erroneous concerns expressed about the legislation in the Sun-Times. Contact your legislator and urge them to support the Illinois Constitutional Amendment for Enforceable Victims Rights, HJRCA 29 – “Marsy’s Law”. Contact us at llinoisVictims@gmail.com if you are willing to help us work to pass this important reform to make REAL the rights of Illinois’ crime victims.
UPCOMING EVENTS
See our EVENTS page for more information about upcoming victim events in Illinois.
A billboard at the corner of Sheridan Road and Loucks Avenue in Peoria, Illinois promotes the Sept. 25, 2011 Day of Remembrance event. Event organizer and Crime Victims United of Illinois 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.
RECENT HEADLINES and News of Interest to Crime Victims
The November, 2011 “OVC News and Program Update” features articles on six different types of crimes against children, including child identity theft and a community-based approach to drug-endangered children. http://www.ovc.gov/news/programupdates.html.
Shared Hope International, a non-profit that works diligently to eradicate sex trafficking just published the Protected Innocence Challenge:
State Report Cards on the Legal Framework of Protection for the Nation’s
Children, 2011
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. Download Guidelines: http://www.justice.gov/olp/pdf/ag_guidelines2011.pdf.
Shockingly, the City of Topeka, Kansas, during Ntl Domestic Violence Awareness Month decriminalizes DV crimes due to cost concerns.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has just released “Criminal Victimization 2010,” 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 at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=2224!
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!
Top Illinois Victim groups and national victim legal groups file amicus brief in state Supreme Court challenge vital to the privacy of victims of sexual assault.
Ex-Chicago Bear is nationally recognized for his work as a Victim Advocate
Illinois mass murderer Patty Columbo once again denied parole by Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
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. For more information call Pam 773-744-6144
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.
Illinois House Minority Leader Rep. Tom Cross files HB 199, requiring a victim or victim advocate to serve on the Prisoner Review Board
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.
Support the many wonderful upcoming events in support of our fallen law enforcement heroes and their families – Illinois COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors)
One of the state’s great victims rights advocates is remembered by Senator Toi Hutchinson
Illinois Artist Paints Portraits of Slain Children to Ease Parents Pain is seeking more murder victims’ families to help. Contact Catholic Social Services of So IL,
8601 West Main, Suite 201, Belleville, IL 62223.
A national non-profit helps victims find a good lawyer FIND LEGAL ADVICE
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.
Share Your Story
IllinoisVictims.org will provide web space for every victim, event, program, or group in the state. Send an email to IllinoisVictims@gmail.com with the content you wish to post if you want your own page. Post comments and stories at most pages and the Blog.
Victims who wish to post 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. 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
CVUI 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.
