Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/16/08

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

CRIME VICTIMS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS HONORED AT THE 5th ANNUAL NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS LUNCHEON

Close to 200 people, including crime victims and survivors, community leaders, service providers, citizens, and law enforcement personnel, attended the 5th Annual National Crime Victims’ Rights luncheon held today at the Mary Agatha Furth Center in Windsor. Along with Sonoma County law enforcement, and county and community partners, the District Attorney’s Office hosted the luncheon to celebrate progress in ensuring crime victims’ rights and to raise community awareness of the challenges victims face in the aftermath of crime. The luncheon was organized by the DA’s Office Victim Assistance Center and Domestic Violence Counselors and a committee of participants from the Redwood Children’s Center, the YWCA, United against Sexual Assault, and Santa Rosa Police Department’s Victims’ Services Coordinator.

In his opening remarks, District Attorney Passalacqua said, "This year’s theme, ‘Justice for Victims. Justice for All.’ suggests that because anyone can become a victim of crime, every one has a powerful stake in ensuring vicitms’ rights.” Regarding those individuals and entities honored at today’s luncheon, DA Passalacqua said, that they “exemplify what we can achieve with outstanding service to and support for victims and how inspiring survivors of crime themselves can be for all of us in the community as we strive to seek Justice for All.”

Supervisor Valerie Brown presented a Resolution from the Board of Supervisors proclaiming April 13 -19, 2008 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Sonoma County.

Marc and Violet Klaas, of the KlaasKids Foundation, were honored for turning the tragedy of their daughter, Polly Klaas’ kidnap and murder in 1994 into a “lifetime’s passion for trying to prevent similar tragedies and helping others with missing children. Mr. Klass spoke of the outstanding work that was done to bring his daughter’s killer to justice, and of the many advancements that have since been made in child abduction investigations, such as the national use of Amber alerts and work done by a group he co-founded, BeyondMissing, to provide law enforcement agencies with a secure medium to create and distribute missing child flyers within moments of a report. He also spoke of work that KlaasKids is undertaking to address the plight of minors who are victims of domestic human trafficking for purposes of prostitution.

Additionally, Champions of Courage Awards were presented to the following:

• Law Enforcement Agency Award: The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Sexual Assault (DVSA) Unit. The DVSA Unit was lauded for its outstanding response to and investigation of crimes involving domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault, its treatment of crime victims, and its collaboration with the YWCA and their advocates to ensure superior services to crime victims.
• The Volunteer Agency Award: Forget Me Not Farm. The Forget Me Not Farm has, from its inception in 1992, helped thousands of at-risk children break the cycle of abuse. On the grounds of the Humane Society & SPCA of Sonoma County, the Farm offers animal-assisted activities to help children heal and learn to develop positive and caring relationships.
• The Courageous Survivor of Crime Award: Katherine. Katherine was just 11 years old when she fended off an attacker, a male who attempted to kidnap her from the front porch of her Rohnert Park home. Her assailant is serving a lengthy prison sentence resulting from his plea following her testimony at a preliminary hearing in the case. Katherine’s victim impact statement from the sentencing hearing was read to the audience today and she and her father addressed the audience. Young Kat was loudly applauded for her ingenuity, courage and strength.

Please join us tomorrow night, Thursday, April 17th at 6:00 pm. at Walnut Park in Petaluma for the last of three candlelight vigils this week. The vigils provide an opportunity for families, friends, volunteers, service providers, and the entire community to recognize and honor crime victims. The names of loved ones victimized by crime will be read at these solemn and uplifting ceremonies.