Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/05/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer R. Brady

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

CRIME VICTIMS HONORED AT 6th ANNUAL NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS LUNCHEON

Approximately 300 people gathered on Monday, May 4th at the Santa Rosa Veteran’s Memorial Building to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and to honor crime victims and their advocates.  The event entitled “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives,” is a reference to the past twenty-five years since the Victims of Crime Act was passed into law.  Those attending the event included crime victims and survivors, community leaders, service providers, citizens, and law enforcement personnel from all parts of the county.  Speakers included California State Attorney General Jerry Brown and Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “We were pleased to host this luncheon, which serves to educate leaders and citizens throughout the county about the rights of crime victims.  Survivors of crime and their family members need to know that they have legal rights, that people in the criminal justice system care about them, and that the community supports them as they seek to rebuild their lives.  The crime victims honored at this event are truly deserving of recognition for their personal strength in overcoming tragedy.  I am proud of our county’s tireless advocates for their dedication to serving the survivors of crime.”

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is one of only 60 agencies nationwide to have obtained a federal grant to support this and similar events held in recognition of National Crime Victims Rights’ Week.  The luncheon was organized by the District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Center and Victim Advocates in collaboration with the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Social Advocates for Youth (SAY), United Against Sexual assault (UASA) and YWCA.

Those honored at the event included Harriet Salarno, founder of Crime Victims United, Lynn Darst (MADD), Nadine Reyes (Victim Advocate), and Edila Anzilotti-Dimock (crime survivor).

Supervisor Shirlee Zane presented a Resolution from the Board of Supervisors proclaiming April 26 through May 2, 2009, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Sonoma County.