ABC/KGO-TV, "Victim's rights groups get thousands from inmates"

Marsy's Law expands the rights of crime victims in California to restitution, adding to the impact of restitution laws already on the books. One law passed in 1990 requires inmates to turn over 20% of the money they earn at prison jobs to victims of crime. After paying the restitution, the remainder of their earnings goes to community organizations. This year, prisoners earning minimum wage assembling medical supplies at San Quentin State Prison collected $38,000 in restitution payments, which meant that seven victims' rights organizations each received checks of $4,500. - HTN Foundation

Victim's rights groups get thousands from inmates

SAN QUENTIN, Calif. (KGO) -- Several victim's rights organizations received checks for thousands of dollars Monday straight from the paychecks of inmates.

he prisoners earn minimum wage assembling medical supplies at San Quentin State Prison. A law passed by voters in 1990 requires that 20 percent of their salaries be given to victims of crime. Once the inmate pays restitution, the excess goes to community organizations.

"It has to be used for direct services to crime victims, things such as emergency shelter, food, transportation," explained Chris Jacobs with the Prison Industry Authority.

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OC Register, "Her words brought a courtroom to tears"

AJ Egan's husband was killed in 2007 in a botched robbery at the Home Depot in Tustin where he was the manager. Nearly five years later, Egan says she found closure in delivering a victim-impact statement that the prosecutor called one of the most eloquent and articulate ever in Orange County. After hearing her speak, the judge agreed with jurors and sentenced Jason Richardson to death in the murder of Tom Egan. AJ Egan was exercising her right under Marsy's Law to speak during sentencing.  "That chapter of my life is finished and I hope to move forward into a new chapter," she said. - HTN Foundation

Her words brought a courtroom to tears

By LARRY WELBORN / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

AJ Egan, the widow of Thomas Egan, talks to the media after the sentencing of Jason Russell Richardson in Santa Ana on Nov. 28. Richardson was convicted of the special circumstances murder of Tustin Home Depot manager Thomas Egan. Richardson received the death penalty. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERAJ Egan worked on her victim-impact statement for years.

When she was done telling Superior Court Judge William Froeberg about the enormity of the impact her husband's murder in 2007 had on herself and her family, spectators were crying.

It was one of the most eloquent and articulate victim statements in an Orange County courtroom, Deputy District Attorney Cameron Talley said. To read her remarks, click here.

She was entitled to give her remarks under Marsy's Law, which guarantees victims and their families the right to speak during sentencings and at other appropriate times during the legal proceedings.

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OC Register, "Governor revokes parole for prom night killer"

Gov. Jerry Brown has reversed a ruling last year to grant parole to Paul Crowder, who is serving a 15-years-to-life sentence for the second-degree murder of Berlyn Cosman, then 17, as she celebrated her prom night in Anaheim. Brown said in a letter that Crowder does not "understand or accept responsibility for his actions" and "poses a danger to society if released." The Orange County DA and Cosman's sister, Morgan Cosman Kelly, said they will petition the governor to reverse a separate finding by a second parole board that Crowder is suitable for parole. Kelly is represented under Marsy's Law by attorney and former Asst. DA Todd Spitzer. - HTN Foundation

By LARRY WELBORN / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERPaul Crowder's prison mug shot. COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

Gov. Jerry Brown has reversed a state board's decision last year granting parole to a La Crescenta man who shot and killed a 17-year girl in 1991 as she celebrated her prom night in Anaheim.

Paul Crowder, now 39, has been serving a 15-years-to-life term for the second-degree murder of Beryln Cosman, a straight-A student who had earned a college basketball scholarship.

In a four-page letter dated Nov, 4, Brown contended that Crowder "does not genuinely understand or accept responsibility for his actions... (and) currently poses a danger to society if released."

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Chicago Tribune, "Crime victims seek more say in judicial process"

Crime victims in Illinois, aggressively advocating for enforceable rights in the justice system, are proposing their own version of Marsy's Law, the Chicago Tribune reports. The newspaper says the Illinois Constitution provides 10 rights for crime victims--including that they be treated with respect, given notice of court hearings and be allowed to attend trials and present victim-impact statements--but do not include a mechanism for appeal. Now the Illinois Coalition for Enforceable Victims Rights and other advocates want to amend the state's constitution. According to the newspaper, they are joining "a national push to amend state constitutions and give teeth to statutes already on the books. - HTN Foundation

Crime victims seek more say in judicial process

By Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune reporter

November 7, 2011

Years after her 11-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted, Denise Rotheimer wants the right to sue the Lake County prosecutors who sent the offender to jail, saying they defamed her child by telling the judge that the girl "had issues."

In Cook County, Maria Ramirez believes prosecutors violated her rights by refusing to let her file a complaint after she was threatened by relatives of a juvenile charged with her son's 2006 murder.

Both women found that — after floundering through a complex criminal justice system that critics say is weighted toward ensuring the rights of the accused — their rights as crime victims were unenforceable.

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Examiner, "Crime Survivors 8th 5K Doubles in Numbers "

More than 1,500 people--nearly double last year's turnout--participated in Crime Survivors' eighth annual Health and Safety Expo 5K Oct. 8 at the Orange County Regional Training Center in Tustin.  The event also included 130 vendors and more than 100 volunteers as crime victims, families and supporters learned about resources and support for victims of crime. - HTN Foundation

Crime Survivors 8th 5K Doubles in Numbers

Shana Smith Orange County Domestic Violence & Abuse Examiner

October 10, 2011

A Dove Released in Rememberance Credits: Crime Survivors, Inc Continue reading on Examiner.com Crime Survivors 8th 5K Doubles in Numbers - Anaheim Domestic Violence & Abuse | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/domestic-violence-abuse-in-anaheim/crime-survivors-8th-5k-doubles-numbers#ixzz1ags85q82This years Crime Survivors 8th Annual Health and Safety Expo 5K was held Saturday October 8 at the Orange County Regional Training Center in Tustin.  The event was held by Crime Survivors Inc. whose mission is to ensure the public knows victims’ rights and needs and to provide resources, support, and information to empower crime victims to survive and thrive.

Starting bright at early Saturday morning Crime Survivors began registering their over 1000 participants for the 8th annual Health and Safety Expo 5K.  This years numbers almost doubled over those last year including approximately 1500 attendees, 130 vendors and about 108 volunteers.  After a wonderful invocation by Jim Palmer several speakers took a moment moments to introduce both themselves and discuss victims rights with the crowd.  There was then the Dove Release honoring those survivors and victims of violent crimes.  The dove releases is a very emotional and touching tribute to surviving and thriving.

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