‘Survivors’ of crime honored

Shoes lined the steps and circled the fountain in front of the City Hall Saturday to symbolize walking in both victims’ and survivors’ shoes at the second annual Jerry Good Victims’ Rights Awareness Project.

The local event is held in conjunction with National Crimes Victims’ Rights Week, a campaign to give voice to crime victims and their advocates.

“The shoes acknowledge them. We like to call them survivors, not victims, because of what they have overcome,” said Vanessa Irles, a victim’s assistance program specialist.

Irles said she focused this year on the sun. “The sun represents a new day,” she said. “We all share the same sun; they are never alone.”

Mary Witkofski, community programs manager, said Jerry Good founded the city’s Victims’ Rights Awareness Project and started volunteering in 2008.

Police Chief Steve Stahl said the program’s goal is to restore the balance of justice for victims. That’s possible, he said, by giving victims dignity.

“These are not easy, casual stories to share; the simple first step is believing these stories,” Stahl said. “Each victim needs to know that we want to help.”

“We don’t stand behind you, we stand up with you,” Stahl said.

Council member Peg Chapados said the simple ABC’s need to be followed.

”A is for attitude; how we treat our women, how we respect each other. B is for believing; there needs to stop being that shred of doubt when it comes to wondering if that person is really a victim or not. C is for compassion; you can’t always put yourself in a victim’s place,” Chapados said.

The process of helping victims has come a long way, she said, but there is still a ways to go before it is perfected. People need to remember that the memory of what happened is going to remain with the victims.

“It’s not one day there and the next day gone, it’s there with you. It’s with them day in and day out,” Chapados said.

Shawn Cox, victim witness coordinator, said in the past 30 years resources have grown greatly and she has watched cultures change in an “amazing transformation.”

“Victims used to be treated like a piece of evidence. Rights are meaningful to them,” Cox said.

Cox said that victim advocates are the ones to link victims to what is going on in the system; they are the glue that hold everything together.

“It is so humbling to work with these families and give these people a voice. It is so important for them to have a voice,” Cox said.

Steve Twist, author of the Arizona Victims’ Bill of Rights, spoke Saturday.

“Rights for victims need to be enshrined the same way that those of the defendants are,” Twist said.

Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles presented Rosie Kuzmic with the award of appreciation for victim services at the end of the speeches for her involvement in victim services.

This year’s Rights Awareness Project was sponsored by the city of Maricopa, AAI- Against Abuse Inc. and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office.