Victims Rights free essay sample

Victims’ Rights paper Sandee Maige CJA 313 Contemporary Issues In Criminal Justice Professor Hale May 20, 2010 As Americans in the United States we [Use we, us, or our to mean yourself and coauthors, not general humanity (or yourself and the reader)] are entitled [The passive voice is a form of be (are) and a participle (entitled). Over-use of the passive voice can make paragraphs tedious to read and officious. Try to use the active voice most often, e. g. , the student completed the paper on time. The passive voice versionThe paper was completed on time by the studentSee eCampusCWETutorials GuidesGrammar Writing GuidesActive passive voice] and fortunate to have rights if we [Place comma before this word if this is the end of the introductory phrase (beginning with As)] are a victim of a crime. Over the years victims’ have been part of the legal system but have often been ignored. Candice founded a non-profit organization with many other distraught mothers known as, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). This organization sought to support families and victims of drunk driving and to educate the community on the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking. A few things that MADD is greatly responsible for is lower the blood alcohol level from . 10 to . 08, forcing people to consume less alcohol If they plan on operaung a vehicle. MADD claims that drunken driving accidents have been cut in half since the founding by Llghtner A man lost his son to a serial killer. His son, Adam was kidnapped and murdered In 1981. This man used his horrific experience inspired him to create a show which broadcasts law enforcements most wanted criminals, and allows the viewer to call In tips In order to ald in catching the criminals. This man Is John Walsh. HIS son Adam, who was six years old, was abducted from a department store in Florida. Weeks after the abduction Adams severed head was found far from his home, but the rest of his body was never found. This prompted Walshs mission to aid and assist in catching criminals. This launched the popular television show, Americas Most wanted. Walsh was also responsible for founding the Missing children Act of 1982 and the Missing Childrens Assistance Act of 1984. His non-profits are responsible to aiding many missing and exploited children and their loved ones, let alone police officials. Dominique Dunne was an up and coming actress in the early 1980s. She Is only known for her role in Poltergeist. An ex-boyfriend out of a fit of rage strangled Dominique Dunne. She was pronounced brain dead at the age of twenty-two, Dominick Dunne, kept a Journal of his account of the trial proceedings of John Sweeney, the man convicted of killing his daughter. The Journal was published to a famous magazine. Dominiques mother, Ellen, founded a victims rights group following the trial, Justice for Homicide Victims. These efforts strive to make sure certaln rlgnts are given to tne vlctlms 0T tnese vlclous crlmes, ana to make tne community aware of such trials. A father lost his daughter at the age of twelve when she was kidnapped and subsequently murdered. After the death of his daughter, Polly Klass, Marc started a foundation in honor of his daughter. The foundation, KlaasKids Foundation, helped parents cope after their children have been abducted. In lieu of the murder California adapted a three strikes law, which states habitual offenders will receive harsher sentences for each crime they commit. Sunny von Bulow was given a lethal dose of insulin, which resulted in poisoning and overdose. Her husband Claus was first convicted of the crime, but it was verturned and then he was found not guilty. Sunny remained in a coma for twenty eight years before she passed. Her children, Ala and Alexander were Sunnys biggest advocates. They filed a civil suit against their father and eventually reached a settlement outside of court. Later they created a foundation called Sunny von Bulow National Victim Advocacy Center, which later turned, into, National Center for Victims of Crime. This foundation focused on ensuring that victims of crimes could not be re- victimized. This program was fundamentally started to give victims a voice in the riminal Justice system, and more importantly give them a voice in the case that they were a victim of. Jeanne Clery headed off to college at Lehigh University to start her freshman year at age nineteen. In 1986 she was brutally assaulted and then murdered in her dorm room. At first the university tried to down play the crime and release very little information to the rest of the university and in fact her parents. This is where the The Jeanne Clery Act was so that universities were required to release information to the pubic and the universities. It also increased security policies within the university to protect individuals more. The assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan was the shot heard around the world. The infamous John Hickley Jr. tried to kill the president; he was considered to be extremely mentally ill and was even given the not guilty by reason of insanity conviction. James Brady the press secretary was among those shot that day. He used his almost near-death attempt into working towards restrictions on gun availability. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act were both founded upon Bradys belief that there should be more strict regulations taken for gun control. Carolyn McCarthy was originally working as a practicing nurse. In 1993 and husband and child were the victims of an armed assailant on a commuter train way. Unfortunately her husband, Dennis, was shot to death and her son Kevin suffered extreme injuries, but lived. She took her experience to the White House. Her campaign was to advocate for more gun control and her efforts landed her on the House of Representatives where she was able to work hard to pass her campaign. This social workers whose Job it was to work with those who are troubled found herself to live through something quite troubling. Her young son was shot many times and killed by a street gang. He was not a target of anything; it was Just a senseless brutal killing. This social worker then devoted her life to helping those troubled children, many like those who killed her son. She believed that if these children had an outlet, and someone who cared for them perhaps their lives would be different. In 1994, seven-year-old Megan Kanka was brutally raped and murdered lust Teet Trom ner nouse. Megan was raped ana Klllea Dy a convlctea sex offender. Due to the overwhelming community rage based on this crime this sparked a otification law. The law was fondly referred to as, Megans Law. This law would notify people in the neighbor of sex offenders residing in the area. This made it a requirement for every sex offender to register himself or herself, and for the public to have knowledge of their personal information and their crimes. Lisa Hullinger was brutally murdered by her boyfriend in 1978. Her parents, Bob and Charlotte turned to their local priest for answers. He was able to put them in touch with other families whose children had been murdered. This is where the Parents of Murdered Children was founded. This group goes throughout the United States and some portions of other countries. The group is used so parents can get together, tell their stories, and grieve together while supporting one another. A young woman was brutally murdered, her parents searched for answers not only for her but also for other victims. Her parents got together to form a group of people who are not only advocates but also the victims of these brutal crimes. The point of the group was surrounded on the victim, to make sure their rights are recognized. They also focus greatly on crime prevention. They are most known for their slogan, of the victims, by he victims, and for the victims. In 1975, a non-profit group, National Organization for Victim Assistance, or Nova, was founded. This group is one of the longest standing victim advocacy groups in the United States. The purpose of the group is not only to help people understand why crimes they are a victim of, but to give them resources, and tools in order to cope with these cries. Nova also offers a crisis response team option. This is to ai d people who are victims in a sudden situation and get them the adequate help that they need. HAWC, Healing Abuse working for change, was more ommonly known before as Home for Abused Women and Children. This is an organization that is founded out of the North Shore of Massachusetts. It gives aid, services, and relief to all of those who are suffering from domestic abuse. When it was first founded women were commonly thought of the only ones who were abused domestically, but it can be women, men, and children. This group can provide shelter, food, clothing, and even medical care for those who find their home or domestic life is no longer safe due to violence. There are many groups known worldwide, many in the United States and many abroad.