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Press Release by Witness Justice in Non-profit
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Attempted Murder Victim Establishes First National Organization to Directly Help Survivors of Crime -- New Nonprofit Organization “Witness Justice” To Provide an Anonymous Virtual Community of Support While Leveling Disparity in Victim Services
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This press release is about: organization, justice, information, survivors, witness, support, victim, victims, “witness, crime, attempted
2002-12-07, Witness Justice - Attempted Murder Victim Establishes First National Organization to Directly Help Survivors of Crime -- New Nonprofit Organization “Witness Justice” To Provide an Anonymous Virtual Community of Support While Leveling Disparity in Victim Services Washington, DC – The launch of Witness Justice will mark the inception of the first U.S. national organization directly serving survivors of violent crime by providing direct access to comprehensive information and support regardless of where they live or when they may need help. The organization, founded by attempted murder victim Helga West, was created to give victims of violent crime a chance to connect with and help one another via online message boards and chats, to provide a clearinghouse of information and resources to help individuals through every aspect of the judicial system, to help with the physical/emotional healing processes, and to provide friends and family members of victims with valuable tools and information to better support their victimized loved ones. With 58% of violent crime victims not even reporting their crimes, many individuals never find their way to traditional service providers through law enforcement or state attorney’s offices. Witness Justice will be accessible 24/7 and provides a much-needed consistency in services and information that often varies dramatically from state to state and county to county. Regardless of an individual`s ability to report their crime, Witness Justice will be there to help them cope with what has happened and to find a personal sense of justice and healing. Witness Justice will be launched as a virtual organization, providing a full scope of resources and information including: * The First 24 Hours (understanding what has happened and establishing a critical sense of immediate physical and emotional safety) * Steps to healing * Direct access to experts (mental health, legal, spiritual, relationship, etc.) * A virtual community (message boards where survivors can connect) * Materials to help survivors navigate the criminal justice system * Information for friends and family * Advocate for Survivors (legislative information and advocacy) As reflected in the name “Witness Justice,” the organization focuses on empowering witnesses – people who have survived a violent act and live on. “Describing victims as witnesses is intentional, as it puts survivors in more of an active role with some control,” West noted. “This is important in reestablishing safety and esteem.” “Witness Justice” also reflects the organization’s mission to help every victim to witness his or her own personal sense of justice and recovery, regardless of their ability to work within the criminal justice system. West has first-hand knowledge of why Witness Justice is so important and needed in communities around the country. Nearly 10 years ago she fell victim to a random and vicious attempted murder that left an array of physical and emotional damage in its wake. The physical injuries West sustained left her in danger of paralysis — with neurological damage, extreme back and neck pain, and debilitating migraine headaches that continue to this day. Wanting to see her assailant off the streets and away from other potential victims, West also pursued justice with detectives and state officials. It was during this process that she learned first-hand about the many frustrations victims feel when encountering our judicial system, and the gap in services offered. In addition to waiting three years for an assailant to go through a jury trial, she encountered an array of delays and postponements, along with other frustrations including lost evidence. West has also faced the recurring need to work with state officials to maintain justice in seeing the defendant serve his full life sentence — something that many survivors encounter as their convicted assailants seek appeals, hearings, and early parole. She knows the reality that defendants aren’t the only ones “serving a sentence”; survivors too must face years of healing, as well as having to painfully return to memories of the violent crime when working with the justice system. After enduring much of her experience alone and hearing many all-too-familiar stories from other victims, West decided to create Witness Justice to provide the support and community that survivors need but frequently do not get or can not find. “I’ve often thought about how helpful it would be to have a network of people who have lived through this kind of nightmare — to ask questions, share stories, vent, offer solutions, or just gain a sense of connection and understanding,” says West. “Witness Justice ensures that every person has the support and information they need, when they need it, and are ready to start the long road to rebuilding their life and a sense of self and wellbeing.” Witness Justice is a national nonprofit organization founded in April 2002 by Helga West. The mission of the organization is to empower survivors of violent crime with the information, support, and tools needed to establish a sense of personal justice and healing. For more information about Witness Justice, please visit www.WitnessJustice.org (launch scheduled for December 16, 2002) or call 800-4WJ-HELP.
Source: PR Web™
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