Victims' rights 'still have far to go'

Attendees at the Crime Victims' Rights Week ceremony light candles to honor Vernon County victims. Nearly 75 people attended the ceremony, which included music and a guest speaker. Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

Advocacy for crime victims' rights has been a 30 year process, but speakers at Monday's Crime Victim's Rights Week ceremony said there's still more work to be done.

In honor of the national week of observance, the Vernon County Domestic Violence Task Force hosted a walk and ceremony memorializing area crime victims. The memorial service featured the names and pictures of crime victims, some as young as infants and others having died decades ago.

Katie Blaine, the statewide victim advocate coordinator, spoke with Vernon County residents Monday evening at the Crime Victims' Rights Week. Blaine works to improve victim advocacy services in Missouri. Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

Guest speaker Katie Blaine, the statewide victim advocate coordinator with the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, described 2013 crime in Vernon County. Last year, residents saw 207 burglaries, 152 domestic violence cases, 70 aggravated assaults and seven arsons.

"Many of you here know what that's like," she said.

Blaine, who worked for nearly eight years as a probation and parole officer and victim advocate, now travels the state helping crime victims navigate the legal process. Much of that work is done within 60 Missouri counties that do not offer a victim's advocate in their prosecuting attorney's office (Vernon County does have this service in place).

When she's not on the road or in a courtroom, Blaine is taking calls through the state's assistance phone line. On the phone, she walks victims through the aftermath of crimes, which frequently includes financial, medical and legal issues.

"Calls range from 'I need help with my water bill' to 'I don't know what to do next,'" Blaine said.

With more Missouri counties participating in the advocacy services Blaine offers, the number of calls has increased dramatically.

"We've come a long way, but still have far to go," Blaine said.

Martha Sander, of Council on Families in Crisis, said issues crime victims face -- the ones Blaine works to resolve -- leave deep physical and mental scars.

"No one chooses to be a victim of crime," she said.

While many victims and family members of victims attended the event, so did many crime offenders. Blaine had a specific message for those individuals.

"I hope you are open to change," she said.