Honoring victims, advocating for justice
Americans are preparing to observe 45th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which was first proclaimed in 1981 by President Reagan.
“This week brings people together to recognize the impact of crime, honor victims and survivors and renews our commitment to victims’ rights and services,” said Jeanne Dotts Brykalski, whose parents were victims of a violent crime in 1998.
In an email in the “loving memory of Les and Carol Dotts and all victims of violent crime and their loved ones,” Brykalski stated: “Crime deeply affects victims and survivors in many ways: physically, financially, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially. No one should have to face that trauma alone.
“Across the country, law enforcement, victim service programs and volunteer grass root organizations help survivors rebuild their lives and support public safety.
“This has not always been the case,” Brykalski observed. “In the State of Tennessee, victims of violent crime and/or their loved ones were not allowed to attend parole hearings and protest early release of the violent offenders who maimed or murdered them or their loved ones until the early 1990s.
“This change came about due to the efforts of law enforcement and several volunteer crime victims’ rights and advocacy groups,” she stated.
November 1998, the citizens of Tennessee voted in the Tennessee Victims Crime Bill of Rights by a 10 to 1 margin. One of the mandates gives victims and/or their loved ones the opportunity to give a victims’ impact statement at the trial of the accused offender, who has always had the right to have family and friends speak on their behalf.
“Unfortunately, this law was not in place when one of my parents’ murderers went to trial in January of 1998, Brykalski stated. “We were not allowed to say one word about how my parents’ (Les and Carol Dotts) defendants affected our family and what we were dealing with. But, the defendant’s family, friends and pastor were able say anything they wanted to the jury.”
In May of 2007, the Johnia Berry Act was passed, mandating when a person is arrested for a violent felony, law enforcement must collect a biological specimen for DNA analysis.
“This change also led to the arrest of Taylor Lee Olson on Sept. 24, 2007, for the brutal murder of Johnia Berry,” Brykalski stated. “Once again, this came about due to the efforts of law enforcement and volunteer crime victims’ rights and advocacy groups.
“The fight for crime victims’ rights does nothing to decrease the rights of the accused,” she added. “Laws protecting crime victims’ rights makes the criminal justice system more fair, equitable and transparent.”
During National Crime Victims’ Rights week, wearing a dark purple ribbon or tying one the antenna of your car or your mailbox shows compassion for victims of violent crime and their loved ones, and shows support for crime victims’ rights.
