Remarks by John W. Gillis
Director, Office for Victims of Crime

NOVA Forum
National Organization for Victim Assistance
Washington, DC

Friday, April 19, 2002

Thank you and good afternoon. For those of you whom I've not had the chance to meet, my name is John Gillis and I'm the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime in the Department of Justice. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to be here to help NOVA and the victims' field kick off National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

During my 7 months at OVC, I have had the opportunity to hear from many of you about the good work you are doing and about your ideas for improving the Office's response to the needs of victims. Like many of you, I came into this business in the wake of personal tragedy. While I was serving as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, my daughter, Louarna, was murdered as part of a gang buy-in. Since that day, I have worked not just for victims' basic legal rights, but for full acknowledgment and respect for victims' dignity and humanity.

Three days ago, we had the honor of seeing the President and Attorney General honor five individuals, one couple and three organizations, for their outstanding service to crime victims. We are fortunate to be joined by representatives of one of those organizations today–Aid for Victims of Crime. I'd like to take a moment to recognize Carol Vittert, the founder of Aid, Ed Stout, its director, and its fine staff. Thank you for your work.

Aid for Victims of Crime opened its doors in 1972 along with two other programs–the Bay Area Rape Crisis Center in San Francisco and the D.C. Rape Crisis Center. Collectively, they launched the victims' movement. Thirty years later, they continue to reach out and to serve victims with compassion and commitment.

As most of you know, this year marks yet another important anniversary. Twenty years ago, President Ronald Reagan's Task Force on Victims of Crime released its Final Report, a compilation of 68 recommendations to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, clergy members, mental health providers, and other disciplines, on ways to improve their response to victims. The capstone of that report was a recommendation for a constitutional amendment that would guarantee certain basic rights for victims. It is fitting that, during Tuesday's ceremony, President Bush gave his endorsement of such an amendment, saying, "Victims of violent crime have important rights that deserve protection in our Constitution." With bipartisan support in Congress, I am hopeful that we will soon see that dream become a reality.

In the meantime, I have a duty to administer the charges of my position, and that includes supporting the thousands of hardworking men and women across the country who serve crime victims every day. There is no more fitting time than now, in the aftermath of September 11th, for us in OVC and the victim service field to return to the principles that have guided us so successfully, and to listen again to the voices of victims. It was, after all, those voices that opened the eyes of the Nation to the plight of crime victims. It is in this spirit of returning to our roots–our grass roots–that I am working to direct the Office for Victims of Crime.

The impetus of the victims' movement is the uncompromising spirit in which advocates have labored to raise the standing of victims in the criminal justice process. Though their efforts have resulted in a tremendous proliferation of good victims' rights laws, the application of those laws is uneven. Even amendments to state constitutions do not always carry the full force they reflect on the books. I am committed to following through on behalf of victims, seeking to enhance resources and change attitudes and practices. I will support efforts to strengthen compliance with victims' rights laws and to ensure that victims have access to competent legal representation.

Because the strength of the victim service field lies in the talent, compassion, ingenuity, and determination of providers on the local level–the men and women who live and work in the communities they serve–I will devote OVC's funding resources to bolstering their efforts. Rural areas, inner-city neighborhoods, and other underserved populations like the elderly, Native Americans, and people with disabilities, will find opportunities with us. I will lend our help in building and expanding service networks in high-crime areas, make technical assistance available to rural law enforcement agencies, and enlist the aid of the faith community in reaching out to victims.

Victims often never see traditional victim service providers. In many cases, a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, clergy member, social worker, medical professional, or mental health provider will be the person to whom a victim will tell his or her story. Unfortunately, these professionals rarely receive the education and training they need to respond appropriately. I will target groups for training and education but I will also ensure cross discipline opportunities that will enrich their professional development.

The victims' field owes its success to the adaptability of its practitioners, who make whole careers out of borrowing from, building on, and improving approaches implemented elsewhere. OVC is in a unique position to facilitate the exchange of information between programs about practices that work. I recognize the tremendous contributions made by organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and programs like Triad and Court Appointed Special Advocates, and I will encourage partnerships with tribes to develop similar practices in Indian Country. I will also help disability service organizations develop victim service capacity, and will create stronger links with law enforcement by supporting pilot projects in sites across the country.

Perhaps the greatest asset of the victim assistance community is the powerful testimony of victims themselves. The stories told by and about victims have inspired countless pieces of legislation, spurred the creation of innumerable programs, driven public policy, and changed the hearts of offenders. I plan to let victims' voices be our guide and have already begun a series of roundtable meetings to hear their concerns and ideas. I also do not want to lose the ideas that brought us here, so I also plan to document the experiences of victims and advocates. In addition, I recognize the need to market our cause and will take measures to improve outreach to the public.

Finally, the fact that victim service providers rely so heavily on the experiences of their peers across the country means that a thorough analysis of those experiences is not only helpful but critical. I believe that it is incumbent on OVC to provide the field with the best information about how programs work. To that end, I will make evaluation an important part of every OVC program. In the next month, OVC will announce its Fiscal Year 2002 Discretionary Application Kit, which will reflect my vision for the Office. I encourage you all to review it once it is released and to consider applying for the programs it advertises.

The cause of justice for victims was elevated to a new level on Tuesday. I am proud to serve an Administration that recognizes the significance, not only of victims' rights, but of victims themselves. But I am also proud to be working by your side and representing your interests. As the Attorney General has said, "You have made a difference in the lives of victims and in the strength of your communities and of your nations." And for that, I thank you.

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