Governor creates Crime Victim Advocate to fight for victim &
Governor creates Crime Victim Advocate to fight for victim and family rights Today Governor Schwarzenegger will sign an Executive Order establishing a Crime Victim Advocate to coordinate state victim service programs, collaborate with key stakeholders, and to become the lead state advocate on policy impacting crime victims. He will be joined by victims' rights groups including Crime Victims United, the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau, Memory of Victims Everywhere, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. This event will be web cast live at 2:45pm at: http://www.governor.ca.gov. Bridging the gap between victims' services The Crime Victim Advocate is a new position that will link the efforts of state agencies and departments on crime victims' issues. · The position is housed in the Governor's office, emphasizing his continued personal commitment to action on behalf of crime victims and their families. · The Advocate will identify victims' needs and review existing services, collaborate with stakeholders-including victim services' and advocacy groups, law enforcement, district attorneys, parole agents, probation officers, and the courts-and recommend a statewide plan within 150 days of appointment. · The Advocate will also create a long-term strategic plan and act as California's lead advocate on policies impacting crime victims' issues. An unshakable commitment to helping victims and fighting crime The Governor pledged that victims' rights would be a top priority throughout his administration. His actions have resulted in: Tougher laws · In 2004, the Governor signed legislation expanding victims' rights; strengthening Megan's Law; giving victims the last word at parole hearings; protecting the confidentiality of a victim's sexual history; improving victims treatment; and strengthening restitution laws. · In 2005, he signed legislation creating the California Sexual Violence Victim Services Fund; preventing registered sex offenders from becoming massage therapists; requiring that victims' ages and profiles be considered when sexually violent predators are placed in outpatient treatment; and prohibiting predators from living within a quarter mile of any K-12 school or obtaining erectile dysfunction drugs at taxpayer expense. Higher restitution · Under Governor Schwarzenegger, California is collecting an average of $1.3 million per month in restitution payments for victims from criminal offenders behind bars. · He raised inmate wage garnishments and oversaw a historic collaboration to increase restitution collections from discharged offenders. Critical improvements · The Governor's successful push for reorganization at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has resulted in key victims' service improvements, including: o Standardizing the CDCR Training Academy's victims' rights and services curricula o Creating a Victim Advisory Council to review CDCR's policies and their impact on victims o Issuing a new, improved handbook to prepare victims and families for what they'll encounter when attending "lifer" hearings Laying down Jessica's Law for all California kids · In 2005 the Governor proposed the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act, known as "Jessica's Law." If passed on the November ballot, it will impose the most stringent sex offender laws in the country. · The law strengthens punishments; expands parole periods; keeps sex offenders away from schools, parks and playgrounds; provides tools for tracking paroled offenders; and toughens punishments for "date rape" drugs, child pornography, and using the Internet to lure children. A budget backing victims and law enforcement Governor's Schwarzenegger's proposed 2006-2007 budget includes: · $9.8 million for six new Gang Suppression Teams · $8 million for Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Forces (SAFE Teams) · $6.6 million for District Attorneys to represent victims during the parole revocation hearing process · $5.1 million to add 500 Global Positioning System devices to track high-risk parolees · $1 million for victim services during the parole revocation hearing process · $1 million to reestablish the Board of Parole Hearings Appeal Unit In 2005, the California District Attorneys Association presented Governor Schwarzenegger with the Fiat Justicia Ruat Coelum award for his dedication to victims' rights and his support of California's Three Strikes Law. For more information on the Governor's record, and to learn more about state resources for crime victims, visit www.SupportingCrimeVictims.com. ============================ Laura Braden Dlugacz Deputy Communications Director Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 916-445-1682 laura.dlugacz@gov.ca.gov