Illinois Victims
Home Juvenile LWOP Prison/Parole VICTIM ISSUES IL POLITICAL NATIONAL Rockford Area Cook/collar counties Downstate Illinois In Memorium

If you are a VICTIM OF CRIME  in Illinois, Click Here for more information about resources and victims services
 

ILLINOISVICTIMS.org FRONT PAGE STORIES

IMPORTANT -Click here for information on the 2008 Crime Victims Rights Roundtable Events
Written Testimony can be submitted by anyone statewide until early June

 The Victims Rights Amendment to the Illinois Constitution needs to be "self-enforcing"-
Currently, it is NOT!
Here is language we submitted to change the Constitutional Amendment on Victims Rights

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Read details about the presentation of the second IllinoisVictims.org Victim Hero Award on April 23


POLITICAL / LEGISLATIVE HEADLINES

Illinois Congressman Rahm Emmanuel sponsors Federal Legislation to protect Victims' Jobs
when they have to take off work to go to Court - Click Here to support this national Bill

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SB 2254 PASSES THE SENATE!!
Urge the Illinois House to pass this pro-active bill to protect victims families who go before the
Prisoner Review Board - Help Us work to pass this important reform measure!

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APRIL 21 Long Term Prisoner Study Committee meeting cancelled
They are still debating possible plans to change release standards
for C number prisoners (HJR 80). Victims Families have not been notified!
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HB 4154 would allow early release for prisoners serving long term and life sentences
A PUBLIC HEARING was held in Springfield on April 30

But victims of these prisoners have not been notified!
Download a PDF our testimony to the committee

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Voting PRO-VICTIM in 2008
See what candidates we have vetted for their positions on Victim Issues and endorsed in the Fall Elections
 

"Juvenile Lifers"

LINK HERE to the new website for the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers
www.jlwopvictims.org


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 Click here for news on Victims Families and the murderers of their loved ones
when the offender was under the age of 18 and was sentenced to Life Without Parole in Illinois

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See names of victims we want to notify about this effort to free their loved ones' killers 

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PAROLE BLOCK HEADLINES
(for murder cases from before 1978 when Illinois still had indeterminate sentencing)

Illinois' longest serving killer, William Heirens, still comes up annually for parole - the constantly re-agonized family of young Suzanne Degnan still faithfully battles this case each year
Click Here to contact the Prisoner Review Board to oppose his release

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The murderer of Hillside Patrolman Anthony Raymond is coming up for a parole hearing with the Prisoner Review Board.  Join us in calling for no early release for Cop Killers.
Click here to view the letter his family wrote to ask for help
And  Click here to download a petition that you can circulate and send to the Prisoner Review Board

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Links to the  moving video on YouTube about the life and death of fallen Hero Mike Mayborne here
After only a few months off from this horrible annual process, the family of murdered Winnebago County Sheriff's Police Michael Mayborne is having to fight the parole once again of Bacino, his killer.
Please help his family and show your support for all of our fallen law enforcement heroes.

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In June, Simon Peter Nelson, who committed the most horrific crime in Rockford history, will be up for parole.  Read about what you can do here at the Rockford Register Star's website.
See our Rockford Area page for more cases in the Rockford area of Illinois

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COOK COUNTY RAPE VICTIM begs the Illinois Prisoner Review Board not to release her attacker who killed and raped multiple women and who is sentenced to 1,500 years in prison, yet inexplicably is up for release every year

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

All victims and victim advocates in Illinois should participate in this extraordinary opportunity:

The Victim Advocate for the Illinois Attorney General
is planning for special hearings around the state during April and May
that will allow victims to give input to improve victims laws and services
Written Testimony can be submitted until June

The Roundtable Discussions will include:

bullet

Personal experiences of victims, both positive and negative, via both oral and written testimony

bullet

Identification of issues and concerns regarding victims services

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Ideas for enforcement and vindication of victims rights in Illinois

HEARING #1 and #2, already completed, were in Chicago and Springfield

Three additional roundtables will follow in May and June in other Illinois cities
to be posted soon here and on the Attorney General's website

IllinoisVictims.org submitted important testimony
and participated in the planning for this series of programs to allow victims
to share their experiences of what is good and bad about victims rights enforcement,
victims services and laws pertaining to victim issues, around the state.
Victims can submit any written testimony and make up to three minutes of oral testimony
on any topic of concern - Share what you have learned to make victims rights better in Illinois!


Contact the Victim Advocate for the Attorney General with questions

IllinoisVictims.org has already begun meeting with Senator John Milner and other pro-victim members of the Illinois General Assembly about sponsoring legislation to improve victims rights in our state-
more details will be coming soon!

 

OTHER VICTIM and MEDIA HEADLINES

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See our "In the News" page

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See Media Coverage of our IllinoisVictims.org 2008 HERO AWARD winner

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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN OF VICTIMS!
The Peyton Tuthill Foundation, non-profit, 501(c)3, in memory of Peyton Tuthill,
daughter of Pat Tuthill of Florida, will be giving 4 - $1000 college scholarships
to children who have been left behind by homicide.
Applications may be downloaded from the web site at www.peytontuthill.org
and are currently being accepted.

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Great Video on YouTube that shows a little of what Restorative Justice is about

 

And The IllinoisVictims.org Hero Award Goes To:

                                          2007

IllinoisVictims.org's first annual Victims' Hero Award was presented to Cook County States Attorney Richard Devine at press conference in his offices on Monday, October 15, 2007.  Shown here are the victims' family members in attendance - representing all phases of the criminal justice process.:  Barbara McKee, Bill Jenkins, Betty Degnan Finn, Jeanne Bishop, Denise Reed, and Jaquie Algee. Mr. Devine stated that it will be one of his most treasured awards and that he will continue to be involved in protecting victims' rights even in his retirement.  Read Details here

Send us your nominees to receive this award

2008

Click Here for MEDIA coverage and more for our Second IllinoisVictims.org
HERO AWARD recipient
Winnebago County Victim Advocate Barbara Stone

In attendance in Rockford were dozens of victims family members who have lost loved ones due to homicide. Barbara Stone received her award that evening from grateful victims families, with excellent media coverage. We remain grateful to the Rockford area news media for always giving victims issues excellent coverage so consistently!

Barb Stone is a model Victim Advocate working in her county for the States Attorney. She goes above and beyond the call every day. She is a true friend and not only does her job, but works proactively and at a statewide level to make sure that all victims rights are protected, and that all victims and families have support. We love you, Barb!

 
Why We Are Here

We are a group of victims of violent crime, many with offenders serving sentences in Illinois.  We have affiliated ourselves with the National Coalition of Victims in Action as part of a nationwide network of victim activists..

We know it is an absolute right that victims should be empowered to be heard in all matters, if they wish, that would affect their interests. Often matters affecting victims, such as legislation and prison release, happen without the affected victims being told. We have created this website as a clearinghouse of information to help all crime victims in Illinois know about, and be able to act on, if they wish, any matters of interest to their lives.

Like the tragedies that brought us unwillingly into the victim community, the actions and initiatives of others, beyond our control, have once again drawn us against our wills into activism as we work to respond to their challenges to peace for victims' lives.

We understand the term "victim" not to be one of disempowerment but a legal description that should empower us to stand up for the rights we have been guaranteed in state constitutions and statutes. We respond to concerns about our well-being and public safety.

Part of our function is as a victims rights watchdog group to keep an eye on the actions and initiatives of those who may not understand or accept how they would affect victims and survivors of crime.  We will attempt to communicate information on legislation, Department of Corrections, prison reform groups, and any other activity that might be of interest to victims in Illinois and which may call for action or input by those families. 

Please send us any items of interest that you would like to see included in this information clearinghouse. Anything of concern to victims is appropriate for this website.

This website, though serving many victims' issues, has been created primarily out of the need to find and inform victims of Illinois serious violent crimes about proposed changes in the prison sentences they were promised that the offenders in their cases would serve.

If you are one of these categories of victims, please contact us for important information about pending legislation that will affect you:
1. A murder victim's family member or friend whose loved one's killer is serving a long term (25 years or more)or life sentence in Illinois.
2. A murder victim's family member or friend whose loved one's killer was under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.
3. A victim advocate that works with victims of Illinois crime that fall into one of the above categories.
You should know more about the proposals making their way before the Illinois Legislature that would retroactively change their fixed sentences without a court or an appeal, and without notifying you, the victims or the public, that such a change is being proposed.

What We Believe

bulletWe believe in the rights of victims as enumerated in the Illinois Constitution, Federal Statutes, and International Standards, and that they should be enforced.
 
bulletWe believe that Victims should be fully notified of, and have input in, all matters regarding their case, unless they choose not to, in enough advance time for them to prepare appropriate input. This should include every phase of the criminal justice process, from the original crime to the absolute end of the case, and even after if new matters affecting it arise.
 
bulletWe believe that there are inadequate measures in place to notify victims of their rights and protect those rights at an institutional level.  Greater availability and notification of these rights should be the norm.  Victims should be far more empowered than they are.
 
bulletWe believe that a thorough Restorative Justice process, which focuses on healing the victims, should be encouraged to take place whenever possible and reasonable between victims and offenders. Restorative Justice has been demonstrated to be very helpful to victims and in preventing other crimes. This should especially be the case when offenders are seeking early release or re-entering society from serving prison terms. Restorative Justice has proven to be most effective when used in other nations.
 
bulletWe believe that people can change and we hope that in prison, after victimizing people, offenders will work to rehabilitate. But we know that prisons are not places that emphasize rehabilitation, nor does our society focus as it should.  Rehabilitation as a process for offenders cannot truly take place without full accountability to the victims of their crimes. Offenders who want to demonstrate that they have rehabilitated should be given opportunities even within the prison to work to make restitution to their victims. They should be moved, as they improve, to prisons of lesser security with more programs that allow them to help others, and they should be allowed to apologize to their victims, only if the victims wish to receive that apology.
 
bulletWe believe that punishment and rehabilitation are separate issues.  Prison sentences are a reflection of societal outrage over behaviors not tolerated. Punishment by serving prison terms often is an appropriate reaction to very serious wrong-doing. We believe society has a right to develop policies aimed at behavior management and public safety.
 
bulletWe believe that the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, which has significant power over the 48,000 prisoners serving in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and almost no mechanisms for accountability,  should be balanced to represent the interests of victims, public safety, law enforcement, and inmates. We believe that there should be at least one victim serving on the PRB representing the vital interests of victims, as well as prosecutors, law enforcement, and psychiatrists. The PRB has often been criticized for having patronage appointees.
 
bulletWe believe more understanding, resources, and improved mechanisms for dealing with victims and accountability to victims need to be created in all levels and functions of government in the State of Illinois that deal with victims of crime.
 
bulletWe believe that in order for the Constitution to work with its system of checks and balances, we need a clemency system in Illinois that works to address those rare cases of error in the Judicial system. We believe that of the hundreds of petitions sent to the Prisoner Review Board every year only a very few are genuinely worthy of consideration. We believe that prisoners should voluntarily limit themselves to clemency appeals that are truly legitimate legally, morally, and ethically in order to not unduly tax or clog the system that is designed ultimately for their benefit.  We believe that the clemency system should be de-politicized for Governors in general. And we believe that for the most part, people who commit crimes should serve the sentences they have been given.
 
bulletWe believe that the Legislature, with a fully engaged and informed public, is where the appropriate sentence for all categories of crime should be determined. We believe that a Court of Law, where due process of law is protected, is the appropriate place for individual sentence for a given criminal to be determined. We do not believe that other entities with no public accountability or due process rights should be able to determine sentences for offenders.
 
bulletWe believe that in prisoner's cases where there are questions of innocence or over-sentencing, we should have a legal system that can reliably address those issues through judicial appeals and a working clemency process. Only then can Due Process be protected. Bringing back parole and indeterminate sentencing to Illinois is not the way to correct those problems - it is anti-victim, wildly discriminatory, and a massive and unwieldy bureaucracy. Illinois did away with indeterminate sentencing in the late 70's, partially because it is so hard on victims, and a lot due to the inherent inequities of the system, such as rampant racism.
 
bulletWe believe that law enforcement, prosecutors, court officials, and everyone who works in the criminal justice system have some of the most difficult and thankless jobs in the world.  Inevitably, human institutions will be flawed, but we should all work together to achieve the best possible legal system for building and protecting our communities.
 
bulletWe believe that the focus in Illinois and everywhere should be on PREVENTION of crime and violence, and that our resources should reflect that. It is "penny wise and pound foolish" to spend millions on prisons and punishment, when much less financial investment on prevention measures will not only save money but lives - of victims as well as offenders.
 

Our Campaign to Bring All Courthouses into Compliance with Illinois Law with regards to Posting a copy of Victim's Rights

We have not checked all the county courthouses in the state, but the many we have checked are not in compliance with a state law that requires them to post a copy of what Rights Victims have under the Illinois Constitution.

We have seen in every courthouse, however, the required postings of defendant's rights.

We wonder, why is it that county courthouses all over the state can follow one part of the law in this regard, but ignore the most important people of all in the criminal justice process - the victims?

Illinois Law clearly states:

 A statement and explanation of the rights of crime victims set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section shall be given to a crime victim at the initial contact with the criminal justice system by the appropriate authorities and shall be conspicuously posted in all court facilities.

We believe that all 102 States' Attorneys will have to work separately at the county level to ensure compliance with this law, that we know for a fact is not generally being complied with, and is in fact, being totally ignored. We are grateful that candidates for the upcoming race for States Attorney in Cook County including Larry Suffredin and Bob Milan have promised to make an issue of this.

We will also suggest to Attorney General Lisa Madigan that her office investigate the non-compliance with this state law by courthouses all over the state.

The bottom line is this: the law was created because every day scared, hurting, vulnerable people whose lives have often been brutally victimized for the first time walk into an Illinois Courthouse. They need to know what they can expect!

This is one of the most crucial times in their lives. They need good information. They may be lucky enough to be receiving victims' services, but that system is overburdened in most parts of the state, and non-existent in others. Click here to take action.

 

Following are your rights as a crime victim under the Illinois Constitution:

SECTION 8.1.  CRIME VICTIM'S RIGHTS.
    (a)  Crime victims, as defined by law, shall have the following rights as provided by law:
         (1)  The right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process.
         (2)  The right to notification of court proceedings.
         (3)  The right to communicate with the prosecution.
         (4)  The right to make a statement to the court at sentencing.
         (5)  The right to information about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and release of the accused.
         (6)  The right to timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused.
         (7)  The right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process.
         (8)  The right to be present at the trial and all other court proceedings on the same basis as the accused, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at the trial.
         (9)  The right to have present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate or other support person of the victim's choice.
         (10)  The right to restitution.

These rights are supposed to be made known to all crime victims in Illinois from the FIRST point of contact with the "system" - either police, prosecutors, victim advocates, or some other public entity.

But we know this is NOT happening, consistently, or even generally. Educating all public employees to their legal and ethical obligations in this matter is vital.

Until victims rights, protected constitutionally just as the rights of the accused, are as high a priority to those who respond to crime and crisis, people will continue to be hurt and suffer needlessly. Everyone knows the Miranda warnings, and other trial rights for the guilty. But how many people know the rights of crime victims, the innocents? 

"Justice will only be achieved when those who are not injured by crime feel as indignant as those who are."
                                                -Solomon (635-577 B.C.
)

 

"Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for the timid or weak... Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win."
  
  ~ Cesar Chavez (Activist and Labor Organizer)


 

 

 

Contact Us

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Important Resources for Victims of Crime in Illinois and Elsewhere

 

Illinois Victim Groups Meetings
(send us any meeting info to post)

Support Groups for Families
(sessions divide by age)
Victim Witness Assistance Program of Cook County
2650 S California - 13th Floor
Chicago, IL, 773-869-5321
Meets April 19, May 17, June 21


Parents Of Murdered Children (POMC)
Chicago Chapter

POMC
Little Company of Mary Hospital
2800 W. 95th St
Evergreen Park, IL
773-660-9659

 

POMC Westside Chapter
Monthly Meetings at:
Mount Sinai Hospital
California Ave at 15th St, Chicago
Third Tuesday of every month
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Samantha Glover, Chapter leader
708-576-8326
Emma Daviston, Co-Leader
773-521-7329


ROCKFORD AREA
Homicide Victims Support Group


Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS)
Illinois Chapter

 

PURPOSE OVER PAIN
Chicago area victims working for violence prevention


 Chicago Catholic Charities sponsors LOSS
Loving outreach to

Survivors of Suicide

312-655-7283

SENIOR SUPPORT GROUP
Bridgeview Courthouse
10220 S 76th Ave Room 223
Bridgeview, IL
773-869-7215
April 19, May 17, June 21

 

Action Alerts

Take Action to Protect Victims' Rights in Illinois

Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors Parole Watch - Sign Petitions Here
 

Post Victims' Rights in all Illinois Courthouses as prescribed by law


Murder Is Not Entertainment:
a project of POMC (Parents of Murdered Children)

Host a "Lie-In"
in support of the Virginia Tech Victims and protest easy access to guns by criminals

Victim Activists at Work AROUND THE NATION:

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MADD Victim Services
Mothers Against Drunk Driving


Fight Crime:  Invest in Kids
 

Parents of a Virginia Tech Victim
ANGELFUNDVA.ORG
 

New York Victims Voices
 

YOU HAVE THE POWER
in Tennessee

The Violent Trauma Awareness Project
www.vtap.org

in California
 

Carrie Freitag's Book
Aftermath in the Wake of Murder



Crime Victims United of California
 

Colorado Crime Victims - COVA


National Coalition of Victims in Action


The Polly Franks Foundation
where you can help with Operation Fuzzy Wuzzy for child victims of sexual abuse


Linking With Victims for Change - Gun Violence


Debra Puglisi Sharp's Story of Survival
 

Children of Homicide Victims can apply for scholarships at www.peytontuthill.org


The Peacemaking Work of Azim Khamisa
National, based in California


Victims for Justice
Alaskans working for
victims' rights


Lucy Logan's
Who Killed Our Kids
 
work on unsolved murders
in Cinncinnati


Maggie Doran, St Paul, MN 
The Ben Doran Foundation


Debbie Parnham's LIFESENTENCE
in Arizona

Victims promoting self-defense at
www.girlsfightback.com


Bereaved Parents of the USA  
Find Chapters all over the nation


Murder Victims Families for Human Rights

and their blog discussing death penalty issues and victims
www.mvfhr.blogspot.com
 

The Sonoma County Survivor Project
"Listening for a Change"

 

A Survivor of the Virginia Tech Massacre has put out a safety alarm backpack for students

www.peytontuthill.org
has scholarships for children
of homicide victims

The Willie Williams Youth Foundation in Chicago
with sports and positive programs to keep youth off the streets

 

Rainbow PUSH Coalition
in 10 US Cities works to help victims and crime prevention

 

South Carolina Victim
Assistance Network

Victims Voices Heard
runs an "apology letter bank"

 

WITNESS JUSTICE
is a national victim advocacy organization based in Maryland 

 

 

Download a PDF version of IllinoisVictims.org fact sheet for distribution and reference

 

The Best Resource for
Victims of Traumatic Loss

new front cover.jpg (10416 bytes)

Information for ordering copies
of What to Do When the Police
Leave:  A Guide to the First
Days of Traumatic Loss

Victims and Victim Issues
 IN THE NEWS

Victims' voices are not silent in Illinois.

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