Photos of just a few of the many murder victims who are loved ones of IllinoisVictims.org

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN TO AMEND THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION!
Make Illinois Victims' Rights Enforceable- Support HJRCA 19

Join our FACEBOOK Page and Discuss Victim Issues

See Purple TABS above for Website Sections      

FRONT PAGE CONTENTS:

HEADLINES (click on the links)

We mourn the passing of Several of Our Family

Carol McFaggen, founder of the Rockford Area
Homicide Victim Support Group is herself murdered!
Suspected Killer, her husband, finally apprehended

and

Mary Marquez, the Mother of fallen Officer Donald J. Marquez (End of Watch 2002) and Donna Marquez, CPD Gold Star President

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Support HANNAH'S CAMPAIGN
A young stalking victim makes a big difference
Passing HB 693 in the Illinois Legislature

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IllinoisVictims.Org HERO 2009 AWARD WINNERS
Dr Peters, President of Northern Illinois University,
and the select group of Pro-Victim Illinois Legislators

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IllinoisVictims.Org at the table as policy advisor to U.S. Congress   
Criminal Justice Reform led by Senator Webb of Virginia
and
HR 2289

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Community outrage over the Illinois Prisoner Review Board
vote to release murderer and repeat rapist Tommy Ring
and failure to notify endangered family members and the public.
Ask Governor Quinn to appoint Victims and Law Enforcement to the PRB

See our Press Release about the PRB's vote on the Ring case

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Victory for Victims!
Illinois Legislature Unanimously Passes SB 42 "Jimmy's Voice"
giving rights to victims of mentally ill offenders
Special Thanks to Senator John Millner and State Rep. Randy Ramey
Call Governor Quinn and support him signing it!
312-814-2121

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Victims celebrate the defeat of HB 45
that would have offered early release to the most violent offenders in Illinois

WNTA in Rockford covers the importance of protecting victims rights
in offender release and sentencing legislation - Features IllinoisVictims.Org
on Morning Talk Show

 Victims of highly violent crimes, not included at all in the discussion of HB 45,
were openly maligned by one of the state Representatives during the debate!
Read our open letter to Representative Eddie Washington

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Its time for Illinois to join the other states leading the nation in revising their Constitutions to make Victims Rights Enforceable

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Our campaign to bring courthouses in Illinois in compliance with the laws
withy regards to posting victims rights  is taken up by the Court Administrators!

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IllinoisVictims.org provides "inspiration" for important
national report on Victims' Rights from Human Rights Watch

PROGRAMS of Interest to Victims

IllinoisVictims.Org Co-Founder Bill Jenkins, Playwright
World Premier of Play about homicide victim's family

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The National Organization of Victim Assistance
www.trynova.org - Annual Conference - August, Phoenix, AZ
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The Parents of Murdered Children Conference
Cincinnati, Ohio August, 2009

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The State of Illinois' Prosecutor-Based
Victim Advocate Association
IllinoisVictims.org provides the Keynote speech, May 2009
Read Our Handout to them
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Download the new OJJP Report
"Healing the Invisible Wounds: Children's Exposure to Violence"
a great guide for families whose kids have been victims of or witnesses to violence. 

OTHER VICTIM / MEDIA HEADLINES

 Click here for news on legislation that would change the lives of
Murder Victims' Families if the offender in their case
was under the age of 18 and sentenced to Life Without Parole in Illinois
 

If you are a
Victim of Violent Crime
in Illinois:

CONTACT US
or call
847-446-7073

PAROLE BLOCK CAMPAIGNS
Help victims with
concerns about early release of offenders

Important Downloads

 Fact Sheet
on HJRCA 19
A Constitutional
Amendment to
make Victims Rights
Enforceable in Illinois

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A Handout for
Victim Advocates
about current issues of
concern to victims
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COLD CASES
UNSOLVED CASES
Rewards!

The Best Resource for
Victims of Traumatic Loss

What to Do
When the Police Leave: 
A Guide to the First
Days of Traumatic Loss

Join the FORCE 100 movement for a national Constitutional Victims Rights amendment.

 The 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? 

Finally, our state Constitution does not meet national and international standards for Victims Rights. Join us in the effort to bring Illinois into alignment with the 9 Core Constitutional Victims Rights nationally.

And The IllinoisVictims.org Hero Award Goes To:

2007
Cook County States Attorney Richard Devine

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.  He established Cook County victim services. 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 Winnebago County Victim Advocate Barbara Stone
Click Here for MEDIA coverage and more for our Second IllinoisVictims.org
HERO AWARD recipient
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!

AND THE WINNERS FOR 2009 are . . . .

2009 Victim Hero Award
Goes To Dr. Peters and Northern Illinois University 
(to be presented soon) and
For the First Time, IllinoisVictims.Org gives
select Illinois LEGISLATOR HERO AWARDS

Click Here to Read Full List of HERO LEGISLATORS
from grateful victims of violent crime in Illinois

Photo: May 13, 2009 at the Illinois State Capitol, Springfield. Breakfast for IllinoisVictims.org Legislator Hero Award Winners. Left to Right: Polly Poskin of Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, IV.Org Secretary, Dora Larson, IV.Org V-Pres, IV.Org Board, Senator Kirk Dillard (one of 59 Legislator Hero Award Winners), Terry Mayborne, IV.org President.

Inspiration for Victims

We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have  the life that is waiting for us.  - E. M. Forester

What a new face courage puts on everything.    - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"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.)

"Hope is stronger than fear, love is greater than grief, life is mightier than death, disaster is an incident of time, the shadows and rain of today will nourish the blossoms of tomorrow."    - Archibald Rutledge

CLICK HERE for some simple truths about simple joys; something every victim who has suffered can take some comfort in.

CLICK HERE for good advice about enjoying life's ride.