I don’t know how many times I talk to people about what Victim Protection, Inc., a 501c3 tax deductible non-profit does, as to providing free of cost personal protection to victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assaults and have them all say it is great and very much needed. Then you ask them to help and the excuses pour in, not enough time, too much work, others need to help first, not my problem, maybe next year. It seems to be the same no matter who you talk to, women are the ones we help the most and the most often to not help at all, but it is the businesses, the media, the sports teams and even the celebrities that talk about how much they care and do for victims that won’t help a bit.
Makes you wonder if anything will ever get done for the protection of victims lives in Colorado, the politicians don’t care either, we have sent all of them a white paper on protecting victims lives in Colorado and had not one single response from any of them, makes you wonder doesn’t it? I don’t get the idea that women from around the state will go out and fund raise to send millions of dollars around the world to help people, but won’t spend a single dime on helping these same types of people right here in our state.
How many have to be killed before we get serious about providing protection to victims here in Colorado? Last year we lost 33 killed and how many injured, when will it stop, only when people get involved, I would think that women’s groups would get on board and be interested, but not here in Colorado, they just don’t seem to care enough to help out at all, wonder why?
Maybe because everyone seems to think and talk about how we have protection in place with the courts and protection orders, we have a Victims Rights Act, just nothing in any of it or from anyone of them saying anything about protecting the physical lives of victims and their families, strangely left out of a lot of things here in Colorado.
The police have neither the budget nor the manpower to physically protect victims or their families, there is no one else doing it either across the state or the country for that matter, which was the reason the non-profit Victim Protection, Inc. was established. We have provided services to 17 victims in the last 2 years with out any donations from anyone group in Colorado, just our staff and a few who cared enough to donate a few dollars each month, what does that say about our state and what we care about?
I guess it is up to those who bother to read this and care enough to actually do something about it, no one else seems to worry about it until they become a victim, then they demand to know why more isn’t being done, so ask yourself, why isn’t more being done? Why aren’t the women’s groups helping? Why aren’t the politicians doing something about it? Why don’t people want to donate and help keep people alive here in Colorado? At least pass the information on that it is out there and needs help to operate, talk to people, start a United Way campaign, anything helps just do something because if you don’t know one else will either!
Article by: Gary L. Cunningham, Executive Director – Victim Protection, Inc. www.victimprotection.org
Its to bad that it takes something bad to happen before people act. Prevention is the key! Maybe one day this will get through to folks in the area.
Comment by Sam — November 26, 2009 @ 01:44 |
“I guess it is up to those who bother to read this and care enough to actually do something about it, no one else seems to worry about it until they become a victim…” -Gary
Gary,
I hear your frustration in your writing, but I respectfully disagree with your questioning of why people are not involved in this area of the law and the corresponding “victims”. One, I believe our communities are being distracted with their own personal victimization-no matter what that is-financial, marital, job loss, etc… Secondly, and most importantly, I think it is the criminal justice system that needs to step up.
Judges, D.A.’s, Police, Advocates and all the other ancillary people in the system should have accountability to the victims. There is none in Colorado. I have often told my friends and family, if you have a propensity for crime, do it in Colorado because the perpetrator is treated more respectfully and is provided with more rights and resources than the victim.
I could provide a large list of needs for vicitms in Colorado, but will only focus on what I believe is the number one need-a watchdog program with the power to train/suspend/ or terminate people in the criminal justice system based on very specific criteria.
Politicians do not want to deal with the criminal justice system because it is a messy yet profitable cottage industry for each city, town, etc… It needs to be brought to them in a different package.
Until we can get our system under control and back on track, it is hopeless to expect the community to pick up the pieces. The system has the financial means and the ability to provide resources to the vicitm.
Comment by Cathryn — December 2, 2009 @ 01:17 |