Victim's Rights - New Legislation Proposed
during this, victim's rights week (see events below)

by Luisa Ashley
ashleyla@earthlink.net

EDITOR'S NOTE: LA Community Policing is delighted to have Ms. Luisa Ashley as a regular contributor. Luisa became an activist within the victims rights groups when her 21-year-old son Anthony was killed in a gang related home invasion. His death prompted her to seek help in finding his murderer (on trial now) and to urge support for others who become victims of crime. Ms. Ashley lives in Tujunga with her husband and their surviving son Michael, age 8.

Dear LACP reader:

Please take a moment to read this letter I received as a member of Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). It's an urgent call for honest people to assist in supporting a bill being considered in early April.

This Senate Bill 58 (SB58) is for ALL of California!

We need to do all we can assure that the people who come forward as witnesses will have their identity protected. The fear of possible retaliation is a big reason that witnesses against gang and drug suspects are often so hard to find.

Secondly, there are several local events I want to draw your attention to which occur at the end of March and beginning of April -- Victim's Rights Week.

In a sense even if you've not lost a child as I have we're ALL victims of violent crime, and everyone is encouraged to attend and support these events.

Please feel free to write me an email if you'd like more information about issues related to victims rights. Honest people need your help now!

Thanks!!

Luisa
ashleyla@earthlink.net

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URGENT!

RE: California SB58 - HELP!

The crooks are again getting an upper hand!

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Dear Luisa and all Members of POMC - San Gabriel Chapter,

There is a grave threat to the public safety of the citizens of the State of California.

Your support is needed NOW for SB 58, which protects victims without loopholes.

In a nutshell, on November 1, 2002, a new policy was instituted by the Orange County Superior Court. which allows the complete and open review of previously confidential police reports maintained by the Court. This presents an immediate and present danger, not only to the law-abiding citizen but also to the cause of law enforcement. The nature of this impending threat can be better recognized when a few of the potential consequences of this policy are pointed out:

	Identity thieves will have access to the personal identifying information of victims and witnesses in police reports placed in court files. This includes. Their names, addresses, date of birth, bank account numbers and social security numbers. This is more than sufficient information to steal their identity and wreak untold havoc on our citizens and business enterprises.
	Since criminal defendants and their associates will now be able to identify and locate them, witnesses and victims of crime will become increasingly vulnerable to threats of physical harm or death. It is already difficult to get a witness to testify.
	Many citizens are already unwilling to involve themselves by reporting crimes. If they know that they are making themselves vulnerable to threat of violent attack or theft of identity, they will be less willing to cooperate with authorities and report crimes. Thus the ongoing effort against gang crime and drug traffickers will especially be compromised.

Please have support letters sent to Senator Ross Johnson, State Capitol, State Capitol Room 2054, Sacramento, CA 95814. Letters can also be faxed to Senator Johnson at (916) 445-9263. (There is a competing bill, AB 1346, which is sponsored by LADA which allows loopholes where the court can avoid the redaction process. This could leave victims unprotected.) SB 58 is set for hearing on April 1, 2003 in Sacramento and letters would be extremely helpful, but they need the letters now.

Thanks for your help.

Collene (Thompson) Campbell
Memory of Victims Everywhere

It would be helpful to write your message to Senator Johnson in your own words. We would appreciate a blind copy either by email or fax. Thank you!

email: MOVE@cox.net
Fax: 949 / 248-1619