Grant County Victim/Witness Unit

September 18, 2007

YAKIMA-- Three tireless advocates for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic abuse and six dedicated state and local organizations became recipients of the state Office of Crime Victims Advocacys Moving Mountains awards on Tuesday.    

   The awards, which came during a ceremony at OCVAs annual conference being held in Yakima this week, are given in recognition and gratitude of decades of work statewide on behalf of victims and survivors of crime.

    It is the third time the awards were given out.

    These awards are OCVAs recognition that successes in this important work can sometimes come after long term efforts, said Pearl Gipson, acting managing director of OCVA, part of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED).

    These important individuals and organizations are part of a vital network contributing to moving mountains and eliminating violence in our lives. 

 The 2007 awards honored

• The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence for its tireless efforts to get privileged communication for advocates working with victims of domestic violence at community-based agencies. This protection took more than one legislative session to accomplish.
• The Refugee Women's Alliance for its staff longevity and commitment. The average staff member has worked for the alliance for more than six years and their advocate who works with the Russian population has worked for the organization for more than 15 years.
• Gayle Stringer, for her involvement at the Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County, then moving to the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, and then onto the Washington State Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. Gayle is a mentor and inspiration to many leaders in the Washington State anti-violence movement--and to advocates and policy makers nationwide.
• The Goldendale City Domestic Violence Task Force for its careful use of STOP funds, the Goldendale City Domestic Violence Task Force has redefined what a coordinated community response to domestic violence looks like.
• The Grant County Prosecuting Attorney, Grant County Victim/Witness Unit, and the law firm of Dano, Gilbert, & Ahrend, PLLC. for their efforts to uphold victims rights in a recent murder trial, in which 13 year old Craig Sorger was the victim.
• Kati Arledge of the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs for her understanding of sexual assault and stalking and how these intersect with domestic violence. Thanks to her, 100 domestic violence advocates were trained in the art of working with domestic violence victims also experiencing sexual assault and/or stalking.
• The Crime Victim Advocacy Program in Cowlitz, Clark, and Wahkiakum counties. for showing leadership in service and approach to reaching victims of homicide, assault, trafficking, burglary, child abuse, hate crimes, and other crimes. The Crime Victim Service Center is a new concept that requires creativity and vision for success.
• Amigas Unidas Project for an organization of Spanish speaking farm worker women and survivors of domestic violence who provide support and advocacy to other Spanish speaking farm worker victims of domestic violence.  This grassroots project began several years ago in the Yakima County area and has expanded into Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla and Klickitat counties. 

• Jenny Wieland of the Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims for her significant voice at the Legislature working for legislation to benefit the rights of crime victims, increase benefits to victims of crime at the Crime Victim Compensation Program, increasing penalties for crimes, and of late, increasing the funding for Crime Victim Service Centers.

    OCVA is part of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. CTED is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington State.  For more information, please visit www.cted.wa.gov.

July 14, 2006   Ephrata, WA

The Grant County Prosecuting Attorney, Grant County Victim/Witness Unit, and the law firm of Dano, Gilbert, & Ahrend, PLLC. were each awarded the 2006 Victims Rights Partnership Award this June from the National Crime Victim Law Institute of Portland, Oregon.

The award was given for their efforts to uphold victims rights in a recent murder trial, in which 13 year old Craig Sorger was the victim.  Prior to and during the trial, the defense counsel repeatedly attempted to use the Sorger familys privileged and confidential records, and the prosecution was limited as to how much they could argue on behalf of the victims.

Although prosecutors usually attempt to stand up for victim rights, said Grant County Prosecuting Attorney John Knodell, prosecutors actually represent the State, not the victims.  According to Knodell, victims rights are often neglected because there is no one to represent them. 

When the Grant County Prosecutors Office was faced with issues beyond what they could legally argue for the victims, they sought to have an attorney appointed for the Sorger family, who could not afford an attorney on their own.  Judge Kenneth Jorgensen signed the order, appointing an attorney for the Sorgers believed to be the first ever court-appointed attorney for a victim in the nation. 

Garth Dano and his firm agreed to represent the Sorgers.  Dano filed motions and argued to protect the Sorgers privacy rights, amidst persistent objections from the defense.  The accused are provided with an attorney precisely because an attorney is necessary to protect their rights, said Dano.  Victims should be provided with an attorney to protect their rights as well, and to prevent them from being victimized a second time during the course of trial.

Providing victims attorneys doesnt come cheaply, however.  Grant County chose to fund Dano with money from the Victim/Witness Unit budget, which is funded by fines imposed on offenders, not taxes.  Were probably the only Victim/Witness Unit in the state that could afford to do this right now, said Karla Krautscheid, the Victim/Witness Coordinator.  Id love to see the day when people find it worth their tax dollars to provide attorneys for victims, but Im glad we found a way to provide one in this case at least. 

According to Knodell, victims and victims' families have rights granted them in the United States Constitution, the Washington State Constitution, and under the Revised Code of Washington. "Its time that their rights be held at least at the same level as defendants, and that someone stands up for those rights, he said.

The National Crime Victim Law Institute agrees.  When NCVLI saw the work that was done in Grant County, we recognized the work as a perfect example of the partnering for the better of the crime victim, and knew we had to honor those efforts, said Meg Garvin, Director of Programs for NCVLI.  It was the partnership and dedication that inspired the creation of this award.

Ed Owens, Grant County Deputy Prosecutor, with the 2006 Victim's Rights Partnership Award for the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney and the Victim/Witness Unit in Portland, Oregon.