The VICTIM’S INFORMER TEXAS CRIME VICTIM CLEARINGHOUSE VOL. 17, NO. 1 – MARCH/APRIL 2012

A Note of Gratitude by Angie McCown, Director TDCJ Victim Services Division Beginning with this issue, the Victim’s Informer will include a personal mes- sage from the Director of the TDCJ Victim Services Division, Angie McCown.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

S WE BEgIN 2012, I am re- work around so much sadness and loss. membering that I chose this profession, minded of the importance of One of the lessons I have learned from and that in all of the sadness and loss it reflecting on the past year be- my work in this field is that we must can bring, it can also bring hope. My fo- A fore I begin to set goals for the have peers and mentors we can turn to cus changed to how grateful I am to be future. There were many challenges for in times like these. During that difficult a victim advocate and to have learned the Texas Department of Criminal Justice year at DPS I turned to one of my peers so many lessons about life and gratitude Victim Services Division in 2011. Some and mentors, Janice Harris Lord, long- from the advocates and the victims I have days I felt as though I would arrive at time victim advocate and Texas Board had the privilege to work with. the office with a plan for the day, only of Criminal Justice Member. From her So, as I reflect on the past year, I am to have it interrupted by a challenge or years of experience, Janice could relate grateful to all of you who stood by us crisis that left me feeling as though all I to how I was feeling and she had the during a challenging year. I am grate- had done was grab the fire extinguisher wisdom to help me out of hopelessness ful for the leadership and support of the and put out fires all day. On those days I through gratitude. Janice encouraged me Texas Department of Criminal Justice often left the office feeling exhausted and to “practice gratitude”. She told me to Executive staff and the Texas Board of hopeless; a feeling that I imagine many think of three things I am grateful for just Criminal Justice. I am grateful for those victim advocates experience from time before I fall asleep at night, and then the peers and mentors who have always been to time throughout their careers. I wish I next morning as I am waking up, before I there for me. And last but certainly not could say that this was the first year that get out of bed, again think of three things least, I am grateful for the Victim Ser- I have ever experienced these feelings or I am grateful for. Janice knows me well, vices Division staff for their dedication had these thoughts; however that would so she cautioned me not to over think it to serving crime victims, criminal justice not be true. I remember one year in par- or to try to come up with new things each professionals and concerned citizens. It ticular, while employed as the Victim Ser- time, just go with what comes to mind. is with those gifts of gratitude in mind, vices Director at the Texas Department of As I left Janice, I thought to myself, this that I begin to look forward to working Public Safety (DPS), three Troopers died will never work. However I was desper- with all of you in 2012. in the line of duty in the first five months ate, so I made a commitment to try it for of the year. I found myself feeling hope- a week. Within three days, my hopeless- less and questioning why I continued to ness had lifted and I found myself re- As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy April is:

Visit these informative websites to learn more: National Sexual Violence Resource Center www.nsvrc.org/saam Texas Association Against Sexual Asault www.taasa.org The VICTIM’S INFORMER

Grief, Loss, & Addiction: My Path to Healing In this issue ... by Cathy Collins BPP Victim Liaison Crime Victims Advocate/Senior Intake Specialist, The Christi Center page 5

New TxCVC Director hink back to when you shot in the side of his neck and the back page 6 were fifteen years old. Do you of his head. My emotions immediately remember your first love? Do spiraled downward and I did not want A Very Special Christmas Tree T you remember feeling this per- to feel the pain. This would be a major page 7 son might be your soul mate? When I life changing event for me. was fifteen I had few cares or worries. It was at this time that I began to ex- Calendar I was in junior high in Austin and I had periment with alcohol. Neither of my page 8 a boyfriend who was in high school. parents suffered from the disease of He was everything to me. He was my alcoholism, but after asking questions Like a Good Neighbor world. But this all changed dramati- later on in life, I realized that other fam- page 9 cally in a very short period of time. In ily members did. I remember the first one day, everything in my life changed; time that I drank alcohol. It made me from the way that I saw things, to the feel different. It numbed me. I didn’t way I felt about things. I changed with- have to think about the brutal death of out realizing the pain, and understand- my boyfriend. I discovered that using TDCJ VSD is now offering email ing the feelings of grief and loss. alcohol could alter the way I felt. For notifications in addition to our I woke up on a Saturday morning me, it was a distracting savior; an es- letter notifications! Email al- in 1967 to the sound of my telephone cape and a way to avoid processing my lows for immediate notification ringing. As a teenager, I assumed that grief. via computer, mobile device, or it must be one of my girlfriends calling I learned to use alcohol to mask the wherever internet access is avail- to plan out our normal day. Instead, my trauma that was deep down inside me able. Those already registered friend asked if I had seen the newspa- from the murder of my boyfriend. I with the confidential Victim No- per. I immediately went to get it, and just didn’t have to feel the pain. Look- tification System (VNS) will soon was horrified to see the headline, “Teen ing back, I now realize that I was pre- receive a letter with instructions Killed at Pig Stand.” My boyfriend’s disposed to alcoholism, and the trauma on how to take advantage of this name was in the first line of the article. from the murder of my boyfriend fed new notification option. There had been an altercation between the disease. To add to the difficulties I two groups of teenagers from different was going through at this time in my sides of town. My boyfriend had been life, I chose to view his body. No one continued on page 3

2 MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER VICTIM’S INFORMER had explained to me what happens to pull myself out of. that cost him his life. He was eventu- the body physically after such a horrif- In 1990, the unthinkable occurred. ally apprehended and brought back to ic event. He didn’t look like himself at My brother was murdered. He was Texas. A plea bargain was reached in all. I remember seeing one of the bul- four years older than me and my only the case and he was sentenced to 30 let hole entries by the side of his neck. sibling. I always looked up to him and years in prison. He has since been up I will never forget that vision. There loved going to any gathering just to be for parole on two different occasions, were no victim services or counseling around him and his friends. Our rela- which always forces me to re-live the available to me. My school had no tionship was a constant in my eyes and murder and the pain surrounding it. support groups or anyone I could talk I knew that would never change. But it My brother left behind a beautiful to. I didn’t know how to ask my parents did one late afternoon in January. While 9 year old daughter, as well as four to get me help. In fact, they were actu- I was in the kitchen fixing dinner for nephews aged 9, 8, 6, and 18 months. ally relieved that he would no longer my sons, a live broadcast appeared on Within three years my mother died of be a problem in their lives. My grades channel 36 on a small TV that I kept on cancer, which I believe was brought began to suffer and I had a really hard the counter. That channel was known on by the pain she experienced by the time retaining information. I had a very for its shocking and graphic ambulance death of her only son. I not only lost my short attention span, and began to think chasing stories. As I stood there in my brother, but I lost my mother who was that I was stupid. I needed help, but kitchen, I watched the TV and saw my never the same after his murder. My was afraid to ask for it. brother’s body coming out of his house dad passed away suddenly three years As with many who suffer with ad- on a gurney as his name was splashed after my mother’s death. I divorced af- diction, I began to experiment with across the screen in big letters. It was ter seventeen years of marriage. Every- other drugs. I felt like I was living my a surreal moment that no one could thing again had changed and I was very life on the edge and started engaging ever prepare themselves for. There was scared and didn’t know if I would be in very risky behavior. But that deep- no proper notification provided to the able to survive. seated pain was still there. In order not family. No one from victim services or It was at this time that the feelings to “feel” I thought I needed to continue the police department came out to no- from the initial loss of my first boy- to make bad decisions. I didn’t like the tify us. Back then, anyone could walk friend began to resurface. It was like I person I was becoming as I evolved up to a crime scene and say they were was re-living his murder all over again. from a teenager into a young adult. The a relative and the information about the I felt like no one could understand what memory of his murder was always pres- victim was immediately released to the had happened to our family and I was ent. It felt like a spark that was waiting media. so scared that something would happen to ignite. My brother had been brutally mur- to one of my children. Once again, my In 1974, I married and thought that dered from blows to the back of his addiction was there to comfort me and might change my life for the better. I head with a hatchet. The suspect had I knew it would never leave me. Only was sure that I could run from my prob- left the weapon in a workshop area with this time it wasn’t working and I began lems and everything would be fine. his fingerprints all over it. He then fled to feel like I was going crazy. However, I was paralyzed in my own to Arkansas and an all states bulletin One of the most wonderful bless- emotional growth. I was still very im- for information regarding my brother’s ings that I was given was a referral by mature in my thinking and how I pro- stolen vehicle and the suspect was is- Austin Police Department Victim Ser- cessed my choices. sued. This individual had just been re- vices for my family to a grief group Soon I was blessed with four won- leased from prison in Florida and was called “For the Love of Christi.” That derful children, all boys, that learned an old friend of my brother. He needed was my saving grace in so many ways. from a very early age all about pain and a sponsor in order for him to be allowed We were embraced by Susan and Don loss. Knowing this would bring me to to come to Texas and have his parole Cox who understood exactly where my knees, and a deep dark hole which I transferred. My brother agreed to help our pain was coming from. Their 20- could either bury myself in, or begin to him out, and it was that gesture of help year-old daughter, Christi, had been continued on page 4

MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER 3 killed in downtown Austin by a drunk It is at this time that my life started advised them to go not only to their driver in 1985. Motivated by the sor- having direction. The many obstacles Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics row and pain they suffered from their and challenges that had occurred in my Anonymous, or Cocaine Anonymous loss, they wanted to find a way to honor life resulted in me having a new revela- meetings, but to get as much help as Christi. They were meeting with many tion on what I wanted to do with my possible and find a way to deal with individuals who had lost loved ones to life. I started volunteering at the Christi their loss. different types of loss and just needed Center. Susan Cox became my men- I eventually had the opportunity to a place to go and talk. The bottom line tor. I listened and learned everything come onboard at the Christi Center on was that they all suffered from a broken I could about loss and grief. She and a part-time basis. It was a golden op- heart and the missing of a loved one. Don gave me wings to feel confident portunity for me and I was so excited At the Christi Center, people were able in what I was doing with the new life I everyday I went to work. I know that to come back and tell their story over was given. I began doing victim impact some people thought that working and over again. panels, working with kids, teenagers, with loss and grief would be awful, My healing began nine months after crime victims and individuals who had but I didn’t. The Christi Center began my brother’s murder. My life had no lost a parent or a sibling. I loved what serving more crime victims, and I sug- where else to go. I had hit bottom and I was doing and was able to begin to gested having a crime victims meeting I could not let my life continue with give back what I had received from the twice a month. These meetings were the many issues I had masked for so support networks that were now an im- a huge success and I began to get re- many years. I chose to stop the addic- portant part of my life. ferrals from the Austin Police Depart- tions and do what people advised me This newfound confidence and moti- ment, Sheriff’s Department, the Dis- to do. I would now talk and open up vation spurred me to go back to school trict Attorney’s office, the Department about my life’s story without the shame for my License Chemical Dependency of Public Safety, the FBI, and other or embarrassment I once felt. I listened, Counselor (LCDC) license. I felt a very agencies surrounding Central Texas. and began to rediscover the injured close connection with people who used I began putting together crime victim young teenage girl and decided that it a substance to mask their pain. I under- panels for training purposes for various was time to let her heal. I wanted to be stood that it could take them down a agencies. I also began partnering with a great mom to my boys and be pres- deadly path. I began as a volunteer at other people who worked with crime ent for everything they accomplished the Christi Center doing weekly meet- victims. One of those people was Ver- in their lives. No more altering my ings for men who had been released na Lee Carr, an advocate with People feelings and emotions with alcohol or from prison. Each one of these men Against Violent Crime (PAVC). She other substances. I began finding new had suffered from some form of addic- taught me everything I needed to know tools for living that would encourage tion. I wanted to share my journey with about the criminal justice system. We me to be the best at whatever I did. I them and also let them know that I was began working on cases together and also started finding strength in others a crime victim. I wanted them to rec- she soon became a dear friend. I am and began to understand that I had a ognize that when you lose someone to fortunate to consider her another men- purpose in life, which was something a violent crime, it can often be stuffed tor in my life. I had not felt before. After experienc- deep down inside and that it needs to So many people in recovery pro- ing the most traumatic events imagin- be acknowledged. I began seeing that grams have been impacted by some able, I came to an amazing conclusion; some of these men were getting it and type of crime themselves. I wanted to I realized that I was a survivor. I was were able to understand why they had reach out and work with these people surrounded by so much support from made bad decisions and choices in their since I feel so strongly about my own my Alcoholics Anonymous family and lives. This was very rewarding for me. recovery. I began facilitating meetings the Christi Center. I am so happy to say Many of these individuals continued at the Women’s Inpatient Program at that I will be celebrating 22 years of to come to our regular meetings when Austin Recovery with a program called sobriety this year. they finished their programs. I always “grief, Loss and Addiction.” I was then continued on page 5

4 MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER asked to do monthly meetings at the a platform to work with each group and I had to grow from. I now have good Austin Recovery’s Men’s Outpatient help them learn to deal with their feel- self-help tools which allow me to do program. I have presented at many ings in a healthy way. the work I do. Being healthy mentally, conferences about this important piece The most important thing I have physically and spiritually are the foun- of recovery. I have also been providing learned in life is that often the worst dations for healing and growth from services to teen groups for the past four events that occur can become the any circumstance. years. One group is for teens with loss strengths that carry us forward. I have (many which are crime and drug relat- received so much in my life and strive ed) and the second is for teens whose to give back to others that have experi- parents are incarcerated. This gives me enced some of the same challenges that

If you would like to know more about the services offerred at the Christi Center, please visit their website at: http://fortheloveofchristi.org/services/

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Victim Liaison: David Gutierrez by Lauren Reynolds TDCJ Victim Services; Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse

The seven appointed members of the and then Chief Deputy, before being Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles elected the Sheriff of Lubbock County (BPP) stay consistantly busy review- in 1998. Sheriff gutierrez resigned his tions such as the United Way of Lub- ing offender files and correspondence, position as Sheriff in 2009 to accept the bock, Texas Jail Association, Texas from which they decide if offenders are appointment of governor Perry. Corrections Association, Boys and granted their parole. Members also at- Throughout his law enforcement ca- Girls Club, South Plains Boys Scout tempt to consider the requests on level reer, Mr. gutierrez also served as Chair Council, Highland Medical Center, of supervision and conditions of parole of TCOOMMI, Texas Correctional Of- Hospice of Lubbock, Assist Human from victims and family members on fice of Offender’s with Medical and Needs, Inc and various others. both sides of the crime. It is no doubt Mental Impairments and Chair of the Since becoming a BPP board mem- a never-ending job; one of extreme im- Texas Commission on Jail Standards. ber, Mr. Gutierrez has expressed a con- portance and responsibility. He has received numerous presti- tinued enthusiasm, interest and con- In 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry gious recognitions such as the Attorney cern for victims and victim rights. Mr. appointed David G. Gutierrez to the general’s Outstanding Service & Lead- Gutierrez served on the TDCJ-Victim BPP. Mr. Gutierrez brings to the Board ership to State of Texas Award (1992), Services Division 2011 Victim Impact over 30 years of experience in the the Distinguished Leadership Alumni Statement Revision Committee and criminal justice system. Mr. Gutierrez Award from his alma mater Wayland attended last year’s Texas Victim Ser- began his career in law enforcement in Baptist University (1999) and the Ex- vices Association (TVSA) conference. 1977 with the Lubbock County Sher- cellence in Outstanding Law Enforce- Mr. Gutierrez shows great passion for iff’s Office. He began in the Jail and ment Award by the National Center filling the role of a victim liaison for then transferred to the Patrol Division. for Missing and Exploited Children in the BPP. From there, Mr. Gutierrez promoted 2006 for a three year search for a miss- Board Member Gutierrez may be through numerous other divisions. He ing 16 year old girl. contacted at the Texas Board of Par- worked his way up to Captain, Chief He has previously served on the dons and Paroles, Gatesville Board Of- Administrator, Assistant Chief Deputy boards of many important organiza- fice.

MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER 5 New Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) Director

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division is excited to announce the selection of the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) Director, Erica Linneman. Erica started on January 3rd and has been busy familiarizing herself with her vast array of job duties. I decided to ask her a few questions in order to intro- duce her to our readers. Please take the opportunity to give Erica a warm welcome to the TxCVC.

by Kristi Heiman TDCJ Victim Services Division, Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse

Q: Name cepted a position requiring our reloca- state where our ability to provide train- A: Erica Linneman tion to Austin. For the past 2 ½ years I ing and assistance has been hampered worked as a Criminal Justice Planner at by distance. Q: Title Capital Area Council of Governments A: Program Supervisor III (aka: Clear- (CAPCOG) providing technical assis- Q: If you had only one word to describe inghouse Director) tance to grantees of criminal justice- yourself, what would it be? related programs, elected officials, and A: Loyal. Q: Can you please tell us about your other stakeholders within the ten coun- background in victim services? ty CAPCOG region; as well as assist- Q: What makes you look forward to A: I began my career in Victim Services ing in the development and facilitation coming to work everyday? at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s of grant training and grant management A: The people. I have been extremely Office as a Victim/Witness Coordina- workshops. fortunate to have worked with so many tor in the Juvenile Court Unit. I pro- wonderful people over the years. Vic- vided direct services to crime victims Q: What ideas do you have for the fu- tim Services attracts such kind and and coordinated communication efforts ture of the TxCVC? generous people and I have benefitted between the myriad players involved A: It is my hope that the TxCVC can so much from their dedication and de- in the prosecution process. Initially I expand and enhance the services we sire to make a difference in their com- worked solely on cases with victims provide to continue to meet the needs munities. and witnesses of juvenile offenders, of victims and victim service providers. but eventually transitioned to cases I envision the TxCVC serving as the Q: What are your hobbies? involving adult offenders and juve- central source of information and train- A: Food! I love talking about it, read- nile victims or witnesses. While at the ing about services and issues involving ing about it, and thinking about it. My DA’s Office, I served for several years crime victims in Texas. The addition of husband jokes that while I am in the as a training consultant for the Penn- three new grant funded Regional Vic- midst of eating one meal I am talking sylvania Commission on Crime and tim Service Coordinators (RVSC) will about and planning the next one! Delinquency’s statewide New Victim enable the TxCVC to branch out and Service Provider Orientation Training, establish relationships with local vic- Q: How do you prefer to be contacted? and was an active member of the Youth tim assistance coordinators in district A: I can be contacted via email at Aid Panel, and the Philadelphia Coali- and county attorneys’ offices, local [email protected] tion for Victim Advocacy. county and state law enforcement, vic- or telephone 512.406.5915. My eight years with the DA’s Office tim advocates, and regional coalitions came to an end when my husband ac- and task-force groups, in areas of the

6 MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER A Very Special Christmas Tree by Dorian de Wind, Retired U.S. Air Force Officer and writer Huffington Post Online Newspaper; Posted December 13, 2011; Reprinted with permission of Dorian de Wind

As we have done for the past 16 years, lovely tree. my wife and I brave the unseasonably Some of the angels are very ornate, cold Austin, Texas weather to attend a some simple. There are crystal angels, ceremony that has now become a tra- golden angels and silver angels, large dition, albeit a sad one, in our lives: and tiny angels. Some have beautiful the Tree of Angels ceremony at a local poems inscribed on them, some just church. simple words such as “We love you, Every year for the past 20 years, a grandma,” or “We miss you, Son.” wonderful organization, People Against But all angels represent the same love, And so it goes on for almost an hour. Violent Crime, has provided a most sorrow and almost unbearable sense of Three years ago a second tree had to reverent and appropriate forum for the loss. be added, there were so many angels. families and friends of victims of vio- The angels are brought to the tree by Tonight, both trees are almost full -- lent crime, and some of the surviving men and women, by the young and the hardly a space remains. A sign of the victims themselves, to join together to old. One little boy placing his angel on times? place their angels -- each representing a the Tree catches my attention. After the There is a third tree at the other side loved one who became a victim of vio- ceremony I talk to his mother. She tells of the altar, a nicely decorated tree, a lent crime -- on the Tree of Angels. me that Jeffrey Rosales’ father was “real” Christmas tree. That tree should The Tree of Angels has become a sa- killed by a drunk driver, three-and-a- be a reminder of the “season to be joy- cred place for so many of us to remem- half years ago. Jeffrey is now only six ous.” But this night it is a poignant re- ber, to pray, to regain or reinforce our and handling it well. His mother says, minder of yet one more Christmas that faith. “I know Jeffrey’s dad would have been many of us will spend without the com- I say “many of us” because I also so proud of how strong Jeffrey was at pany, love and joy of a cherished son, place an angel on the Tree in memory the lighting of the Tree of Angels to- daughter, brother, sister, mother or, as of our mother who was suddenly and night.” in the case of much-too-young Jeffrey, cruelly taken away from us 22 years After tenderly placing an angel on a loved father. ago. the tree, tearful eyes look at the angel However, partly because of this tree knowing the sorrow of such a trag- one more time, remember one more and because of the angels on the tree, edy, as loving, sometimes trembling time, and pray and hope one more time those of us who have lost so much, so hands carefully place their angel on the before the owner slowly and sorrow- suddenly and so cruelly, can walk out- tree in our beautiful church, I always fully returns to his or her pew while the side into the cold December night and wonder what tragic event, what un- choir keeps singing beautiful, haunting begin to feel a warm glow in our hearts speakable acts have prompted others to melodies that muffle the occasional and can dare to hope again. place their angel next to mine on this sob.

MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER 7 c a l e n d a r

March 15-16, 2012 April 14, 2012 Domestic Violence Danger Assessment and Risk Preventing Child Abuse One Child At A Time: Management Training Conference Recognizing, Reporting and Preventing Child Abuse Crowne Plaza Riverwalk Hotel San Antonio, Texas Bethany Lutheran Church Austin, Texas http://conferences.bwjp.org/conferencedetail.aspx?confid=53 http://www.preventchildabusetexas.org/austin_day_care_4-14- 12.html March 19-20, 2012 Annual Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse April 22-28, 2012 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Westin Galleria Houston Houston, Texas http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/

http://www.preventchildabusetexas.org/nextconference. html?id=g7oAAyvR April 28, 2012 Annual 5K Walk Like MADD

March 26-28, 2012 Statewide, Texas Conference on Crimes Against Women http://www.madd.org/ Sheraton Hotel Downtown Dallas Dallas, Texas May 1-4, 2012 http://conferencecaw.org 13th Annual Texas Victim Services Association (TVSA) Conference

April 13, 2012 Sheraton Gunter Hotel Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV)’s Annual San Antonio, Texas Battering Intervention and Prevention (BIPP) State- wide Conference http://www.txvsa.org Hilton Garden Inn Austin, Texas

www.tcfv.org

8 MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER We want to hear Like a Good Neighbor… FROM yOU! Grant allows TDCJ-Victim Services Division to expand services OUR GOAL IS TO PRINT NEWS OF INTEREST FOR by Lauren Reynolds VICTIMS AND VICTIM TDCJ Victim Services; Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse ADVOCATES Last year, the TDCJ Victim Services of the services that will be provided in- The Victim’s Informer newsletter is Division (VSD) received approval for a clude: published quarterly. Articles, meeting grant through the Office of the Attorney • Assisting victims with registering General. The grant enables the VSD to with SAVIN/VINE and TDCJ VSD notices, and other submissions address the unmet needs of crime vic- Victim Notification System; should be sent to TDCJ Victim tims by increasing their access to the • Assistance with the Victim Impact Services Division, Texas Crime Victim division’s services with three strategi- Statement; Clearinghouse, 8712 Shoal Creek cally placed Regional Victim Service • Assisting victims with Crime Victim Blvd, Suite 265, Austin, Texas 78757- Coordinators (RVSC) – in Dallas, Compensation applications; Midland and Corpus Christi. The grant • Parole Board Accompaniment; 6899; faxed to 512-452-0825; or provides the necessary funding for our • Preparing victims and accompany- e-mailed to tdcj.clearinghouse@ office to create and staff the three new ing them to Victim Impact Panels; tdcj.texas.gov. For questions or RVSC during fiscal years 2012 and • Providing information and referrals; comments, please call us at 2013. The three positions were cre- and ated out of a desire for our agency to • Provide training to victim service 800-848-4284 or 512-406-5931. become more accessible and available and criminal justice professionals. to victims, victim advocates and crimi- The implementation of this grant will Please Note: nal justice professionals. The three enable TDCJ VSD to increase knowl- You may access the publication at the locations will each service a region edge within local communities of the TDCJ VSD Internet website. of Texas; the RVSC in Corpus Christi rights and services available to victims will cover south Texas, the RVSC in of crime. We hope that by providing If you wish, we will notify you via Midland will serve the panhandle and victims with the opportunity to meet e-mail each time The Victim’s Informer west Texas and the Dallas RVSC will in person with a RVSC, their under- becomes available on the TDCJ VSD be available for those in the DFW area standing of the criminal justice system Internet website and provide an and east Texas. Each office is located will increase and will result in creating within a Parole Division Reentry Cen- a stronger voice for victim’s rights in electronic link to The Victim’s Informer. ter where the RVSC will provide direct Texas. Send your e-mail address to: victim services for their region. Some [email protected] 2012 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: Angie McCown, Director April 22-28 Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division [email protected] 8712 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 265, Austin, Texas 78757

Visit http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/ to learn more and discover how to honor this event in your commmunity

MARCH/APRIL 2012| THE VICTIM’S INFORMER 9