2011 National Crime Victim' Rights Week

Once known as the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation, Inc.

Today known as Maryland Crime Victims Rights' Center.  Here is how the caring parents,  aided by friends and family,  worked in the memory of their daughter to achieve what the organization is today for crime victims throughout Maryland.

From: www.mdcrimevictims.org

On April 3, 1982, Stephanie Roper became an innocent victim of crime in Maryland.

She was a college senior about to graduate from Frostburg State University, home for a weekend visit with with her family in Prince George's County. After leaving her friend's home, her car became disabled. Two men, Jack Ronald Jones and Jerry Beatty, came upon and kidnapped her, and over a five-hour period, brutally raped, tortured, and murdered Stephanie.

Stephanie Roper

Friends and neighbors who had known and loved Stephanie found it impossible to do nothing. Frustration and anger were diverted into acts of love toward Stephanie's family.

A small group was formed to help them through the funeral and subsequent criminal trial, the Stephanie Roper Family Assistance Committee. In October 1982, the group incorporated as the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation, Inc.

Guided by the cause, Stephanie's memory, and the leadership of Stephanie's parents, Vince and Roberta Roper, volunteers came forward to form the staff. Goals and priorities were set, chapters were formed, space was donated, and the first office opened.



Roberta Roper



Twenty years later, in the Fall of 2002, the sister organizations bearing Stephanie's name merged to become the Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc., a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to serving the interests of crime victims in Maryland, while maintaining a nationwide reputation for dedicated advocacy and services.

Today, the MCVRC serves Maryland's victims from two offices, in Prince George's County and in Baltimore City, and has diversified its services to include criminal justice education, court accompaniment, therapeutic counseling, support groups, community education, prevention education, legal information and assistance, direct legal representation, policy advocacy, technical assistance for allied professionals and criminal justice agencies, and faith-based referrals.

There is so much more to learn from this website. www.mdcrimevictims.org.  Please take time to visit there.

National Crime Victims Rights' Week

From the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services:

Join us April 10-16, 2011 during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for regional Open Houses to learn more about how our belief in the value of the human being is impacting victim services within DPSCS - and what we are doing to reshape thefuture for those affected by crime inMaryland, while also honoring the past:

Division of Correction

Division of Parole and Probation

MD Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

Division of Pretrial Detention & Services

Patuxent Institution

MD Sex Offender Registry

MD Parole Commission

MD Police and Correctional Training

Commissions

and our victim services partners by region

Monday, April 11

Eastern Shore Community Awareness Fair

Wor-Wic Community College

32000 Campus Dr., Salisbury, MD 21804

4pm - 6pm

http://www.dpscs.maryland.gov/

National Crime Victims Rights Week

NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK

^{The week of April 10 – April 16, 2011 will commemorate National Crime Victims Rights’ Week.　 Each year during this time, victim service providers, justice professionals and community advocates across the country come together to reflect upon milestones of the past year and rededicate their efforts towards the furtherance of victims’ rights.　 Here in Maryland, statewide programs are held to honor lives that were lost to crime and to recognize others who have worked tirelessly demonstrating commitment to the cause.} 

Throughout the week, the Maryland State Board of Victim Services will sponsor several events beginning on April 10^{th with the 22nd Annual Crime Victims Memorial Services, "Their Light Still Shines," which will be held this year in Baltimore, Carroll, Queen Anne’s and Saint Mary’s counties.}

 ^{More information on:                      http://www.goccp.maryland.gov/}

 

Some interesting information On the history of  Crime Victim's Rights In America

1965

• First Crime victim compensation program established in California (Maryland’s program created in 1972)

1981

• President Ronald Reagan proclaims the First “Crime Victims’ Rights Week” in April

1982

• President Reagan appoints the Task Force on Victims of Crime – Final Report offers 68 recommendations to improve the treatment of crime victims, including an amendment to the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to guarantee victims’ rights to be present & heard at critical stages of judicial proceedings
• The Missing Children’s Act is passed by Congress to help find missing children through FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer system

1983

President Reagon honors crime victims in First White House Rose Garden ceremony

1984

• The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is passed; establishes the Crime Victims Fund from federal criminal fines & penalties to support state victim compensation; service programs
• President Reagon signs Justice Assistance Act which establishes financial support assistance to state & local governments
• The National Minimum Drinking Age Act is enacted
• The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is created

1993

• President Clinton signs the “Brady Bill” requiring a waiting period for handgun purchases
• Congress passes the Child Sexual Abuse Registry Act, establishing a national repository for information about child sex offenders

2004

• U.S. Congress passed the strongest federal crime victims' legislation in nation's history after failure to approve a Federal Constitutional Amendment; H.R. 5107, The Justice For All Act of 2004, strengthens the rights of victims of federal crimes and provides enforcement and remedies when there is failure to comply; Title 1 is named in honor of five victims: Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis and Nila Lynn; H.R. 5107 also includes provisions for DNA analysis backlog
• The Senate Judiciary Committee passes the Federal Victims’ Rights Constitutional Amendment: "But The House Fails to Take Action"

 For more on Crime Victims Rights:
http://www.mdcromevictims.org/