On the Job 

When I was starting out as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Greene County in the early 1970s, there were few, if any, services specifically for crime victims.  Cases would often go through court without the victims ever even being notified.  We began making it a point to keep victims informed about cases, and we instituted a policy to routinely check on victims.

When I was elected as Prosecutor, Bill Schenck served as my chief trail lawyer.  Bill had a unique ability to work closely with crime victims. He had great empathy and compassion for victims.

In 1980, he was elected Prosecutor.  He started a county victim assistance program and brought in Jeannette Adkins, from the juvenile court in Dayton, to assume the role of director. After much success, she went on to become the executive director for the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). Jeannette was selected to be a featured speaker at the 25th anniversary Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance.

Few events have the loyal following of Two Days in May, which is organized by my Crime Victim Services Section staff.  When the first conference was held in 1991, crime victim services was a developing field.

When I became Attorney General, my office set out to take stock of the services that crime victims receive in Ohio. A survey by my staff found gaps in the state’s sexual assault response capabilities. Only 36 counties offered direct, comprehensive services for sexual assault survivors and eight had few or no services. In 2013, we launched the Sexual Assault Services Expansion Program and set a five-year goal of making direct, comprehensive services available statewide.

Today, we are ahead of our goal. Now, 77 counties provide all core services, 11 provide some, and no counties are without core services. On April 8, as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, my office and OhioHealth's Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO), launched a statewide sexual violence helpline, 1-844-OHIO-HELP (1-844-644-6435). The helpline is operated by SARNCO and being paid for with a $1.2 million grant provided through the Ohio Attorney General’s Expanding Services and Empowering Victims Initiative.

Sadly, Bill Schenck died on the day of the helpline launch. I know he would be pleased with our efforts to support victims. We are going to continue to make every effort that we can in the Attorney General’s Office to make sure victim services are comprehensive in every county in the state.

This issue of Criminal Justice Update looks at some of our progress upon the silver anniversary of Two Days in May. To match the theme of this year’s event, “Advocacy Through the Years: Past, Present & Future,” Criminal Justice Update offers a timeline of some of the major events in the victims’ rights movement in Ohio since 1991 and memories from conferences.

Victim advocates fulfill a crucial role in our communities and within the criminal justice system. I am proud that my office offers many opportunities for the continued professional development of those who assist crime victims.

Very respectfully yours,
 
Mike DeWine
Ohio Attorney General