April 12, 2007 -- Attorney General Paul Morrison joined professionals and volunteers who serve Kansas crime victims for the 10th Annual Crime Victims' Rights Conference in Wichita today.
Morrison was the keynote speaker for the conference lunch.
"During the month of April, I'm celebrating our state's progress for victims' and the hard work that we've done in Kansas to ensure that every crime victim has a voice in our criminal justice system," Morrison told the audience.
In his speech, Morrison shared his experience as a prosecutor with crime victims.
"While prosecuting cases over the years, I've worked hand-in-hand with advocates to achieve justice for victims and their families," Morrison said. "These individuals are essential to ensuring victims' rights are met."
Also during his speech, Morrison presented the Attorney General's Crime Victims' Service Awards to commend three individuals for their outstanding work in victims' rights. The annual awards were established by Attorney General Carla Stovall in 1995 and have not been presented since 2002.
"These awards were created to recognize and honor organizations and individuals who have made great achievements within the victims' rights movement," Morrison said. "It is my honor to commend these outstanding individuals for their exceptional support and commitment to serving justice for crime victims in Kansas."
Kathleen Inwood, the director of SOS Child Advocacy Center in Emporia and also the President for the Kansas Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers, received the award for outstanding work in child advocacy.
Inwood, of Emporia, has coordinated training opportunities for professionals and provides presentations to increase awareness of victims' rights and child advocacy to students and community organizations. Working on behalf of Kansas kids at both the state and national levels, Inwood has represented Kansas at the Midwest Regional Children's Advocacy Center's Summit and successfully secured one of four grants from the National Children's Alliance.
"Kathleen has worked with legislators, the governor's office, the attorney general's office and community members to advance child advocacy programs across the state," Morrison said. "Her hard work has changed the lives of some of our most vulnerable victims."
Dennis Butler, Ottawa police chief, received the award for outstanding work by a law enforcement officer in victims' rights. Chief Butler has highlighted the serious nature of sexual and domestic crimes and aggressively developed policies, trainings and funding sources to enhance the work of the Ottawa Police Department in assisting crime victims.
Butler was the first law enforcement executive from Kansas selected to participate in the National Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women, where he explored innovative approaches to investigate domestic violence crimes, sexual assault and stalking.
"Chief Butler has gone above and beyond to crack down on sexual and domestic crimes, protect children from family violence and decrease violence against women," Morrison said. "He continues to go the extra mile to keep victims of these crimes safe and make sure the offenders are stopped."
Deborah Holcomb, Victim Services Director for the Kansas Department of Corrections, received the award for outstanding work in victims' advocacy.
Holcomb, of Manhattan, has moved the Office of Victim Services from providing written notification only, to providing a wide-range of services to assist Kansas victims and survivors. These improved services include comprehensive notification, domestic violence programs for released inmates, a national toll free victims' service phone number, victim notification of interstate compact offenders, and much more.
"Too often, victims or survivors would receive little support once an offender was sentenced to prison. Debi changed that," Morrison said. "She has been the leading force behind the wide-ranging services that crime victims and their families now receive from the Department of Corrections."
Morrison again reiterated his commitment to increasing assistance from the attorney general's office to victims' programs across the state.
"This is exciting time. I am ready to work with each of you to better serve the crime victims of Kansas," Morrison said.
To honor Kansas crime victims, Morrison will criss-cross the state this month, visiting Wichita, Hays, Topeka, Garden City, Colby and Dodge City to talk about victims' rights and visit victims' assistance programs.