Victim Rights Week Event Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP)

The JJourney
VICTIM ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Summer 2006, Volume 8
Restoration, like healing, is
a journey that we all must
make together. We lean on,
support, learn from, give
ideas, encourage, and grow
in the attempt to heal, make
whole again, and restore that
which was taken during the
commission of a crime. As
correctional professionals,
advocates, victims, community
members and offenders, we
are on a journey that will
change our lives forever as
well as those lives that we
touch along the path of our
journey.
Inside this edition:
Victim Rights Week at ASP
Victim Rights Week Recognition
Victim Impact Panels
Dealing with Rape
Inmates Create Coloring Book
Getting to know Candis Lockhard
Victim Registration Process
Victim Rights Week Event
Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP)
A welcome from James, inmate, on behalf of the S.A.V.E. group
at Anamosa State Penitentiary during Victim Rights Week event…
Honored Survivors, Honored Victims, and Honored Guests:
We came together here today so that we, the inmates of the S.A.V.E.
group (Seriously Acknowledging Victims’ Emotions), could sincerely
acknowledge that we are responsible and accountable for the offenses
that we committed against you, and that we are responsible and
accountable to you for the trauma, loss, grief, pain, and turmoil that we
have brought into your lives.
We inmates have taken part in Victims’ Impact Awareness Classes and in
the ASP S.A.V.E. group and together these have helped us to understand
that we have harmed you profoundly and forever altered your lives. You
once gave us your trust, your kindness, and your innocence. We betrayed
your trust, returned your kindness with violence, and shattered your
innocence. For that we are truly sorry, and we give you our most sincere
and humble apology.
We have got a glimpse of the suffering that you have had to endure
because of our selfish, insensible actions and we realize that you have
had to summon up great strength and courage to carry on through the
burdens and hardships and losses that we have imposed on you. You
have refused to let yourself be beaten. We honor you and we offer you
our willingness to do whatever we can to help you continue to recover
and go forward.
We realize that our childish justifications, our hiding behind the legal
system, our blaming of others, and our continued failures to accept
responsibility for our actions have added still more pain to your lives and
we truly do not want to be the cause of more pain. We apologize to you
for that and we want you to know that that stops now!
Being here today has been a privilege for us. The inmates that you’ve
heard from today are very grateful to all of you for this opportunity to be
a part of honoring you, and of honoring survivors and victims worldwide
during this Victim Rights Week. From all of us, thank you for coming
today and God Bless you.
Crime Victim Rights Week Recognition
from Anamosa
State Penitentiary
and the Seriously
Acknowledging Victims’
Emotions (S.A.V.E.)
4-25-06
“As human beings, we have emotions too,
and want to share our feelings with those
we’ve harmed. We believe that communicating
deeply with each other leads to the conversion
of heart called reform.”
The S.A.V.E. group presented a beautiful quilt to Director Maynard to display
in the Central Office for all to see the realizations some offenders have made.
On July 23, 2004, S.A.V.E. was founded by a group of determined inmates
as an offshoot of the many Victim Impact Awareness classes held in the
Anamosa prison. The group enables inmates to reflect on the many levels of
feelings and emotions of their victims and all those affected by their crimes.
From the group to Director Maynard, ”We learn about the impact of crime
from survivors and victims coming to tell their powerful stories in the Victim
Impact Panels. As we venture into our second year, we have been blessed
with the time, thoughts, and efforts of others. Inmates of the S.A.V.E. group
would like to express our gratitude to those numerous allies as they help us
to grow in awareness and participate in the healing process.
This quilt is the symbol of a beginning—our beginning—in experiencing a
dawning awareness to the intrinsic value of humanity and in acknowledging
the debt we’ve incurred to our victims and society. We wish to step forward
and shoulder our responsibility for this deficit while awakening to a belief in
something greater than ourselves—to transcend our frailty and know there
is hope in healing and forgiveness. As human beings, we have emotions
too, and want to share our feelings with those we’ve harmed. We believe
that communicating deeply with each other leads to the conversion of heart
called reform.”
2
Victim Impact Panels: A Debriefing
by Chris Baker, Victim-Offender Services Coordinator Eighth Judicial District
(This is the first installment of a two-part series
examining the restorative justice principles on
which victim impact panels are based, the intake
process for survivors and offenders, and the
effectiveness of the sometimes controversial
panels in Iowa sex offender treatment programs.)
Why do survivors of sexual assault take time
from their busy lives to sit, face to face, behind
closed or locked doors, with a group of
convicted sex offenders and reveal their deepest
thoughts and emotions about how their lives
have been affected by sexual assault? As victim
impact panels become more prevalent in Iowa
correctional institutions and judicial districts,
that question is often at the fore.
The Underlying Principles
of Victim Impact Panels
In the Eighth Judicial District, victim impact
panels for sex offenders occur in two forums:
at the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility
and in the community-based program
for probationers and parolees. The Mt.
Pleasant panels are a continuation of the
groundbreaking efforts initiated by Victim and
Restorative Justice Programs Administrator
Betty Brown and staff members in 1999, while
the community-based program began in
2005 under the guidance of Victim-Offender
Services Coordinator Chris Baker and
Community Treatment Coordinator Julie
Trinkle. In collaboration with DOC Psychologist
Sara Beth Schurr, the goals of the victim
impact panel component of the sex offender
treatment programs are articulated as follows:
Of course, the reasons are as unique as the
individuals involved, but to presume to fully
understand those reasons is just one more way
of stereotyping and, perhaps, even re-victimizing
survivors. Still, in that context, below are some
common responses by victim impact panel
speakers:
• To empower victims by providing an opportunity to tell their story of victimization, survival, and recovery;
• Self-empowerment—to regain a sense of
control in their lives, something the perpetrator
(and sometimes the criminal justice system as
well) stole from them;
• To sensitize sex offenders to the painful reality and consequences of their victimizing behaviors as a motivation for treatment and the commitment to a healthy, victim-free life;
• A genuine concern to help offenders
understand the full impact of their criminal
behavior; and, ultimately
• And to present the victim impact panels in a restorative justice context, which means that
all participants are treated with equal respect.
However, although the needs of one party do
not supersede the other, special consideration
will always be given to victim impact panel
speakers to avoid the risk of re-victimization.
• To prevent future victims.
No two stories are the same or, one might argue,
complete. Like many other victims, their stories
and their lives are often works in progress in the
aftermath of a crime—journeys for which there
are no maps. There are side roads. Dead ends.
Meandering detours. Setbacks. Steps forward.
More setbacks.
3
Victim Impact Panels: A Debriefing
Consequently, preparing survivors of sexual
assault to speak on victim impact panels is a
serious business. The current intake process
was developed in 2000 by representatives from
the Iowa Department of Corrections, the Iowa
Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Polk County
Victim Services (now the Polk County Crisis and
Advocacy Center) and the Iowa Board for the
Treatment of Sexual Abusers in the report, Victim
Impact Panels and Survivors of Sexual Abuse:
Suggested Guidelines.
The report provides suggested standards for
trained facilitators, counselors and advocates,
and processes for screening and preparing
speakers and offenders. Those processes
include exploring the many risks and benefits of
participation, debriefing survivors and offenders,
addressing audience re-traumatization, and how
to create a safe environment for all.
The intake is crucial. At the outset, all potential
speakers are told they may exit the process at
anytime without explanation—that includes up to
the last second before the panel begins, or even
once it has started.
Victim impact panels are not for every survivor,
nor are they intended to be. What once sounded
like a good idea to a survivor may suddenly
change for a variety of reasons: After learning of
the inherent risks and benefits, some may decide
not to participate. Contemplating the reality of
sitting in the same room with sex offenders may
be too overwhelming for some survivors. Others
may participate once, but not return for a second
panel. Those same individuals may reappear at
a later date and want to speak again. Each of
the above scenarios has occurred at one time or
another.
Ultimately, the facilitator must assess whether
a survivor is an appropriate speaker. It is a
tough call. There is no foolproof formula to
make that determination, but from a facilitator’s
perspective, it is important that a speaker fully
understand the risks, has a viable support system
(therapist, counselor, victim advocate, or family
member) and understands the restorative justice
principles (see related story) on which the panels
are based. However, all things considered, the right
of self-determination by a survivor who chooses
to participate also plays a significant role in the
facilitator’s final assessment.
Once a survivor decides to speak, facilitators
may assist by first providing an opportunity to
tell the story in a safe, neutral setting. A speaker
is never told what to say or how to best render a
story, unless asked. In addition, each speaker is
provided roster of offenders attending a panel to
avoid any potential problems should an offender
be recognized by name or face. If necessary, an
offender will be excluded from a panel at a speaker
or facilitator’s request.
“Offenders are assured that
the purpose is not to humiliate
or shame. Although some may
experience those feelings
at times for different reasons,
the goal is to educate.”
It is equally important that offenders are properly
screened and prepared for a victim impact panel.
Treatment staff members are relied upon to
determine an offender’s appropriateness for the
panels before the facilitator conducts the orientation.
Offenders are assured that the purpose is not to
humiliate or shame. Although some may experience
those feelings at times for different reasons, the goal
is to educate.
Considerable time is spent discussing and reviewing
expectations, how the process will unfold, good
listening habits and potentially offensive behaviors.
Offenders can and do ask questions after the
presentation. Most speakers are open to comments
and questions, but reserve the right, without
explanation, to refuse to answer any question. In
addition, any comments or questions focusing on
personal details such names, dates, locations, or
4
Victim Impact Panels: A Debriefing
other specific issues related to the crime
are forbidden.
Like survivors, offenders are also
debriefed. This provides offenders a
chance to openly process the experience
with the facilitator and other offenders.
Moreover, based on their comments, the
facilitator can further reinforce the goals
of the panel, or in some cases confront
any negative comments that may hint at
deeper treatment issues.
For example, some offenders may be
tempted to entertain derailing thoughts:
“Oh, yes, that was terrible what happened
to her, but my victim didn’t have it that
bad.” Victim blaming, intentional or not,
can also occur: Why did she do that?
Didn’t she know that was a dangerous
area? Why was she alone?
Others may be quick to correlate a
religious belief or experience presented
in a survivor’s story to their own notions
about victim recovery, healing and
forgiveness. In other words: victims and
survivors can and do fully recover from
the impact of a sexual assault and no
longer harbor any ill feelings toward their
offenders. That dangerous rationalization
can lead offenders to further minimize
behaviors and possibly open the door
to future victimization. All offenders are
encouraged to further discuss these and
any other issues that may surface in their
respective treatment groups.
(Editor’s Note: In the next issue of “The
Journey,” learn more about victim impact
panels from the perspectives of survivors,
offenders and treatment staff. In addition,
the effectiveness of the panels will be
examined.)
Cheri Kelaher Receives
the Governor’s Volunteer Award
by Betty Brown
Congratulations to Cheri
Kelaher who received the
Governor’s Volunteer Award
for Corrections in June 2006.
For the last several years,
Cheri Kelaher has been
dedicated to making a
difference in offenders’
thinking and behavior by
sharing—during victim
impact classes, prison writing
workshops, Accountability
Boards, Iowa Corrections Association conferences,
and the dedication of victim memorials—the story of her
son’s murder and its impact on her.
Cheri has tirelessly given hundreds of hours of her time
over the past several years to the community, DOC staff,
and offenders helping make a difference by sharing the
story of her son’s murder and by supporting offenders
as human beings who have made some really bad
decisions, causing great harm. Cheri has touched many
lives, including those of many offenders. Having gotten
to know Cheri—seeing the grief and harm caused by the
murder of her son—these offenders want to change and
not hurt one more person. Cheri began by wanting to
make a small difference. She indeed has changed the
lives of anyone having contact with her. Her dedication
to the DOC, offenders, and others is inspiring. We are
so fortunate to have her voice.
Volunteers are not paid—not
because they are worthless,
but because they are priceless.
5
Dealing with Rape: Keep the Focus
There’s no way around it: Rape is every woman’s
worst nightmare. The U.S. Department of Justice’s
National Crime Victimization Survey reports that
one of every six American women has been the
victim of an attempted or completed rape in her
lifetime.
When you know the victims’ names and stories,
sexual violence is even harder to accept. As
difficult as it is to comprehend the reality of sexual
assault in your own community, it is much more
difficult to say, “It was my sister, my friend, or my
neighbor who was raped.”
My experience in working throughout the state
has taught me that a community’s response to
rape victims goes far beyond the reporting of
the crime, the arrest, or the trial. In our state,
long-standing partnerships are committed to
dealing effectively with the nightmare of sexual
violence. The diligence of advocates in our state
has raised our consciousness to the necessity of
partnerships and working with others as allies to
meet the needs of rape victims. Only through team
work with the advocates, police officers, health
care professionals, crime victim compensation,
prosecutors and victim service providers—working
together and sharing expertise—do we improve our
service to victims.
Sexual violence is an extraordinarily complicated
crime, involving many more issues than the way
statistics are reported or categorized. Are there
problems? Absolutely. Those of us working directly
by Kate Schapman, SVP Paralegal,
Iowa Attorney General's Office
with victims resolve problems every day, and we
know that issues don’t just arise in one area or with
one organization.
The most effective approach requires all of us
who work in the field to ensure there is adequate
training, staff and resources, and always—always—
to stay focused on the real issue: the victim.
Sexual violence isn’t a member’s game. It is a
personal trauma that evokes painful memories each
time we talk about it. It’s about people like Denise,
a 34-year-old businesswoman who has panic
attacks on cold snowy nights; or Marion, who is 72
and never thought she’d be raped in her own home;
or Lisa, who was raped by her uncle and told by
her family “we don’t talk about things like that” and
countless college students who have left school
because they couldn’t deal with the memories
of rape. Victims’ stories are endless, and their
nightmares are real.
Those of us who deal with victims on a daily
basis must be vigilant in our efforts to improve
our response to victims and to create a safe
environment for reporting rape and holding
perpetrators accountable. We all must be part of
the solution. We must do more than identify the
problems. We have to stay focused on the real
issue in these crimes: the victims.
My heartfelt thanks to the advocates around Iowa
who have taught me so much!
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little
voice at the end of the day that says, I’ll try again tomorrow. —Mary Anne Radmacher
6
NCF Inmates Create Coloring Book
When crimes are committed many people
suffer the terrible consequences of those
acts, with children often being the unintended
victims. While an adult offender is serving his
or her sentence their sons and daughters are
serving time as well. Their punishment may
not be physical imprisonment, yet they face
the prospect of growing up without the love
and guidance of a father, a mother, or in some
cases either parent. Children are forced to take
on emotional stresses that no youngster should
ever have to bear. So, it’s important to find
ways in which incarcerated families can work
on strengthening their bonds and repairing the
damage that has been done.
At the Newton Correctional Facility, the men
are striving to do just that. One of the many
projects going on includes the creation and
publication of a coloring book—wholly designed
and authored by prisoners—for the children of
offenders across Iowa, as well as for children
living in shelters and hospitals.
The purpose in producing this coloring book
is so that the children of incarcerated parents
will be able to have something special from
their parent. Each child who visits the prisons
throughout the state will receive—free of
charge—a copy of the coloring book. The aim
is to print enough books so that, initially, fifty to
one hundred books will be placed in the visiting
room of every prison in Iowa so that each
child who visits incarcerated family members
can have one. Once this is accomplished, the
coloring books will be available for purchase.
The details surrounding the sale of these books
have yet to be determined.
The books contains line drawings to be
colored, word search puzzles, matching games,
alphabet and number exercises, and other
educational projects—all of which are original
drawings by the contributors to the book. No
copyrighted material was allowed. The skill
levels of the authors involved are different.
Some men had no experience at design and
drawing, while others were gifted with artistic
ability, producing wonderful pictures with their
talent. The final draft is one that was designed
with a lot of heart and soul.
“To be able to create something that children
can share with their parents—especially in this
type of setting—is a wonderful feeling. It’s good
to contribute to such a project as this.” Justin
Silvers said.
“It gives one hope and it’s
important that we all feed that
hope—prisoners, staff, and
civilians. If it’s possible to build
and maintain strong family
relationships through visits
and through projects such as
this—then we need to pursue
that goal with more energy.”
“When I sit in the visiting room watching the
interaction of fathers and their children, I am
amazed at the changes that occur. A ‘hardhearted’ convict becomes transformed into
a tender, loving parent—a side you might not
otherwise see inside of the prison. It gives
one hope and it’s important that we all feed
that hope—prisoners, staff, and civilians.
If it’s possible to build and maintain strong
family relationships through visits and through
projects such as this—then we need to pursue
that goal with more energy,” said another
prisoner. “I wish I had been able to share that
same joy and love with my son.”
7
NCF Inmates Create Coloring Book
The Victim and Restorative Justice Program of
Iowa, with Megan Kruse-Ingledue spearheading
the effort, sponsored with project. Helping the men
from start to finish, Megan worked in coordination
with NCF managerial staff and librarian, Evelynn
Oltmanns, organizing meetings and materials, and
ensuring that the book was of high quality and
appropriate for children. She came to the men’s
prison once a week for two months, as well as for
follow-up and editing sessions.
To fund the printing of the coloring book, generous
donations from the inmates at the Newton
Correctional Facility amounted to $450.00. A
subsequent pizza fundraiser was held, with
proceeds from profits going to further fund the
coloring book printing. From this effort another
$971.00 was raised for a combined total of
approximately $1400.00. The estimated printing
cost for each book was about $2.00. We hope
that donations will continue, as well as future
fundraisers, so that we can maintain an available
stock of coloring books. Donations for future
printing costs are still being sought. If anyone
wishes to make a donation, they are asked to
contact Betty Brown at: Treasurer of Iowa, c/o
Betty Brown—Administrator, Victim and Restorative
Justice Programs, 510 East 12th St., Des Moines,
Iowa, 50319. Please be sure to specify that your
donation is for the Newton Correctional Facility
Coloring Book Fund.
Always remember that
you are absolutely unique.
Just like everyone else. —Margaret Mead The Iowa Correctional Facility for Women in
Mitchellville will be the site responsible for the
printing of the coloring books. They are involved in
this cooperative effort and, as always, the women
there generously provide the needed effort and
energy to complete the project.
“As a participant of this undertaking, I am proud of
the end result,” said Emanual Receveur. “It was an
honor to be able to participate in something that
will be a continuous source of entertainment and
learning for the youth of this state.”
8
Getting to know the DOC’s Victim Advisory Council
There are many “unsung
heroes” in the field of
victim advocacy. As a
Victim Services Advocate
for the Attorney General’s
area prosecution division,
Candis Lockard is a tireless
advocate for crime victims.
Her knowledge of victim
rights helps provide detailed information for
victims and provide quality services for crime
victims. Her work in the field of victim advocacy
has been of tremendous value, not only to the
victims that she has worked with, but also to
the corrections field. She is not afraid to seek
answers and support crime victims and families
in the very confusing criminal justice system.
She is never afraid to give of her time in a very
busy schedule. Candis embodies the term
“heart and soul” of victim advocacy.
Candis Lockard has been an active part of
Department of Correction’s Restorative Justice
Task Force and Victim Advisory Council. She
helped establish a Restitution Committee, to
look at ways to better this very frustrating aspect
of victimization. As a member of each of these
committees, she brings the vital voice of the
crime victim. She’s the one who shows up to
remind us of the ongoing pain and suffering of
real people in our communities. DOC is very
fortunate to have her enthusiasm, efforts, and
knowledge in helping us support victims and
hold offenders accountable. Because of her
continued positive impact on victim’s issues,
Candis Lockard was recognized with the Iowa
Correction Association Victim Assistance
award in 2004.
Much of this woman’s incredible work is behind
the scenes. She works on a daily basis with
survivors of some of Iowa’s most violent crimes
—assaults, sex crimes, and homicides. She is
present to guide the survivor, and/or surviving
family members, through the chaos of the
criminal justice system. She is the advocate
who tirelessly travels around the state to meet
victims where they live, to answer the tough
questions, give the hard answers and supply
endless boxes of tissue.
She brings these experiences to the table with
corrections staff and community members
as we move toward more victim sensitive
practices, and the ongoing challenge to
balance community safety and offender
reintegration. She is our reminder of why we
are here, doing the work we do in corrections
and why we need to be mindful of how we work
with offenders.
“I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally
I became that person. Or he became me.”
—Cary Grant
9
Iowa Board of Parole
Victim Registration Process
The Iowa Board of Parole knows there are no victimless
crimes. The Board looks at each case individually and does
take into account the facts of the crime. By law, the Board
can only register victims of violent crimes. This is described
in Iowa Code 915.10 number 5, which defines a violent crime
as, “. . . a forcible felony, . . . , and includes any other felony
or aggravated misdemeanor which involved the actual or
threatened infliction of physical or emotional injury on one or
more persons.”
Volunteering is the
ultimate exercise in
democracy. You vote in
elections once a year,
but when you volunteer,
Once a victim has been registered based upon the above
condition, he or she is notified of all Iowa Board of Parole
actions. Anyone can contact the Board and submit opinions,
but registered victims can participate in parole hearings and
personally voice their concerns regarding the offender’s fate.
you vote every day about
In closing, the Iowa Board of Parole puts victims first when
determining any releasing action for an inmate. The Board
minimizes no crime, but does have to abide by the Code of
the State of Law.
—Marjorie Moore
the kind of community
you want to live in.
Volunteer Appreciation Day at NCF
On April 26th, Newton Correctional Facility held a Volunteer Appreciation
Day. This event was planned so the staff could show their appreciation to
victims and the many other volunteers that donate their time helping with
the programs offered at the facility.
The event started at 4:00 pm and lasted until 7:00 pm. There was a
presentation at 5:00 pm where staff addressed the guest’s expressing
their thanks for all the help they have received throughout the year.
Pizza, pop, and cookies were served while a PowerPoint presentation
and music played and the guests socialized with staff. It was a great
opportunity for staff to visit with the victims and volunteers outside of
work. Guests received appreciation certificates for all the hard work they
have donated in the past year.
Prior to this event an inmate fund raiser was held to start a victim fund and
to help finance this event. This gave the inmates an opportunity to restore
some justice.
10
Victim Advisory Council Goals
Expand victim outreach programs and services.
Assist judicial districts in providing victim services in community
corrections agencies and other related community agencies.
Enhance public awareness concerning victim rights and services
through public education programs.
Assist other agencies in the development of victim education
efforts and assist in cross-training programs with allied criminal
justice and victim service professionals.
Develop legislative and Department proposals to enhance victim
rights, services, and programs.
Victims’ stories
needed….
The Iowa Department of
Corrections Victim Advisory
Council is eliciting interest in
producing an anthology of
stories by Iowa crime victims
and survivors. The stories will
be written by the victims and
survivors of any crime and will
underscore the impact of crime
on their lives.
If preferable, authors are free
to use pseudonyms and every
effort will be made to maintain
that confidentiality. An editor
will work closely with each
writer to make sure the stories
are professionally edited and
presented.
DOC is fortunate to have the enthusiastic participation of the victim, community
and corrections representatives on the Victim Advisory Council to ensure the
victims’ voices are heard.
This project is very much in the
brainstorming stage; so related
ideas are also welcome. The
project will not proceed without
adequate interest. If you would
like to contribute a story, or if
you know someone who might,
please contact Chris Baker at
[email protected] or
(641) 472-4242 Ext. 109.
Editor of The Journey:
Erin McGee, Volunteer
Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
11
Iowa Department of Corrections
Victim and Restorative Justice Programs
420 Watson Powell Way
Des Moines, Iowa 50309