http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/40857/
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 :: Staff infoZine
Governor Mark Parkinson and Attorney General Steve Six will host the 13th Annual Crime Victims’ Rights Conference April 21-22, 2010 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Topeka.
Topeka, KS - infoZine - “This conference provides a great opportunity to bring together Kansans across the state who are dedicated to promoting and protecting victims of crime,” said Parkinson. “I appreciate their great work and look forward to a productive conference for everyone involved.”
“By bringing together criminal justice professionals as well as victim rights advocates and volunteers, we not only ensure the rights of crime victims and their families, but stronger communities and a stronger Kansas,” said Attorney General Six.
This year’s theme, “Crime Victims Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.,” strives to develop the critical skills and ideals needed in work with crime victims. The conference aims to encourage law enforcement and crime victim rights advocates to ensure the dignity and respect of crime victims, while valuing their input. These ideals will help guarantee crime victims their rights by law and in the state constitution.
In conjunction, Governor Parkinson will join attendees of the pre-conference training institute, sponsored by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, on Tuesday, April 20th at 10:30 a.m. for a ceremonial bill signing of HB 2517. The legislation requires a domestic violence designation in a criminal case if the court determines the defendant committed such an offense. The governor will sign the bill alongside Curt and Christie Brungardt, parents of Jana Mackey, as well as members of the Governor’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board who helped spearhead the bill.
This year’s conference includes 31 workshops and six keynote presentations. Keynote speakers are:
- Anne Munch, JD, Executive Director, Anne Munch Consulting, Inc., Denver, Colorado;
- Laura Dean-Mooney, President, National Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Irving, Texas;
- Paul Greenwood, JD, Deputy District Attorney, Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit, San Diego County, California;
- Lucy Berliner, MSW, Director, Harborview Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress, Seattle, Washington; and
- David Fitzsimmons, Editorial Cartoonist, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona.
Attorney General Six will be the luncheon speaker on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
Additionally, Governor Parkinson has signed a proclamation declaring April 18-24, 2010 as Kansas Crime Victims’ Rights Week in recognition of the many criminal justice professionals, advocates and volunteers who provide services to crime victims everyday in Kansas.