As a volunteer victim advocate, Kay Benish said, “There are so many victims who need you, assisting them through the confusing, daunting judicial system has been a very enriching experience for me”.

The Marion County Victims’ Assistance Program was established in 1981. Thousands of victims have been assisted by staff and volunteer victim advocates. A few services provided to victims are:

• accompaniment to court hearings and guidance through the justice system;

• awareness of victims rights;

• assistance with victims compensation claims;

• advocacy between law enforcement, assigned prosecutor and the victim;

• 24 hour on-call response services to victims of sexual assault and survivors of homicide.

Unfortunately advocates currently have to prioritize their caseloads and provide services to only “victims of violent person crimes”. Due to the large crime rate within Marion County, victims of property crimes such as robbery, burglary, identity theft, and home invasions are among those who do not receive direct services. Elderly and vulnerable disabled citizens are among these victims.

The proposed levy would provide five additional victim advocate positions to help fill this enormous gap in services. This past year the Marion County Victim Assistance program provided services to over 2,000 victims of crime. An additional 3,000 victims were not assigned an advocate due to the current limitations.

Anyone can become a victim of crime at any time. I realized this when my 12 year old daughter, Lisa, was murdered October 1992 in Lake Oswego. Crime does not discriminate, it devastates.

The Marion County Victim Assistance Program is committed to providing equal services to all victims of crime. As stated by Solon, “Justice will be served only when those who are not injured by crime feel as indignant as those who are.”

Please join in supporting services for crime victims in Marion County by voting YES on Measure 24-19.

Steve Doell, President

Crime Victims United of Oregon