Parents of Murdered Childrenwww.POMC.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release January 28, 2010
Contact: Nancy Ruhe, Parents of Murdered Children 888-818-POMC
Dan Levey, cell 602-509-8672
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, NOVJL, 847-446-7073
HB2525 Pulled in Arizona,
Facing Certain Legislative Defeat:A Very Bad Bill for Victims of Violent Crime, Public Safety, and the Rule of Law
(Phoenix) Victims of violent crime, victims’ advocates, legal experts, and those concerned for public safety celebrated today the defeat of HB 2525 in the Arizona Legislature. It was pulled from a committee vote in anticipation of its certain defeat. The National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers (NOVJL) and Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) issued this joint statement about this very bad legislation:
“HB 2525 would have retroactively granted parole opportunities to offenders, most of whom are extremely violent murderers, sentenced to natural life without the possibility of parole. Anti-incarceration and pro-offender activists in several states lately have been attempting this approach to prison reform – trying to re-sentence offenders sentenced to natural life through legislation. This proposal was not only horribly re-traumatizing for victims of violent crime, and very bad public policy, for the obvious public safety reasons, and would have freed potentially some of the most violent and heinous criminals in the history of the state of Arizona; but would also pose a serious legal question of fairness. With witnesses dead, or gone, memories faded, evidence long lost, records not saved, etc – how could a fair parole hearing process ever have been possible? These offenders were sentenced to natural life. For the most part, they are there because they killed people – violent, horrible deaths. They were duly and appropriately sentenced to natural life, and that is the sentence they should serve. Prison reform activists should focus their efforts on non-violent criminals and better programs for offenders who will someday be released.”
The victims groups were particularly happy to see the prompt defeat of this legislation because it hammers home the most important point of all: offender and prison reform advocates should not be retroactively proposing parole for natural life sentences. Arizona is only the latest state where this has been attempted. Others include Illinois, California, Michigan, and several others. All have utterly failed legislatively. Clearly legislators all over the nation realize not only what a bad idea this for victims, for public safety and for law enforcement, but also how unconstitutional and legally unfair it is.
Victims groups stated that the bill would have violated the following highlighted portions of the Arizona Constitution’s provisions for victims’ rights:
2.1. Victims' bill of rights
Section 2.1. (A) To preserve and protect victims' rights to justice and due process, a victim of crime has a right:
1. To be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process.
2. To be informed, upon request, when the accused or convicted person is released from custody or has escaped.
3. To be present at and, upon request, to be informed of all criminal proceedings where the defendant has the right to be present.
4. To be heard at any proceeding involving a post-arrest release decision, a negotiated plea, and sentencing.
5. To refuse an interview, deposition, or other discovery request by the defendant, the defendant's attorney, or other person acting on behalf of the defendant.
6. To confer with the prosecution, after the crime against the victim has been charged, before trial or before any disposition of the case and to be informed of the disposition.
7. To read pre-sentence reports relating to the crime against the victim when they are available to the defendant.
8. To receive prompt restitution from the person or persons convicted of the criminal conduct that caused the victim's loss or injury.
9. To be heard at any proceeding when any post-conviction release from confinement is being considered.
10. To a speedy trial or disposition and prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction and sentence.
###
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, November 9, 2009
The 13 Victim's of the DC Sniper
This is the memorial to the victim's of the DC area sniper. This case highlights a teenager that worked in tandem with an adult accomplice to committ horrific crimes. In the end, the sniper, Lee Boyd Malvo, killed 10 random innocent victims and wounded 3 others, ruining countless lives.
If the court or the legislators consider changing the existing life sentences for juvenile offenders, then Mr. Malvo would be eligible at some point for parole. Is it cruel and unjust to sentence an offender who was not an adult when they committed their crimes? Is it cruel and unjust to put these people's families through the pain of re-living such an unimaginable tragedy over and over again?
The victims are listed below, with our thoughts and prayers.
In Memory of the Murdered and in Tribute to the Wounded (chronological):
James Martin 55 Deceased October 2, 2002 at 6:04 PM Wheaton, Maryland
James Buchanan 39 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 7:41 AM Rockville, Maryland
Premkumar Walekar 54 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 8:12 AM Aspen Hill, MD
Sarah Ramos 34 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 8:37 AM Silver Spring, Maryland
Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera 25 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 9:58 AM Kensington, Maryland
Pascal Charlot 72 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 9:20 PM Washington, D.C.
Caroline Seawell 43 Living October 4, 2002 at 2:30 PM Spotsylvania, Virginia
Iran Brown 13 Living October 7, 2002 at 8:09 AM Bowie, Maryland
Dean Harold Meyers 53 Deceased October 9, 2002 at 8:18 PM Manassas, Virginia
Kenneth Bridges 53 Deceased October 11, 2002 at 9:40 AM Fredericksburg, Virginia
Linda Franklin 47 Deceased October 14, 2002 at 9:19 PM Falls Church, Virginia
Jeffrey Hopper 37 Living October 19, 2002 at 8:00 PM Ashland, Virginia
Conrad Johnson 35 Deceased October 22, 2002 at 5:55 AM Oxon Hill, Maryland
If the court or the legislators consider changing the existing life sentences for juvenile offenders, then Mr. Malvo would be eligible at some point for parole. Is it cruel and unjust to sentence an offender who was not an adult when they committed their crimes? Is it cruel and unjust to put these people's families through the pain of re-living such an unimaginable tragedy over and over again?
The victims are listed below, with our thoughts and prayers.
In Memory of the Murdered and in Tribute to the Wounded (chronological):
James Martin 55 Deceased October 2, 2002 at 6:04 PM Wheaton, Maryland
James Buchanan 39 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 7:41 AM Rockville, Maryland
Premkumar Walekar 54 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 8:12 AM Aspen Hill, MD
Sarah Ramos 34 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 8:37 AM Silver Spring, Maryland
Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera 25 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 9:58 AM Kensington, Maryland
Pascal Charlot 72 Deceased October 3, 2002 at 9:20 PM Washington, D.C.
Caroline Seawell 43 Living October 4, 2002 at 2:30 PM Spotsylvania, Virginia
Iran Brown 13 Living October 7, 2002 at 8:09 AM Bowie, Maryland
Dean Harold Meyers 53 Deceased October 9, 2002 at 8:18 PM Manassas, Virginia
Kenneth Bridges 53 Deceased October 11, 2002 at 9:40 AM Fredericksburg, Virginia
Linda Franklin 47 Deceased October 14, 2002 at 9:19 PM Falls Church, Virginia
Jeffrey Hopper 37 Living October 19, 2002 at 8:00 PM Ashland, Virginia
Conrad Johnson 35 Deceased October 22, 2002 at 5:55 AM Oxon Hill, Maryland
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Media Release and Contact Information for Victim's of Juvenile Lifers
The National Organization of Victims of “Juvenile Lifers” – NOVJL
www.jlwopvictims.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release October 28, 2009
CONTACT:
Daniel Horowitz 510-326-6957
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins 847-331-2704
VICTIMS OF JUVENILE KILLERS AND
VIOLENT TEENS TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY REGARDING UPCOMING HIGH PROFILE SUPREME COURT CASE
Washington D.C. – On November 9, 2009 the Supreme Court of the United States will be hearing oral arguments on two of the most highly watched cases of this term, Sullivan v Florida and Graham v Florida. Up to now, a well-funded propaganda campaign on behalf of the juvenile killers and violent teens has dominated media coverage of the issue of juvenile life without parole prison sentences. Concerned victims’ families have organized, and are making themselves available to tell the truth about these horrific crimes, the offenders, and the associated prison sentences being debated nationally. The Juvenile Life without Parole (JLWOP) sentence has been under attack by offender advocacy groups ever since the Supreme Court decided the Roper v Simmons case in 2005 barring the execution of offenders under age 18.
Victims’ families will be at the Court on November 9, and can be arranged for media availability by calling Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, listed above. Also, victims’ family members in more than a dozen states around the nation have agreed to be available for the news media during this entire process. They share their powerful stories in a very articulate manner, providing facts and counterpoint to the campaign of misinformation that accompanies reports by offender advocates.
The Heritage Foundation at www.heritage.org has also published an important report on the issue of JLWOP sentencing, Adult Time for Adult Crime, and its author Charles “Cully” Stimson, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation is also available to the media to share his extensive legal expertise.
For more information, see our website at www.jlwopvictims.org or contact NOVJL President Daniel Horowitz, or NOVJL founder Jennifer Bishop Jenkins above to arrange victims’ families to speak in the media. Daniel Horowitz is a nationally renowned defense attorney who is a frequent guest analyst on national news media, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox and other stations.
###
www.jlwopvictims.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release October 28, 2009
CONTACT:
Daniel Horowitz 510-326-6957
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins 847-331-2704
VICTIMS OF JUVENILE KILLERS AND
VIOLENT TEENS TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY REGARDING UPCOMING HIGH PROFILE SUPREME COURT CASE
Washington D.C. – On November 9, 2009 the Supreme Court of the United States will be hearing oral arguments on two of the most highly watched cases of this term, Sullivan v Florida and Graham v Florida. Up to now, a well-funded propaganda campaign on behalf of the juvenile killers and violent teens has dominated media coverage of the issue of juvenile life without parole prison sentences. Concerned victims’ families have organized, and are making themselves available to tell the truth about these horrific crimes, the offenders, and the associated prison sentences being debated nationally. The Juvenile Life without Parole (JLWOP) sentence has been under attack by offender advocacy groups ever since the Supreme Court decided the Roper v Simmons case in 2005 barring the execution of offenders under age 18.
Victims’ families will be at the Court on November 9, and can be arranged for media availability by calling Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, listed above. Also, victims’ family members in more than a dozen states around the nation have agreed to be available for the news media during this entire process. They share their powerful stories in a very articulate manner, providing facts and counterpoint to the campaign of misinformation that accompanies reports by offender advocates.
The Heritage Foundation at www.heritage.org has also published an important report on the issue of JLWOP sentencing, Adult Time for Adult Crime, and its author Charles “Cully” Stimson, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation is also available to the media to share his extensive legal expertise.
For more information, see our website at www.jlwopvictims.org or contact NOVJL President Daniel Horowitz, or NOVJL founder Jennifer Bishop Jenkins above to arrange victims’ families to speak in the media. Daniel Horowitz is a nationally renowned defense attorney who is a frequent guest analyst on national news media, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox and other stations.
###
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Kristina Grill
That's my sister, Krissy, as I called her. This is the last picture I have of her, it was taken at school about a week before she was killed. It came in the mail from the school about two weeks after the funeral. She never saw it, but you can...
As the holiday of Halloween draws near, it felt like the right time to tell my own family experience with a Juvenile serving Life without Parole. I distinctly recall throwing away the candy she collected trick or treating a week before she was murdered, so the two stay together in my mind.
It was a difficult time for my 15 year old sister. She had been secretly seeing a boy from school, as she was sure my family would not accept him. They were together for several months before he broke it off. Unfortunately, by the time he broke it off, she was pregnant. She carried that secret for a few months, and finally decided she had to tell my Mom the truth. I remember being 15 and thinking that if you ignored stuff that bothered you it would just go away. This wasn't that kind of problem...
My sister set up a meeting in a school yard with her former boyfriend, who she still loved, to talk about the baby. She had resolved that she would meet with him, and then tell our Mom that night. That never happened, we found out about the pregnancy, and the boyfriend from the Pittsburgh Police Department. We found out the details from her diary, which also led them to her murderer.
Her killer, also 15 at the time, brought a kitchen knife to the meeting. He would later tell police he planned to kill himself after the meeting. I don't know what was said at that meeting, I've often wondered how she spent those last few minutes of her life before he attacked her.
At some point, he lashed out at her with the knife he "just happened to have with him". He proceeded to stab her 11 times about the neck area and punched and kicked her repeatedly. After he had stabbed her to the point that she would bleed to death in that school yard, he zipped up her jacket, watched her 'twitching' on the ground and departed for home. A seven year old neighborhood boy would find my sister dead in that school yard and go tell his Mom.
When my Mom reported her missing that evening, her friends lied about where she was. They thought they were doing her a favor. Shortly after calling the Police, they came to my Mother's home with a ring my sister had been wearing to do a preliminary ID. That is the moment, the point where all the air is sucked out of your life and it sort of becomes like you are watching a movie. We then had to decide who would go do the identification, thankfully my sister's step mother volunteered. The media was calling our homes and knocking on doors looking for quotes. We had to keep the funeral quiet to avoid news cameras at the grave site.
The strain and emotional impact this had on my Mother was just too much. She was just 54 years old when I buried her with my sister.It was 9 months after my sister's death, and one day before the trial started.
The trial process is intended to help you find closure and justice. In some ways that is true. But, the reality is, it is just day after day of pain and revisiting the most painful thing you've ever experienced. Shortly after the preliminary hearings, the District Attorney told us she'd be pursuing adult charges and a life sentence due to the violence and premeditation of the crime.
We sat through juror selection, trying to find people who hadn't heard all of this on the news and formed an opinion. And then the trial began. I can still vividly describe the images of my sister's body that the coroner used during his testimony. I actually had nightmares about it for months after the trial ended. The police explained that they were able to identify shoe prints on her pregnant belly from her killer. He, had gone home, showered, and went about his day after leaving her, with his child inside her, to bleed to death in the school yard.
In the end, after several weeks in court, he was found guilty, and subsequently sentenced to Life without Parole. We all walked away with the relief that the justice system had provided the best they could for us to move on. We believed that we would never have to revisit the judicial process for her case. We thought we could try to find our way out of the emotional abyss this had created. We accepted the word of the justice system that he would never be free.
As I write this, the momentum and media focus on the 'poor' kids serving these sentences is rampant. Both the Federal and State governments are investigating changes to these laws that allow life sentences to Juveniles offenders. It is perfectly understandable that people who have never heard a coroner describe their loved ones last moments might support this kind of action. If it must be that the courts will go that way, it is morally imperative that any such decision not be retroactive. We had our verdict, and it was just, we should not have to testify and relive that pain every year, or every so many years in order to preserve what the law promised us to be.
I pray that no one else ever has to go through this experience, and if they do that the justice system is there to offer them what is just.
As the holiday of Halloween draws near, it felt like the right time to tell my own family experience with a Juvenile serving Life without Parole. I distinctly recall throwing away the candy she collected trick or treating a week before she was murdered, so the two stay together in my mind.
It was a difficult time for my 15 year old sister. She had been secretly seeing a boy from school, as she was sure my family would not accept him. They were together for several months before he broke it off. Unfortunately, by the time he broke it off, she was pregnant. She carried that secret for a few months, and finally decided she had to tell my Mom the truth. I remember being 15 and thinking that if you ignored stuff that bothered you it would just go away. This wasn't that kind of problem...
My sister set up a meeting in a school yard with her former boyfriend, who she still loved, to talk about the baby. She had resolved that she would meet with him, and then tell our Mom that night. That never happened, we found out about the pregnancy, and the boyfriend from the Pittsburgh Police Department. We found out the details from her diary, which also led them to her murderer.
Her killer, also 15 at the time, brought a kitchen knife to the meeting. He would later tell police he planned to kill himself after the meeting. I don't know what was said at that meeting, I've often wondered how she spent those last few minutes of her life before he attacked her.
At some point, he lashed out at her with the knife he "just happened to have with him". He proceeded to stab her 11 times about the neck area and punched and kicked her repeatedly. After he had stabbed her to the point that she would bleed to death in that school yard, he zipped up her jacket, watched her 'twitching' on the ground and departed for home. A seven year old neighborhood boy would find my sister dead in that school yard and go tell his Mom.
When my Mom reported her missing that evening, her friends lied about where she was. They thought they were doing her a favor. Shortly after calling the Police, they came to my Mother's home with a ring my sister had been wearing to do a preliminary ID. That is the moment, the point where all the air is sucked out of your life and it sort of becomes like you are watching a movie. We then had to decide who would go do the identification, thankfully my sister's step mother volunteered. The media was calling our homes and knocking on doors looking for quotes. We had to keep the funeral quiet to avoid news cameras at the grave site.
The strain and emotional impact this had on my Mother was just too much. She was just 54 years old when I buried her with my sister.It was 9 months after my sister's death, and one day before the trial started.
The trial process is intended to help you find closure and justice. In some ways that is true. But, the reality is, it is just day after day of pain and revisiting the most painful thing you've ever experienced. Shortly after the preliminary hearings, the District Attorney told us she'd be pursuing adult charges and a life sentence due to the violence and premeditation of the crime.
We sat through juror selection, trying to find people who hadn't heard all of this on the news and formed an opinion. And then the trial began. I can still vividly describe the images of my sister's body that the coroner used during his testimony. I actually had nightmares about it for months after the trial ended. The police explained that they were able to identify shoe prints on her pregnant belly from her killer. He, had gone home, showered, and went about his day after leaving her, with his child inside her, to bleed to death in the school yard.
In the end, after several weeks in court, he was found guilty, and subsequently sentenced to Life without Parole. We all walked away with the relief that the justice system had provided the best they could for us to move on. We believed that we would never have to revisit the judicial process for her case. We thought we could try to find our way out of the emotional abyss this had created. We accepted the word of the justice system that he would never be free.
As I write this, the momentum and media focus on the 'poor' kids serving these sentences is rampant. Both the Federal and State governments are investigating changes to these laws that allow life sentences to Juveniles offenders. It is perfectly understandable that people who have never heard a coroner describe their loved ones last moments might support this kind of action. If it must be that the courts will go that way, it is morally imperative that any such decision not be retroactive. We had our verdict, and it was just, we should not have to testify and relive that pain every year, or every so many years in order to preserve what the law promised us to be.
I pray that no one else ever has to go through this experience, and if they do that the justice system is there to offer them what is just.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Elizabeth Olten
This is Elizabeth Olten in an undated photo provided by the Sherif's Department. She was 9 years old when she left this earth at the hands of a juvenile murderer.
It all started on a Wednesday evening, when Elizabeth never came home after leaving a friends house on foot. The police were called after she never showed up. The family described her as shy, and that she was afraid of the dark. Their immediate reaction was that something bad had happened, and they were correct.
There are still many details to come in this case. The police were able to track the killer through 'written evidence' that has yet to be revealed.
On October 24th, 2009 a 15 year old was arrested as a suspect in the murder of this 9 year old girl. Under current law, the suspect will start out in the Juvenile system and if warranted, be moved to the adult system. The charges are First Degree Murder.
This 9 year old will never have another birthday, never see another day, and has family and loved ones who have to deal with that void everyday. This 9 year old was taken from this earth by a 15 year old individual who should and shall be held accountable for their actions.
It all started on a Wednesday evening, when Elizabeth never came home after leaving a friends house on foot. The police were called after she never showed up. The family described her as shy, and that she was afraid of the dark. Their immediate reaction was that something bad had happened, and they were correct.
There are still many details to come in this case. The police were able to track the killer through 'written evidence' that has yet to be revealed.
On October 24th, 2009 a 15 year old was arrested as a suspect in the murder of this 9 year old girl. Under current law, the suspect will start out in the Juvenile system and if warranted, be moved to the adult system. The charges are First Degree Murder.
This 9 year old will never have another birthday, never see another day, and has family and loved ones who have to deal with that void everyday. This 9 year old was taken from this earth by a 15 year old individual who should and shall be held accountable for their actions.
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