Group gathers to pay tribute to victims

Ceremony at FCC honors National Crime Victims' Rights Week

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — Farmington Correctional Center employees and officials representing the court system and various crime victims groups gathered Tuesday afternoon for a Crime Victims’ Rights ceremony.

Al Luebbers, the superintendent of the prison, explained the theme of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week this week is “Every Victim. Every Time.” He asked employees and others there to pledge to help every victim, every time — even those who decline services. Nearly 24 million Americans are harmed by crime each year.

Luebbers said the nation has come along way with victims’ rights since 1982 when parents of a murdered child were barred from a courtroom because the judge thought them being there would be too emotional and irrelevant.

Every state now has a crime victims compensation fund, and there are powerful federal laws such as the Crime Victims’ Rights Act to help protect victims and fund needed services.

Pastor Dwight Jones of Harvest Christian Center led the group in prayer, asking God to help every victim and those who work with victims and offenders. He also prayed that God would open the eyes and hearts of perpetrators.

He said the nation may have laws but it needs the grace of God to step into America, and return America to the grace of God.

Mike Horn of the local band, Thunder Creek Band, sang several songs including “Alyssa Lies,” a song about a girl who didn’t tell anyone about her abuse and now lies with Jesus.

Guest speakers were Associate Circuit Court Judge Thomas L. Ray; Al Sullivan, representing the St. Francois County Community Partnership and Project Sunlight, a group focused on child abuse and neglect; Cheryl O’Brien of Missouri Children’s Division; and Karen Ferrell of the SEMO Family Violence Council. Parole Officer Kimberly Herman  presented monetary and personal hygiene items collected by employees for the women’s shelter.

Also in honor of the week, students from Roosevelt Elementary School designed pinwheels, which are displayed in front of the prison and in front of the administration building.

Offenders in the Restorative Justice Program made several posters for the event that included information on how often each type of crime occurs in the nation.

Potosi Correctional Center will have a ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday while the prison in Bonne Terre will have a ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Community members are encouraged to join in the week’s activities and get involved in helping victims of crime. For more information about resources for crime victims, visit http://www.crimevictims.gov

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