Victim Witness Program employees attend NOVA conference
Lead Summary
By
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Employees with the Highland County Victim Witness Program had the opportunity to attend the 37th annual NOVA Conference in Philadelphia, the week of Aug. 14-17.
This conference was funded by the programs VOCA (Victim of Crime Act) funding.
Barbara Shoemaker, Victim Witness Program Director, stated there were so many wonderful and informative workshops. Administrative assistant Teresa Wisecup, and juvenile court advocate Valarie Watson also attended.
"So much attention was put into providing such useful information for us to provide better service and attention to specific issues that so many victims still face today in the legal system," she said.
"It is always great to bring new ideas back and put them to use here in our office so we can better serve the victims of crime here in Highland County. We were able to network with other programs in other states. It is nice to know that even though our county is not as large as most that we spoke with, but we were able to offer suggestions as to what works for the victims of crime in our area. Without these workshops and networking our programs would not be able to improve in our services and abilities for those that need us."
The keynote speaker for the conference was Brooks Douglas. His story of tragedy, survival and forgiveness is so remarkable. When only 27, he was elected as the youngest state senator to serve in Oklahoma in 1990. His signature legislation was a bill championing the rights of crime victims in 1992 – rights that were not there for he and his sister.
Douglas produced and acted in the film "Heavens Rain," where he portrayed his father. The film is based on the Oct. 15, 1979 murder of his parents, and the attempted murder of he and his sister.
Two drifters had entered their home, tied the family, including Brooks – then 16 – and stole $43. They then shot all four family members, killing the parents and leaving he and his sister for dead. The movie recounts the brutal story as a backdrop and becomes a story of forgiveness emerges through the lives of Brooks and Leslie, both who have excelled in their careers, he as a state legislator, businessman, producer and actor. Leslie is a professional educator.
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This conference was funded by the programs VOCA (Victim of Crime Act) funding.
Barbara Shoemaker, Victim Witness Program Director, stated there were so many wonderful and informative workshops. Administrative assistant Teresa Wisecup, and juvenile court advocate Valarie Watson also attended.
"So much attention was put into providing such useful information for us to provide better service and attention to specific issues that so many victims still face today in the legal system," she said.
"It is always great to bring new ideas back and put them to use here in our office so we can better serve the victims of crime here in Highland County. We were able to network with other programs in other states. It is nice to know that even though our county is not as large as most that we spoke with, but we were able to offer suggestions as to what works for the victims of crime in our area. Without these workshops and networking our programs would not be able to improve in our services and abilities for those that need us."
The keynote speaker for the conference was Brooks Douglas. His story of tragedy, survival and forgiveness is so remarkable. When only 27, he was elected as the youngest state senator to serve in Oklahoma in 1990. His signature legislation was a bill championing the rights of crime victims in 1992 – rights that were not there for he and his sister.
Douglas produced and acted in the film "Heavens Rain," where he portrayed his father. The film is based on the Oct. 15, 1979 murder of his parents, and the attempted murder of he and his sister.
Two drifters had entered their home, tied the family, including Brooks – then 16 – and stole $43. They then shot all four family members, killing the parents and leaving he and his sister for dead. The movie recounts the brutal story as a backdrop and becomes a story of forgiveness emerges through the lives of Brooks and Leslie, both who have excelled in their careers, he as a state legislator, businessman, producer and actor. Leslie is a professional educator.
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