Highland County commissioners issue National Crime Victims’ Rights Week proclamation
Highland County commissioners issued a proclamation in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, accepted by representatives of Highland County Victim Witness. Pictured (l-r) are Commissioner David Daniels; Victim Witness Director Heather Collins; Prosecutor Anneka Collins; Commissioner Brad Roades; victim advocates Debbie Zile and Lisa Dingey; and Commissioner Terry Britton. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)
Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades proclaimed the week of April 23-29 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Highland County during their Wednesday, April 26 meeting.
Britton read the proclamation to recognize this week and to “express the sincere gratitude and appreciation for these community members, victims services providers and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improve our response to all victims of crime so that they may find relevant assistance, support, justice and peace.”
Accepting the proclamation were Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins; Highland County Victim Witness Director Heather Collins; and victim advocates Lisa Dingey and Debbie Zile.
According to the National Office for Victims of Crime (https://ovc.ojp.gov), “The 2023 National Crime Victims' Rights Week theme is ‘Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.’ This year's theme calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed and supported.”
The Highland County Victim Witness office is a division of the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office. According to Prosecutor Collins, the Victim Witness office is nearing its 30th anniversary, having been established by former prosecutor (now Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge) Rocky Coss in 1994.
Prosecutor Collins spoke about the work that Heather Collins, Dingey and Zile provide for the community.
“These three are on call basically 24/7, 365 days a year,” Anneka Collins said. “Law enforcement calls them when they need assistance for rape cases, child abuse, theft, whatever it is. I know that last night Heather was on a call until four o’clock this morning. So they literally are available 24/7.”
Not only are the Victim Witness office staff members available at all times for their clients, but they develop close bonds with their clients that last for many years, the prosecutor said.
“They serve the victims from literally the day the crime is committed to the very end of the case, including parole hearings, judicial release hearings, probation violation hearings, revocation hearings,” Collins told commissioners. “They become like family with some of these victims because we have them there so much. When I say ‘like family,’ I mean like we go to graduation parties, get wedding invitations. We become extremely close with the victims because they have such a strong relationship with our victim witness office.”
Another unique aspect of Highland County Victim Witness is that they handle restitution for victims, Prosecutor Collins said.
“Our office is one of the few offices in the state — the last time I checked there were only two offices — that actually collect restitution for victims,” she said. “Victims do not have to deal with the defendant, like file a lawsuit or anything like that. We take care of that. It also saves the clerk's office from collecting that money and then redisbursing that to the victims. Our office does all of that.”
Collins thanked commissioners for taking the time to honor the Victim Witness staff for the “behind-the-scenes” work they do that is rarely recognized but very appreciated.
“Going through a trial, whether you're 10 or 70, is tough for a victim, so these ladies work with them,” Collins said. “They help prep them for trial, they sit with them in the courtroom, they explain what some of the legalese is that's going on.
“They’re behind the scenes and not noticed a lot, but they really do a lot with for the victims in the county, so thank you guys for recognizing them.”
Britton thanked the group “for what you do.”