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Colorado Judicial Branch
Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice
Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator
______
April 19, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Salaz
303/837-3633
1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633
Vigil-Kelly named to national victims’ rights advisory board
Jalice Vigil-Kelly, victim services coordinator for the Office of the State Court Administrator, probation services division, is one of two victim assistance professionals selected to serve on a national advisory board for a four-year U.S. Department of Justice-sponsored project. Vigil-Kelly joins a 25-member cross-disciplinary advisory board representing the judiciary, victim assistance professionals and crime victims, court administration, probation, and allied justice agencies.
“The magnitude of challenges we face in providing assistance to victims continues to grow as we see the demands on all related areas continue to rise,” says Vigil Kelly. “I am honored to serve on this important advisory board with so many respected allied professionals from the judiciary, courts and probation agencies across the nation,”
The Judicial Education Project, sponsored by the Office for Victims of Crime, will ultimately provide judges and court personnel with initial and continuing education resources focusing on the laws concerning victims’ rights, the impact of crime on victims and their families, and how the judiciary can comply with victims’ rights laws without infringing on defendants’ rights.
Members of the board will develop a curriculum on victimization issues to train judges and court personnel; conduct and evaluate six training programs; develop a model victims’ rights benchbook for judges; and compile a compendium of promising practices that promote victims’ rights and services. The project’s many products will be made available to judges and court personnel nationwide
According to Project Director David Beatty of Justice Solutions, the project advisory board will have an active role in creating a national vision for educating judges and court personnel about crime victims’ rights and needs.
“The Judicial Education Project is the first national-scope effort to sensitize criminal and juvenile justice court personnel, including judges, administrators, and probation staff, to crime victims’ issues and statutory rights,” Beatty said. “We view Jalice Vigil-Kelly’s participation in this important project as a key to its success. Her involvement will help improve training, and contribute to the development of policies and protocols, that enhances sensitivity to crime victims throughout all court processes, and we are very grateful for her participation and guidance.”
Project co-sponsors include the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization Justice Solutions, Inc., the National Center for State Courts and the American Probation and Parole Association, with support from the American Judges Association, National Association for Court Management, and the National Association of State Judicial Educators.
For additional information about the Judicial Education Project, or the role of the project advisory board, please contact Diane Alexander at (202) 448-1710, ext. 117, or via email at .
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