TEXAS CRIME VICTIM CLEARINGHOUSE

VICTIM’S INFORMERThe

VOL. 23, NO. 4 | DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Coping with the Holidays

Texas Board of Criminal Justice

Victim Impact Panels in the TDCJ Parole Division

Texas Victim Assistance Training Academy

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Challenges for VACs ... still?

Bikers Against Child Abuse

Keeping Kids Safe in Texas Schools

Walking Blind

In this issue ...6

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by Angie McCown, Director TDCJ Victim Services Division

GRATITUDE:A Gift from the Heart and for the Heart

“Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart”-A.A. Milne

I hope that we are keenly aware of the gifts of gratitude this holiday

season, so that our hearts and the hearts of those we come in contact with might be full.

A dear friend once told me that in times of despair, practice gratitude. The first thing in the morning before I rise and then again right

before I fall asleep at night, she encouraged me to think of three things that I am grateful for. I was skeptical that this would have any impact on my despair, however, I soon discovered that my spirit lifted, and I began to feel hopeful once again.

I know that the holiday season can be difficult when you have experienced a trauma or a loss. Therefore, I would like to share some of my favorite quotes on gratitude and invite all of you to practice my dear friend’s gratitude exercise.

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I am paying attention and practicing gratitude. -Brene Brown

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. -William Arthur Ward

Enough is a feast. -Buddhist proverb

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. -Albert Einstein

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words but to live by them. -John F. Kennedy

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other. -Randy Pausch

Some people crumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses. -Alphonse Karr

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. -Willie Nelson

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness. -Dalai Lama

Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.-A.A. Milne

The VICTIM’S INFORMER2

COPING WITH THE HOLIDAYSConcerns of Police SurvivorsReprinted with permission

C.O.P.S. knows how traumatic holidays can be for survivors. Here are a few suggestions on how to reduce your holiday stress and make the holiday season more bearable for you.

To avoid the crowds, shop early or over the internet. You may find it difficult to shop in malls

with all their holiday decorations, carols, and smiling faces. Survivors say hearing Christmas songs can be depressing and can bring about grief spasms.

If you’ve always spent Christmas at home, plan a trip. There is no written rule that says you must be home for the holidays.

Attitude will play a major role in your holidays. If you have predetermined that the holidays will be terrible, they will be. If you allow yourself to enjoy the holidays, they may be more enjoyable than you would ever believe.

Pity parties are OK as long as they don’t last the entire holiday season.

If you need to visit the cemetery, visit early in the day. If you want to have a good cry, set aside some time in the morning, too. That will free up the rest of the day for better things.

Honor your deceased loved one. Make a donation to a worthy cause, work at a soup kitchen, buy flowers for the church, and do it in memory of your loved one.

If you feel up to it, make meaningful Christmas gifts. Giving scrapbooks, a compilation of stories about the deceased, valued belongings of the deceased which, when presented with “I know they would want you to have this,” will make the holiday so much more memorable.

Don’t be afraid to make your loved one part of the holidays. Christmas ornaments they loved or a special memorial candle – anything that your family is comfortable with is acceptable.

Talk about holidays past, happy shared moments that happened, etc. And remember, if other people don’t think your deceased loved one’s inclusion in your holidays is appropriate, that’s their problem – not yours.

Consider prayer. Many aren’t able to handle what has occurred in their lives without prayer. Visit your place of worship more often during the holiday season.

Laugh. Laugh as long and as hard as you dare to laugh! Give yourself permission

to laugh. Sometimes grieving people forget that laughter is a great stress reliever and healer.

Party if you want to. Don’t party if you don’t feel up to it.

Honesty is the best policy. If it isn’t a good day, accept it and don’t apologize for it.

Don’t overdo. If you want to make a fancy meal, make it. If you aren’t up to a big meal, cook a small meal, or eat out!

Alcohol is a depressant. Limit your consumption of alcohol during the holidays.

Strengthen your ties with other family members. If you’ve had family problems, make amends. What a wonderful gift an honest attempt to make amends can be.

While all these suggestions may be right for some people, they may not be right for you. Nobody knows what you want to do for the holidays better than YOU! Just remember that everyone is different and these suggestions, though well-meaning, may not work for you.

The most important thing is to be kind and compassionate to yourself.

This article has been a feature in the quarterly newsletter for many years, as it is highly recommended by the C.O.P.S. membership. Please read it, think about how the words apply to you, and remember that everyone grieves in his or her own way.

VOL. 23, NO. 4 | DEC 2018/JAN 2019 3

By Derrelynn Perryman, Texas Board of Criminal Justice

THE POWER OF COMMUNITYTogether We Can Do Great Things

Lately I’ve been reflecting on the power of community. It’s true that no single person can do everything. Violent criminal acts have a ripple effect, and many people then

deal with the aftermath. From police and other first responders, to court personnel and prosecutors, to corrections personnel- many individuals will come in contact with the offender, and many individuals will come in contact with the victims of those criminal acts. There are others who may never interact directly but who are involved in making decisions that affect both the offender and the victims. There are those working to assure victims get compensation to help with the very real cost of the crime. Together those individuals make up the criminal justice system’s response to the crime, the offender, and the victim.

The criminal justice system is a community made up of people with different strengths and abilities and different weaknesses and shortcomings. We can always improve our capacity to help.

We must also strive to partner with community-based agencies, volunteers, and advocacy groups. There are so many things that you in the victim services community can do. You can provide shelter and help meet basic needs. You can provide counseling and emotional support to victims. You can advocate for policies and changes to the law that benefit crime victims and their families. You can educate us and help keep us focused on what’s important.

This holiday season I just want to reflect on the great things we have been able to do together, and to thank you for what you do every day. When we work together, small changes become big shifts.

I can do things you cannot.You can do things I cannot.Together we can do great things.–Mother Teresa

The VICTIM’S INFORMER4

VICTIM IMPACT PANELS IN THETDCJ PAROLE DIVISIONTDCJ Parole Division Specialized Programs

Individual recovery is different for every victim, and the journey towards restoration comes with a

degree of its own trials and tribulations. For many years the Victim Services Division (VSD) has conducted Victim Impact Panels (VIP) to assist in providing victims an avenue to share personal experiences in hopes of obtaining validation, affirmation, and personal healing.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division (TDCJ PD) initiated programs that require certain clients (offenders) to also participate in VIPs. The intended outcome is for identified clients to increase personal awareness and accountability for their actions. VIPs help bring reality to clients who otherwise may not ever understand how impactful their actions were on the lives of others.

The TDCJ PD operates 12 District Reentry Centers (DRC) throughout the state. With assisted staff, volunteers, contracted vendors, and community services, the aim is to address rehabilitative needs in five core areas: Anger Management, Cognitive Restructuring, Pre-employment, Substance Abuse, and Victim Impact Panel. These programs were created to support the TDCJ PD in accomplishing its mission of enhancing public safety by successfully reintegrating clients.

The TDCJ PD and VSD have established a strong working relationship.

The TDCJ PD works effectively to follow the guidelines that VSD has set forth and uses the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC), “Listen and Learn,” curriculum. VIP preparation begins at least four weeks in advance and occurs with the assistance of many TDCJ PD and VSD staff. TDCJ PD staff choose a proposed date, location, and, if applicable, a specific type of offense. When selecting the date of the VIP, the DRC Unit Supervisor is mindful to avoid choosing dates close to major holidays or other significant dates that could be emotionally difficult for some victims. VSD attempts to satisfy the proposed date and specific offense, if selected. Additionally, the TDCJ PD and VSD staff collaborate in the training of new DRC Parole Officers at the Specialized Officer Supervision School by introducing VIP procedures and curriculum.

Victim Impact Panel PreparationEach VIP consists of two parts: the preparation class and the actual panel. It is critical that each client be made aware of the gravity of his or her participation in VIP.

The VIP preparation class introduces clients to the process and what is expected of them while the panel is being conducted. The VIP preparation class is three hours long and may be

taken all together or broken into smaller blocks of time at the discretion of the DRC Unit Supervisor. The intended purpose of VIP preparation is to educate clients of the overall impact crime has on victims, the family and friends of victims, and the communities of victims as well as the impact of crime on their own family, friends, and communities.

There are two ways to facilitate VIPs: in-person or by using previously recorded Listen and Learn victim impact videos produced by OVC. These videos are also used for TDCJ PD staff training. In-person panels are generally two to three hours in duration and may consist of one to three victim guest speakers, each speaking approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Following the guest speakers’ presentations and if it is appropriate, clients may and are encouraged to ask questions of the panelists, while always being respectful and considerate of the speaker’s comfort.

When an in-person panel is not available, the OVC Listen and Learn videos may be used. A VIP preparation class is equally required when using the OVC videos method. The videos may be selected and customized to relate to specific offenses, preferably offenses that are similar to the ones the participating clients have committed.

Who is required to attend Victim Impact Panel Upon release to supervision, clients may

VOL. 23, NO. 4 | DEC 2018/JAN 2019 5

TEXAS VICTIM ASSISTANCE TRAINING ACADEMYSeptember 25 – 28, 2018Georgetown Public Safety Operations Training Center

have a special condition imposed by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles requiring attendance, while other clients may be placed on a specialized caseload that requires the VIP, as noted with DRC caseload requirements. Additionally, a supervising parole officer may refer a client to VIP if it is determined that the client would benefit from attending. Moreover, clients may also submit a request to their supervising parole officer about attending.

Change Behavior and Save LivesSince the early 1980s, VIPs have been conducted for parolees and probationers, during behavior treatment and youth education programs, as well as at defensive driving schools on topics such as driving while intoxicated, sex offenses, and domestic violence. Many adult criminal and juvenile justice agencies have incorporated VIPs as a sentencing and community supervision requirement option. TDCJ PD is one of those many collaborating agencies.

Victim services organizations across the nation have implemented programs through the courts or in conjunction with law enforcement personnel to conduct panels, affording victims the opportunity to tell their stories and describe how their lives and the lives of their families and friends have been affected by crime. VIPs have been reported as being a fundamental tool in the healing process. Moreover, it allows victims and the selected audiences to connect in a meaningful way towards a new direction.

The VIP concept runs parallel to the TDCJ PD mission statement of promoting public safety and positive offender change through effective supervision, programs and services. Victim Impact Panel is a proactive path toward client accountability as well as victim recovery.

The Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) hosted its third Texas Victim Assistance Training (TVAT) Academy in September 2018.

The TVAT Academy provides a foundational level victim assistance training for new victim service providers, volunteers, criminal justice professionals, and allied professionals who routinely work with victims of crime. The curriculum is designed to follow the victims’ experience through the criminal justice system.

By understanding the victims’ experience, rights, and available services, victim service providers can make an accurate assessment of victims’ needs. Seamless service delivery can be achieved when providers are aware of available resources and approach service through multidisciplinary teamwork.

The Academy learning objectives include: • Crime victims’ rights;• Victim services ethics;• Stress management;• Compassion fatigue;• Crime victim assistance standards;• Guiding principles and practices of

the victim services field;• Criminal justice system;• Effective communication skills for

working with victims of crime;• Victim advocacy with additional

attention to the unique elements of specific crime types; and

• Influence of cultural factors and victim restoration strategies.

The faculty for the Academy are experts in Victim Services, Law Enforcement and Corrections and they teach three and a half days of intensive subject matter on aspects of victim services.

by Mike RainerTDCJ Victim Services Division

continued on page 18 ...

The VICTIM’S INFORMER6

CHALLENGES FOR VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS IN SMALLER COUNTIES ... still?by Serena PayneVictim Assistance Coordinator, Andrews County District Attorney’s Office

In 2010, I was asked to write an article about the challenges Victim Assitance Coordinators (VACs) face

in smaller counties. I reread the article and realized not a lot has changed in the last eight years regarding the challenges we face. As a small county, we still have a lack of resources, proximity of a shelter is still an issue, and our small office still has staff members that wear many hats. Through trial and error we have found ways to overcome a few of these challenges.

First, I have stopped trying to re-create the wheel and instead reached out to several VACs to glean ideas. Several counties produce victim booklets that contain the information outlined in Article 56.08 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that must be sent out to victims. I tailored their material to create a victim booklet for our jurisdiction, which includes a resource page that has numerous local agencies that assist victims in our community. The booklet has cut down on the number of items being mailed to victims. I learned early on that victims are overwhelmed by the judicial system and the less they have to fill out and send back, the greater chance I have of keeping them involved in the process.

I also realized after several years that I began to sound like a broken record. I do this day in and day out. Victims of crime do not. They did not ask to make my acquaintance; they did not ask to

become a statistic. But they are asking for someone to please help them make sense of what our office is doing and what is expected of them, so talk to them not in acronyms or abbreviations, but with patience as if they were your mother, daughter, or grandpa.

The second issue I addressed was the proximity of a women’s shelter. Unfortunately, due to the size of our town and safety issues regarding potential victims and staff at a shelter, it is not feasible for our town to have one at this time. I continue to refer victims to the closest women’s shelter – about 45 miles away – and educate them on the services that the shelter provides, such as legal services, child care, transportation, job training, and most of all safety.

Lastly the issue faced by all small town VACs: wearing a multitude of hats and keeping up with all of them. When I wrote the article in 2010, I was the misdemeanor legal assistant as well as the VAC (and several other job titles), I spent a lot of time coordinating, going through filing cabinets, and looking through the dockets of the felony legal assistant just trying to keep up with the plea offers and court dates so that I could keep the victims notified. It was a hassle, and I was failing. A few years later I switched roles and became the felony legal assistant. The majority of the victims in our county come from the felony cases. Switching roles has allowed me the opportunity to be involved with the case (and the victim)

from the beginning to the end. I feel as though I am able to keep the victims better informed and up to date on the proceedings due to this switch.

When I began in 2008 I knew nothing, – emphasis on NOTHING – and the other people in my office knew less. I felt like I was on an island. I would encourage VACs to go to training. There are numerous organizations that offer the training we need to do our jobs successfully. Contact the Office of the Attorney General for their free training on Crime Victims’ Compensation. The Texas District and County Attorneys Association has a great Victim Service Director who is able to assist with questions and help new VACs get organized. TDCJ has a Victim Services Division that offers exceptional training, and the Office for Victims of Crime offers a wide variety of training in person and online. These are just a few that I have had personal experience with but there are a lot more.

I try to impart something positive into every victim I meet, yet it seems they are the ones that are continually teaching me something. Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, and I recite it often, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” Victims are sitting before you; help equip them to face their fear not as a victim but as someone who can overcome.

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... and in LARGE COUNTIESby Cyndi JahnVictim Assistance Coordinator, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office

Back in 2010 for the March/April issue of The Victim’s Informer, we published an article titled, “Challenges for VACs in Smaller Counties,” by Serena Hooper along with a companion article, “... and in Large Counties,” by Cyndi Jahn. We asked Serena and Cyndi to revisit this topic and see what issues have improved and which ones are still a challenge.

Original articles are here: www.tdcj.texas.gov/documents/Victims_Informer_Vol_15_01.pdf

As you may know, this is a revamp of an article that Serena and I wrote about eight years

ago about the various challenges that are faced by victim assistance programs in small offices (Serena’s expertise) and large offices (that’s where I come in).

Like Serena, I took a few minutes to read what I had written in 2010, and also like Serena, I realized that most of the challenges our offices faced years ago still holds true.

As our county continues to grow, so has crime, and therefore the number of victims. Our courts seem to get a little bit more backlogged each year, and although our victim assistance program has grown over the years, it’s still often difficult to keep up with the increased case load. We still face budget issues every year, and we still work hard to keep up with the ever-changing resources available for victims in our community.

We have worked diligently over the last several years to seek to create new ways and programs to serve our victims. One way to accomplish that goal is to use grant funds whenever we can. We have recently created a new grant-funded program that reaches out to victims of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual

assault, and vehicular crimes in an early intervention program. Seven new positions, called crime victim liaisons, make contact with victims as soon as a case is filed with our office. They manage these cases throughout the pre-indictment phase and as soon as the case is indicted the trial advocate takes over.

Our goal for this program is that we can create a greater sense of control for victims by providing them with information about their case and the criminal justice system at the very beginning of the prosecution of the case. It is our hope that, by increasing a victim’s interest in and satisfaction with the criminal justice system, they will feel that their journey through the system has been an overall success, even if it may not always have a positive outcome. The program focuses on making “RIP” calls. RIP stands for Restitution; Information; and Protection. We are finding that these victims feel safer and are more cooperative with the prosecution of their case.

Another major difference between then and now is how I approach my job. I have served the Bexar County DA’s Office for 28 years. I am much more aware these days of the cumulative effects this job can have on a person.

Even VACs that have been working for as few as five years may be susceptible to the changes that come with repeatedly hearing the stories of fear, violence, and trauma that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Having learned this the hard way, by seeing the physical and emotional changes occur in friends and coworkers, I am very focused on the importance of selfcare for VACs. I encourage all VACs and anyone else who work with victims to educate themselves on the topics of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. All three are slightly different, but equally dangerous to folks in our profession. I urge victim advocates to develop a selfcare plan that can be the answer to sustaining a healthy emotional and physical well-being in your professional and personal lives.

As I did eight years ago, I would urge each of you to reach out to other VACs in your area and across the state for help and assistance when needed. While it takes multiple agencies and services to provide a victim the assistance they need to progress from victim to survivor to thriver, it also takes our coworkers and victim services colleagues to see us safely through the years of working in victim advocacy. If I can ever be that source of information or strength for you, please don’t ever hesitate to ask!

The VICTIM’S INFORMER8

BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSEby Wendy WilliamsonTDCJ Victim Services Division

While attending the annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week wreath

ceremony in San Antonio this year, I ran into an awesome group of folks that proudly call themselves Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.).

Some people might find bikers to be scary or intimidating, based off what they see on television. Programs such as Sons of Anarchy depict bikers as dangerous, ruthless, and unapproachable. Some people might think all motorcycle groups are “gangs” or “vigilantes.” I had heard of B.A.C.A. before, but I never knew exactly what they did or who they served. I asked them if I could take a few pictures of them to show off to my coworkers back at the office, and they were happy to let me snap a few.

I was so intrigued by them, that I got back to my office and started doing a little digging to see if I could figure out what they were about. What I found was absolutely incredible.

I also had the pleasure of working with Lock, who is the Texas State Public Relations officer for B.A.C.A., a medic, and an agency/court liaison. She collaborated with other B.A.C.A. members to gather the details for this article.

B.A.C.A.’s Mission:“Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children.”1

Based on findings of a study conducted by the University of North Texas called “The Impact on the Level of Fear of Children Involved with the B.A.C.A. Organization,” it was discovered that wounded children who have B.A.C.A. interventions are more likely to disclose his or her abuse and testify against the abuser. They help children heal, see their self-worth, and give them confidence in themselves. Many positive changes in children have been observed by B.A.C.A. such as, diminished regression, improved confidence, better communication, increased independence, increased interaction, increased stability, less hostility, reduced anxiety, sense of safety, reduced guilt, empowerment, quicker healing.2

In a recent public safety announcment, Lock wrote, “Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children and to empower the children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. B.A.C.A. is an International 501(c)(3) organization made entirely of volunteers who work in conjunction with local and state officials as well as agencies and programs already in place to protect abused children. B.A.C.A. lends support to these children by involving them with their organization and by providing a presence to shield these children from further abuse. All members and supporters go through extensive initial and ongoing training. B.A.C.A. is currently located in 17 countries, 48 states, and 28 chapters in the state of Texas. For more information please visit us on the web at http://texas.B.A.C.A.world.org/.

1Excerpted from http://bacaworld.org/mission/. Accessed 9/17/2018.2Based on survey results found at http://bacaworld.org/report/. Accessed 9/17/2018.

VOL. 23, NO. 4 | DEC 2018/JAN 2019 9

B.A.C.A.’s members are proud to represent. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

What made you choose to be a part of B.A.C.A.? I was actually working as a SANE [Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner] nurse and saw their booth at a conference. I was aware that during the course of the prosecution of cases my patients generated, there was tremendous turn over. CPS agents came and went, investigators and therapists, there was no consistency and the poor kid had to tell this horror story over and over! With B.A.C.A. this wasn’t the case. The patch provided that consistency and from the get go the child is empowered with “I believe you, you don’t have to tell me what happened, & I think you are a hero.” That was enough for me, I was hooked! –Thunder Cat, honored primary to a B.A.C.A. child and Chapter Treasurer L2 Coordinator & Medic for the San Antonio Chapter

I wanted to support the B.A.C.A. Mission. –Dragstrip, Road Captain, San Antonio Chapter

I have always had a heart for children and especially those who are facing hardships. After doing some research, attending a few chapter meetings, and especially after attending my first child event, it became apparent that B.A.C.A. works and has a great impact on the lives of abused children. After that realization I crossed the line and joined the fight. –Tiger, President, San Antonio Chapter

What are 3 good things about B.A.C.A.?1. Consistency – The patch and the biker image are a constant that the kid can count on. Even though we are very different as individuals, they learn to count on our support as a whole.

2. The biker image works! Because we look scary, we look bigger and badder

WESTBig SpringHigh Plains (Borger)LubbockRolling Plains (Sweetwater)Wichita Falls

METROPLEXBuffalo Creek (Waxahachie)Cross Timbers (Weatherford)

DallasFort Worth (Arlington)Sherman

CENTRALAustin (Pflugerville)Brazos Valley (Bryan/College Station)Five Hills (Copperas Cove)Highland Lakes (Burnet)

Lost Pines (Smithville)Sam Bass (Round Rock)Waco

SOUTHHill Country (Fredericksburg)Padre Island (Corpus Christi)Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg)San Antonio

EASTCaddo Creek (Quinlan)CypressGulf Coast (Needville)HoustonLufkinSeven Coves (Conroe)TexarkanaWoodbine (Longview)

Visit Bikers Against Child Abuse Texas for a list of clickable Texas B.A.C.A. locations:

continued on nextpage ...

Lock with the Dallas Cowboys mascot.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. –Emerson

The VICTIM’S INFORMER10

than anyone who hurt our kiddo! Plus by affiliation they begin to feel empowered and strong too!

3. It takes those burdens and expectations off the child! We tell them all they have to do is BREATHE and TELL THE TRUTH! It is not this child’s responsibility to put any bad guys away! After they testify, we celebrate!!! Regardless of the verdict, our child’s job is done and it’s a victory! –Thunder Cat

1. The amount of empowerment the child has after being with B.A.C.A.

2. The people you share the road with are second to none.

3. B.A.C.A. is all about empowering the child to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. –Dragstip

1. B.A.C.A. has one focus and that’s to help kids to not be afraid of the world in which they live, and B.A.C.A. does it well.

2. B.A.C.A. creates an atmosphere of family, when we say a child is our little brother or sister, we mean it.

3. B.A.C.A. Chapters can be found all over the world, so no matter where our little heroes go, a B.A.C.A. member won’t be too far away. –Tiger

What is your role in B.A.C.A.? First and foremost, I am an honored primary to a

B.A.C.A. child! I am also the Chapter Treasurer L2 Coordinator and Medic for the San Antonio Chapter –Thunder Cat

Can you tell me about a memorable event when you assisted a child in need? We had adopted two sweet girls that had been abused by mom’s boyfriend. He had been driving by, shooting at the house. He had even attempted to hang their dog from a tree! These kids were as scared as any I’ve ever seen! Through the interactions and empowerment of B.A.C.A., I have watched these two young ladies grow into thriving teenagers that are proud to boldly tell you THEY WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR! –Thunder Cat

After riding four plus hours you get to meet your new brother or sister and they realize we are truly here for them. The level of empowerment is amazing to witness firsthand, then the child knows that there are members all over that are there to support them. It is an awe-inspiring moment every time. –Dragstrip

Not too long ago two of our heroes, siblings, who I had the honor of being a primary contact for, had court where they would be asked to testify. One of the siblings was being questioned rather harshly by the defense and we could see that she was becoming overwhelmed on the stand. One of the prosecutors noticed and quickly asked for a break.

Once we exited the court room the child collapsed in our arms and began to hyperventilate, so we calmed her breathing and together with the DA’s office, we moved her into a private room to regain her composure. As we gave her a minute, the DA looked over at me in a panic and said, “You guys got this right?” and I responded with a confident, “Yes, we do,” and [she] and

B.A.C.A. San Antonio Chapter members attending the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Wreath Ceremony in San Antonio. Pictured from left to right: Tiger, Whisper, Marbles, Dragstrip, Bungy, Thunder Cat, Seco, Koop.

B.A.C.A. San Antonio Chapter members attending the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Wreath Ceremony in San Antonio. Pictured from left to right: Closet, Marbles, Thunder Cat, Koop, Igor, Whisper, Bear, Bungy, Tiger, Seco, (kneeling) Dragstrip

VOL. 23, NO. 4 | DEC 2018/JAN 2019 11

her staff walked out of the room to give us some time. After another one of our members helped her to calm down I crouched down beside her and reminded her of how strong and brave she was and that the defense did what they did to try to scare her and break her down but we were not going to let them take her power away. I also reminded her that

she was not alone and that we would be with her the entire time. Well that young girl took one big gulp of water, slammed the bottle on the table and said, “Let’s go!,” and proceeded to walk back into the court room to finish what she started and did a great job keeping the defense attorney in check.

You can’t do that without the relationship and trust that is built using the B.A.C.A. model. This young girl trusted me and all of the other B.A.C.A. members who were there that week, because we show up, we do what we say we are going to do, and we are there for them 24/7 365 days a year. –Tiger

Poise the cause in justice’s equal scales, whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails. –William Shakespeare

We do not really want to know how many children are being molested and abused in our own society or how many couples

– almost a third, as it turns out – engage in violence at some point during their relationship. We want to think of families as safe havens in a heartless world

and of our own country as populated by enlightened, civilized people. We prefer to believe that cruelty occurs in faraway places …

After trauma the world becomes sharply divided between those who know and those who don’t.

from The Body Keeps the ScoreBessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Remembering local heroes… San Antonio has had two huge losses to their chapter this year. Koop, the President, was killed in a motorcycle accident when a driver pulled out in front of him. Then, Turtle, the President right after Koop, was killed in a motorcycle accident while on a mission to empower an abused child in south Texas. Two great men with hearts as big as Texas left us this year and I know they died doing what they loved, which was standing up for abused children and bringing awareness to child abuse. –Lock

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Schools across Texas, and the nation, face a variety of safety and security threats on a daily

basis. While active shooter/attack events are generally on the forefront of many school safety discussions – school administrators, first responders, and various stakeholders must prepare for many additional safety and security issues. The following article will first briefly detail the current school-based active shooter/attack data and training. The discussion will then transition to general safety recommendations that all schools can undertake to improve preparation for all hazards.

On May 18, 2018 a 17-year-old student attacked students and staff in the art wing of Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. In total 10 people were killed and 13 were wounded during this attack. The attack at Santa Fe High School is one form of an active attack. An active attack is a broader defined attack than an active shooter in order to include all attacks with an active component. Blair & Schweit (2014, p. 5) define an active shooter as an incident where an individual(s) is(are) actively engaged in killing, or attempting to kill, multiple unrelated people in a populated area with a firearm. An active attack follows this same definition but removes the “with a firearm” qualifier. Any weapon can be used in an active attack (e.g., knife, vehicle). There are certain exclusionary factors to filter through the

events; however, generally, you can think of it as an attempt at mass murder.

At the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program in San Marcos, Texas, we track active attacks across the nation to help policymakers, administrators, and stakeholders make data-driven decisions regarding active attack response. As the 1999 attack on Columbine High School was a catalyst event in changing the way first responders respond to an active attack, the attack data set begins in 2000 (Figure 1). Texas has experienced 4 attacks on schools to-date. When we look at the official active attack dataset, there have been 57 active attacks at schools across the nation between 2000 and 2017. As there haven’t been many attacks in Texas, we will briefly assess the trends and data for these 57 school-based active attacks.

Frequency. During the first nine years there were an average of two school attacks per year; however, there were an average of four schools attacked per year during the second nine years studied.

Location. As seen in Figure 2, active attacks occur within all levels of schools. High schools were

attacked more than any other location (n = 23, 40%). Elementary and middle schools were each attacked seven times (24% total), and there were two K-12 single building schools attacked.

Weaponry. Firearms were used in the vast majority of attacks (n = 49, 86%), and bladed instruments were used in seven events (12%). The remaining case was carried out by a vehicle-borne attack. Of the events where a firearm was used, pistols were the most frequently used firearm (n = 27, 55%), followed by shotguns (n = 13, 27%) and rifles (n = 9, 18%).

Victims. There were 354 victims in the 57 school attacks. One hundred and thirty-nine were killed and 206 were wounded. On average, there were three victims per event with one of the three victims being killed.

Attacker. Attackers are mostly male (n = 55, 96%). The racial distribution closely follows the racial distribution of the

by Hunter Martaindale, PhD Director of Research, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University

Figure 1. Distribution of school active attacks per year.

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United States. Sixty-eight percent (n = 39) of school attackers were Caucasian. Sixteen percent (n = 9) of the school attackers were African American followed by 7% (n = 4) Latino. Only three attackers (5%) were Asian and two attackers (4%) were classified as Other.

The youngest school-based active attacker was 12 years-old and the oldest was 62 years-old. The median age was 18. As seen here, beyond being male, there is no identifiable profile for an active attacker.

Resolution. Figure 3 illustrates the resolution of school active attacks. All cases to the left of the center line indicate events that ended prior to law enforcement arrival. Fifty eight percent (n = 33) of attacks ended prior to law enforcement arrival. The attacker stopped the attack in 14 (25%) events – i.e., the attacker committed suicide before law enforcement arrival 12 times and fled the scene two times. The attacker was stopped by the victims in 19 events (33%). The attacker was never shot by the victims but was physically subdued in all 19 of these events.

survivability, civilians are taught to first Avoid the attacker if at all possible. This involves fleeing the scene in any way possible. There are circumstances where the civilian will be unable to Avoid. When this occurs, the next best available action is to Deny the attacker access to your location (e.g., lock door, barricade entrance). Throughout our data, we do not have any cases where the attacker breached a locked door. Although, an attacker has entered a room after breaching the glass next to a locked door. Lastly, every civilian has the absolute right to Defend themselves from an attacker by any means necessary. If required to Defend, civilians can utilize any object as a weapon, and multiple civilians can gang up on the attacker. This type of confrontation does not need to be a fair fight.

Law enforcement officers go through a variety of training programs in

Figure 2. School attack locations

Figure 3. School active attack event resolutions.

continued on next page ...

Of the 24 cases that ended after the arrival of law enforcement, 8 (14% overall) concluded by the

attacker stopping – i.e., the attacker committed suicide after law enforcement arrival seven times and surrendered to law enforcement once. Law enforcement stopped the attacker 28% of the time (n = 16). The attacker was shot in 12% of events (n = 7) and physically subdued by police in 16% of events (n = 9). School attacks are the only locations where the attacker is stopped by victims more often than police officers.

Active Attack Response Training. The resolution data presented in Figure 3 illustrates the many different ways an active attack ends in educational settings. Because of this fluidity, the training revolves around two key components. We refer to these as Stop the Killing and Stop the Dying. The first component, Stop the Killing, can be achieved by both civilian and law enforcement action.

Civilians are taught response protocols such as ALERRT’s Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD). To improve

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preparation for responding to an active attacker. The latest ALERRT training program is known as Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR). In AAIR, first responders are taught fundamental tactics about approaching and navigating an attack location in order to Stop the Killing by ending the event. Next, law enforcement officers are taught medical interventions to help Stop the Dying. The AAIR class includes Fire/EMS personnel so all first responders train together. Fire/EMS personnel possess additional skills and have specialized equipment to help Stop the Dying. Course participants are also taught methods to start establishing a command post to aid in the flow of resources and improve overall response. While the AAIR class is the latest offering from ALERRT, there are a variety of training programs available to first responders. The most important thing is that preparatory steps are taken.

Active attacks are devastating to schools and the communities they serve; however, Texas schools continually face a variety of threats and safety considerations beyond active attacks. School administrators and first responders strive to provide students with a safe and secure environment, where learning and development can occur. There are a number of practices that school districts and campuses can engage in to be prepared for and to mitigate the impacts of active threat situations, as well as other threats and hazards the district may face. The following is a list of recommendations that school districts should consider when developing a comprehensive, all-hazards approach to school safety:

Continuously evaluate access control and visitor management. While

educational environments should be open and accessible, it is important that we balance this type of environment with safety and security by limiting access as much as possible to only those who are authorized to be on campus. This means restricting access to the grounds of the campus by using fencing, gates, personnel, and natural sight lines for surveillance. Access control and visitor management also includes limiting access to the actual building through a limited number of designated entrances. Limiting the number of entrances allows for greater surveillance over those attempting to enter school facilities. Exterior doors, other than those identified as entrances, must remain locked at all times, except for specific times when they can be effectively monitored by staff. Exterior doors should be routinely checked by staff throughout the day to ensure they are secure. Equipment such as fencing and locks should be routinely checked and fixed if in need of repair. Finally, campuses must have defined visitor access policies that include processes for identification and authorization.

Develop strong and coordinated relationships with local first responders. It is critical that school districts and their campuses develop strong, coordinated relationships with local first responders in an effort to improve school safety. Collaboration with community first responders will strengthen emergency operations plans and allow for an effective and coordinated response to any incident that requires it. Including first responders in emergency drills will allow for an outside perspective as well as allow responders to be familiar with what to expect when responding to an

emergency at that location. Districts should also consider including first responders on their safety and security committees to ensure their expertise and perspective are considered in the districts’ safety programs.

Regularly assess your school safety and emergency management program. School safety and security should not be considered a one-time event or process. It is important that districts, in partnership with local community resources and responders, regularly assess their safety and security program. This includes assessing physical safety at all campuses and support facilities, but also looking at the climate and culture of a campus as well as the systems and documents in place to support safety. The district emergency operations plan should be reviewed at least annually, as well as any agreements with partners to assist in the event of an emergency to ensure they are still appropriate.

Develop a threat assessment process that allows for the evaluation of threats made, and the capacity to provide services to those that need them. Threat assessment is a process to identify, investigate, evaluate, and manage threats and other troubling behavior. Having a threat assessment program provides districts a way to identify credible threats, intervene, and provide support to these individuals. District threat assessment teams should be multi-disciplinary in order to provide several perspectives on a specific threat or pattern of behavior. These teams are most effective when used to identify in-school and larger community resources that can support a student in need.

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Establish uniform protective actions and drill these actions with staff and students. Finally, although we want to do all we can to prevent and mitigate an active threat, or any emergency from occurring on campus, we must be prepared to respond. This includes having uniform, plain-language protective actions that can be initiated if the need occurs. An example of this would be the Standard Response Protocol, which provides five actions: Evacuate, Lockdown, Lockout, Shelter, and Hold. Each action provides for measures to protect students and staff from some hazard or threat. The action

used is dependent upon the threat the campuses are facing. For example, in the event of a fire, the campus would Evacuate. For a medical emergency in the school hallway, the campus may use Hold, to restrict the flow of traffic in the halls during a passing period. The actions are multi-hazard in nature, which means that each action can be initiated and effective for a host of different hazards that a school may face. It is critical that these actions are detailed in the districts’ emergency operations plan and that staff and students are trained on how to implement these protective actions.

While active shooters/attackers garner much of the attention in regards to school safety, these suggestions illustrate the all-encompassing nature of school preparations to mitigate all types of hazards that may be found in educational settings (e.g., natural disaster, fire, or medical emergency). We encourage all administrators, staff, and stakeholders to assess their school’s safety and security policies, communicate and work with your local first responders, and stay vigilant in preparing for and hopefully mitigating all hazards presented to keep students and staff safe.

Each year, over 100 Texas women lose their lives to domestic violence. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we challenge all of Texas to Go Purple and strive for a state where no one loses their life as a result of domestic violence. Go Purple by standing up for domestic violence victims and survivors and taking action to end violence in our communities.

Left: Rose Treviño in action at The Nueces County Domestic Violence Summit. Rose received high praises for the services she provides victims and the information and direction she gives to victim services professionals.

Right: TDCJ Victim Services Division staff wearing purple to show their support during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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NATIONAL VICTIM AWARENESS DATES

DECEMBER 2018National Impaired Driving Prevention MonthAccording to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, 28 people every day in the United States die on average in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 51 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion. Drugs other than alcohol – legal and illegal – are involved in about 16 percent of motor vehicle crashes.

In many cases, the impact of impaired driving on survivors can be similar to the impact of other types of crimes, especially homicide. Impaired driving offenses often result in much lower charges and sentences – and sometimes no sanction. The survivor perceives that the offender “got away with” a serious crime.

Effective measures to help prevent deaths and injuries from impaired driving include actively enforcing existing 0.08 percent blood alcohol content laws, minimum legal drinking age laws, and zero tolerance laws for drivers younger than 21 years old in all states, as well as using community-based approaches to alcohol control and DWI prevention.

JANUARY 2019National Mentoring MonthMentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Quality mentoring relationships can have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset.

National Mentoring Month is an annual campaign that aims to recruit volunteer mentors to help America’s youth achieve their full potential.

The National Mentoring Partnership, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is committed to raising awareness and sharing resources that support this important cause.

For more information on how to become a Mentor, visit the CNCS Mentor Program at www.nationalservice.gov/mentor.

National Stalking Awareness MonthIn January 2004, the National Center for Victims of Crime launched National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) to increase the public’s understanding of the crime of stalking. NSAM emerged from the work of the Stalking Resource Center, a National Center program funded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, to raise awareness about stalking and help develop and implement multidisciplinary responses to the crime.

NSAM began in response to a 2003 call to the Stalking Resource Center from Debbie Riddle, the sister of murdered stalking victim, Peggy Klinke. Riddle wanted to transform her family’s painful tragedy into a force for good –and to help improve law enforcement’s response to stalking and save lives.

In the United States, 7.5 million people are stalked each year. The majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know, especially regarding victims of femicide, where 54 percent of femicide victims reported stalking to police before they were killed by the stalkers. For more information about stalking awareness, visit the Stalking Resource Center at www.victimsofcrime.org/src.

fem·i·cidethe killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender.

The Victim’s Informer e-newsletter is published quarterly. Articles and other submissions should be sent to the TDCJ Victim Services Division (VSD), Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, 8712 Shoal Creek Blvd, Suite 265, Austin, Texas 78757-6899 or emailed to tdcj.clearinghouse@tdcj.texas.gov. If you would like to submit materials, the deadline dates for articles, meeting notices, and other submissions are below. For questions or comments, please call us at 800-848-4284 or 512-406-5931.

Deadlines for articles and other information:

January 2, 2019 for March/April issue

April 1, 2019 for June/July issue

Please Note: You may access the publication at the TDCJ VSD website by going to tdcj.texas.gov/publications/victim_informer_newsletter.html. If you wish, we will notify you via email each time The Victim’s Informer becomes available on the TDCJ VSD website and provide an electronic link to The Victim’s Informer.

Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Update your email address here: www.tdcj.texas.gov/divisions/vs/victim_informer_mailing_list.php.

Angie McCown, DirectorTexas Department of Criminal JusticeVictim Services Divisionvictim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov

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INFORMATION ABOUTTHE VICTIM’S INFORMER

Walking Blindby Aidan Hawken & Carina Round

Don’t tell me the truth

Tell me that it didn’t happen

There’s been a mistake

There’s been a misunderstanding

Dirty your hands

Tearing my heart into pieces

If this is the end

Then we whisper the wind and release it

We don’t have to know

We don’t have it all worked out

We can just keep walking blind

Don’t give me your word

Give me something to hold on to

I don’t want to fight

I don’t want no big decision

I’m not afraid

For tearing your heart into pieces.

If there’s a world of doubt

Then we’re out in the farthest of regions

We don’t have to know

We don’t have it all worked out

We can just keep walking blind

Thank you for reaching out for permission to publish the

lyrics of Walking Blind in your publication. I’ve talked to

the other writer Carina Round and we have both agreed

to allow it. I hope it helps. Keep up the good work!

All my best, Aidan

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TVAT Academy; continued from page 5 ...

Our presenters this year included individuals from the Austin Police Department, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Victim Services Association, the Office of the Attorney General, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and others.

Special thanks to the Georgetown Public Safety Operations and Training Center and their staff for allowing the TVAT Academy to take place at their facility. This is a state-of-the-art training facility with the most courteous and attentive staff and officers anyone could ask for.

Georgetown Police Lt. Greg Brunson, former Williamson County prosecutor, Jana McCown, and Victim Liaison with the Georgetown Police Department, Anthony Rector, present a panel on the experience of being the first officer on the scene of a horrific murder, prosecuting the offender, and working with the survivor and her family. The murder victim was three-year-old Anthony Jiminez, who was stabbed to death. Little Anthony’s mother, Kathy Jiminez, survived being stabbed over 25 times. The offender, Carlos Granados, was executed on January 10, 2007.

Left: Rose Treviño in action at The Nueces County Domestic Violence Summit. Rose received high praises for the services she provides victims and the information and direction she gives to victim services professionals.

Right: TDCJ Victim Services Division staff wearing purple to show their support during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.