MY NAME IS CARROLL ANN ELLIS.
LIKE MANY OF YOU, I WORK WITH CRIME VICTIMS,
AND I AM INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE ONGOING CHALLENGES
THAT WE ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY.
AS A FIELD, WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES
IN CREATING SERVICES FOR VICTIMS THAT HELP THEM OVERCOME
THE TRAUMA OF VIOLENCE, THE TRAUMA OF CRIME.
YET, THERE ARE STILL MANY VICTIMS WHO REMAIN
UNDERSERVED AND EVEN IGNORED.
GEOGRAPHICAL ISOLATION, LANGUAGE BARRIERS,
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL DISABILITIES,
OR FEAR AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
ARE JUST A FEW OF THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
BY REACHING OUT TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES,
AND LEARNING HOW TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE THEM,
WE CAN ENSURE THAT ALL CRIME VICTIMS
ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THEY'RE ENTITLED TO,
THE SERVICES THEY DESERVE,
AND CERTAINLY THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
Woman: I, MYSELF, AM A RAPE SURVIVOR.
I HAD NO INTERPRETERS AT ALL FOR MY INTERVIEWS.
I HAD TO WRITE
IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
AND THE MENTALITY BACK THEN WAS "WHAT DID YOU DO TO CAUSE IT?"
"YOU MADE IT HAPPEN."
AND I REMEMBER, I WAS JUST TERRIFIED AND PISSED OFF
AND VERY ANGRY AND EMBARRASSED.
TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM ON YOUR OWN IS...
IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING A VICTIM ALL OVER AGAIN.
IN THE PAST, DEAF WOMEN WOULD GO INTO HEARING AGENCIES
AND THEY WOULD FOCUS SO MUCH ON HER DEAFNESS
AND HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER
THAT HER EXPERIENCE, OR THE VIOLENCE THAT SHE'S EXPERIENCED,
WAS COMPLETELY IGNORED.
WE'RE MORE THAN JUST... PEOPLE WITHOUT HEARING.
WE HAVE A LANGUAGE THAT'S OURS AND IT'S EQUIVALENT TO ENGLISH.
WE HAVE CULTURAL RULES
THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OUR HEARING COUNTERPARTS.
WHEN I FOUNDED ADWAS,
THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME.
WE BASICALLY PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES
AS THE GENERAL HEARING AGENCIES PROVIDE,
EXCEPT THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON DEAF WOMEN.
Ellis: CREATING NEW COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC SERVICES
MAY BE NECESSARY TO HELP UNDERSERVED VICTIMS
IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY.
THE ABUSED DEAF WOMEN'S ADVOCACY SERVICES
WAS CREATED TO HELP DEAF WOMEN
SAFELY COME FORWARD TO REPORT ABUSE.
IT HAS SERVED AS A MODEL FOR 15 OTHER CITIES,
WHICH NOW HAVE SERVICES
FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON ABUSED DEAF WOMEN.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE UNDERSTAND
WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
WHICH MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS
OF THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF CULTURES THAT EXIST.
EQUIPPED WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE,
WE CAN MAKE APPROPRIATE REFERRALS TO SERVICES
THAT ADDRESS A VICTIM'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
Girl: JULY 16th IS THE DAY MY FAMILY WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME.
Woman: STANLEY SECATERO, A NAVAJO INDIVIDUAL,
HAD GONE ON A SHOOTING RAMPAGE ON JULY 16, 1998,
AND HAD KILLED FOUR MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.
Man: WE SEE IT ON TV,
BUT NEVER IMAGINED IT WOULD HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
Woman: IT WAS DEVASTATING TO THE COMMUNITY,
AND NOT ONLY TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO THE WHOLE NAVAJO TRIBE.
I WAS, BASICALLY, THE MAIN PERSON THAT WAS THERE
TALKING WITH THE FAMILY, EXPLAINING TO THEM IN NAVAJO,
AND SO, THE ATTORNEY REALLY DEPENDED, YOU KNOW,
ON MY SERVICES BECAUSE THEY WERE NAVAJO
AND I'M NAVAJO, AND I CAN RELATE TO THE NAVAJO PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU DEAL WITH INDIAN RESERVATIONS,
YOU'RE DEALING WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU DO
FIND COUNSELING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY,
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING COUNSELING SERVICES
AREN'T VERY TRUSTFUL OF THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY
AND FIND RESOURCES.
WE ENDED UP BRINGING FAMILIES
FROM THE RESERVATION INTO ALBUQUERQUE
AND THEN TAKING THEM BACK HOME AGAIN,
SO THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE.
Ellis: SOMETIMES, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES
ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO CRIME VICTIMS.
THEREFORE, IN GEOGRAPHICALLY REMOTE AREAS,
WE MAY HAVE TO BE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN AN ISOLATED GROUP
AND A NETWORK OF SERVICES PULLED FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA.
CREATING A MORE DIVERSE VICTIM SERVICES STAFF
THAT UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE AND CAN SPEAK THE LANGUAGE
GOES A LONG WAY IN CONNECTING THESE GROUPS
WITH THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
WHEN OUR TEAM IS NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF VARIOUS CULTURES OR COMMUNITIES,
WE MAY WANT TO CREATE A LEVEL OF DIVERSITY
BY ENCOURAGING TEAM MEMBERS TO BECOME MORE INFORMED
AND EDUCATED ABOUT CULTURAL NUANCES.
WE MAY HAVE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
TO GIVE THEM EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.
AND, FINALLY, WE MAY WANT TO LOOK
FOR PARTNERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
WHO DO HAVE EXPERTISE IN VARIOUS CULTURES
TO HELP US RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS.
JASON WAS 13 YEARS OLD WHEN HE CAME INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM
AND--IT WAS...HE WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF HIS HOME.
Jason: I STARTED TO BLANK OUT AND THEN, LIKE, THE PARAMEDICS CAME.
I JUST TOLD THEM, LIKE-- MAN, IF I DIE,
JUST TELL MY MOMMA "I LOVE YOU."
Santiago: HE WAS AFRAID.
HE SAID HE WAS AFRAID TO EVEN GO TO SLEEP
THINKING THAT IF HE, YOU KNOW, FELL ASLEEP,
HE WOULDN'T WAKE UP, SO IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC FOR HIM.
KIDS IN AN INNER CITY--WHEN VIOLENCE OCCURS IN THEIR LIVES--
THEY FREQUENTLY DON'T GET A CHANCE
TO TALK TO A PSYCHOLOGIST OR A PSYCHIATRIST OR A THERAPIST
AND WORK IT OUT, SO IT COMES OUT IN UGLY WAYS.
IT COMES OUT IN TERMS OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR,
DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL, FIGHTING, KILLING,
DYING, SUICIDE, ET CETERA.
Santiago: "UJIMA" IS A KISWAHILI WORD THAT MEANS
"WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT."
PROJECT UJIMA WAS ACTUALLY STARTED BY A TRAUMA NURSE
AND A COMMUNITY PERSON.
THEY KEPT SEEING THAT KIDS WERE COMING INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM
AND WERE TREATED FOR THEIR WOUNDS AND ACTUALLY NOT TREATED
FOR THE DISEASE OF VIOLENCE THAT WAS PROMINENT IN THEIR LIVES
AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE PAGED AND CALLED INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM,
AND WE MEET THE CHILD AND WE START WORKING
RIGHT FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
Jorena: SO WHY DON'T YOU ALL TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?
Jason: MY SISTER HAD THREW A PARTY,
AND IT WAS, LIKE, A NORMAL PARTY
AND THEN IT'S, LIKE, WE HEARD GUNSHOTS.
Jason: THEY TALKED TO ME A LOT TO LET ME EXPRESS MYSELF
AND LET PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL.
AND THAT WAY, I COULD BE MORE OPEN
AND QUIT TRYING TO HIDE EVERYTHING FROM EVERYBODY.
Santiago: WE, WORKING WITH THESE KIDS,
SEE THAT THE RECIDIVISM HAS DROPPED.
SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE NOT COMING BACK INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
Johnson: TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP OTHER KIDS
STEER CLEAR OF TROUBLE AND VIOLENCE...
Santiago: I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE KIDS
BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, HELPING OTHER KIDS
TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND TELLING KIDS THEIR STORY.
Ellis: VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE SOMETIMES VIEWED
AS OUTSIDERS ASSOCIATED WITH "THE SYSTEM."
MANY CRIME VICTIMS MAY HAVE A MISTRUST OF THE SYSTEM
AND OF INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
BY TAPPING INTO SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS,
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, HEALTH CARE AGENCIES,
AND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN THE VICTIMS' COMMUNITY,
WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES IN A FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT
WHERE THEY NATURALLY TURN FOR HELP IN A TIME OF CRISIS.
Woman: FARM WORKER WOMEN ARE WOMEN LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS FOR SOMEONE TO CALL UPON SOMEONE
WHO'S BEEN ABUSING HER OR JUST TO MENTION OUT
THAT SHE'S BEING ABUSED.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
THAT HAS WORKED IN OUR COMMUNITY IS DRAMA.
YOU START A SKIT PRESENTING THE PROBLEM--
THE DYNAMICS OF THE FAMILY WHERE THE PARTNER WOULD BE THE ABUSER.
AFTER THE SKIT WAS FINISHED,
IT WAS MUCH EASIER FOR THE PARTICIPANTS...
THEY WOULD COME OUT AND SAY, "YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PROBLEMS"
"THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY."
"I HAVE A FRIEND, OR I, MYSELF, AM GOING THROUGH THIS."
"I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL."
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT FARM WORKER WOMEN--
THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION--
THAT WOMEN GET TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER TO DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S NO WORDS FOR THEIR COURAGE.
Ellis: THERE ARE CERTAIN CRIMES
THAT ARE SURROUNDED BY ENORMOUS SHAME AND TABOO.
VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES MAY NEED SUPPORT
IN DISCLOSING TO ANYONE-- EVEN IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES--
FOR THAT MATTER, EVEN IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
SOMETIMES, VICTIMS MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE
THAT CERTAIN BEHAVIORS AND EVENTS ARE CRIMES.
DIFFERING VALUE SYSTEMS,
STIGMA AND FEAR OF RETALIATION WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES,
AND MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
MAY PREVENT VICTIMS FROM SPEAKING OUT.
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS MAY BE NEEDED
TO HoP THESE VICTIMS FIND THEIR VOICES.
SO, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMAIN OPEN TO THE VICTIMS' INPUT
AND THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES
IN WAYS THAT MIGHT BE UNFAMILIAR TO US,
BUT ARE COMFORTABLE FOR THEM.
I WAS IN A COMA FOR A COUPLE DAYS.
AND WHEN I WOKE UP, I WAS...I COULDN'T MOVE.
I WAS JUST... ANGRY, MAD, UPSET.
ONE DAY YOU'RE WALKING AND THE NEXT DAY, YOU'RE IN A CHAIR.
I THINK THAT SOMETIMES
PEOPLE TRY TO HAVE THE SAME APPROACH TO ALL PEOPLE
OR THINK THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR SOMEONE.
AND THAT OFTEN WORKS AS DISASTROUSLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
Woman: ...CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE.
I DID FOR HIM LIKE I WOULD HAVE DONE FOR A BABY.
Pierce: GOOD MORNING, KEITH.
GOOD MORNING, MR. KELLY.
Keith: IF I HADN'T MET KELLY,
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I NEED NOW, SINCE I GOT HURT,
MAYBE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE HE HELPED ME A LOT WITH THE HUMAN SERVICE PEOPLE,
WITH THE FINANCIAL PART, AND GETTING MY LIFT AND MY CHAIR.
Pierce: PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT YOU NEED SPECIAL COURSES AND CONSULTANTS
AND TRAINERS AND SPECIALISTS LIKE ME TO COME IN
AND BE THE MAGIC SOLUTION.
WHAT I'M DOING IS NO DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THEIR OWN SITUATIONS
AND GETTING TO KNOW THE VICTIM
AND THAT PERSON'S NEEDS VERY CLOSELY.
Keith: CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THAT?
Pierce: I THINK I MIGHT BE ABLE TO, YEAH.
WE HAVE SOME COMPENSATION SPECIALISTS...
AND CREATING A SOLUTION IN A WAY THAT MAKES THEM FEEL CONFIDENT
AND COMFORTABLE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
AND TOWARD CLOSURE IN THEIR LIFE.
Ellis: VICTIM SERVICE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE AWARE
OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE
NEWLY DISABLED BY CRIME.
EACH CRIME VICTIM IS DIFFERENT AND WE MUST TAILOR OUR SERVICES
TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EVERY CRIME VICTIM.
THIS PERHAPS IS OUR MOST CHALLENGING RESPONSIBILITY
AS VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS.
BUT IN THIS FIELD, OUR GREATEST ASSET
IS THAT WE ARE FLEXIBLE, RESPONSIVE, OPEN, AND CREATIVE.
BY OPENING OUR DOORS AND EXPANDING OUR SERVICES,
BY JOINING HANDS WITH OTHER AGENCIES,
WE CAN ENSURE THAT EVERY VICTIM
IS INCLUDED IN OUR CIRCLE OF CARE.
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