Crime Victims' Rights Week features Cumberland County pioneers, heroes
Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 8:36 PM Updated: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 8:51 PM
BRIDGETON — In honor OF National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, officials from the Cumberland and Cape May county prosecutors’ offices, law enforcement, victim advocates and individuals who have themselves been victims gathered at Cumberland County College for an all-day conference.
Addressing a full George P. Luciano Center, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae brought attention to those who she called pioneers and heroes in victims rights.
“We have trail blazers right here in our own area — from officials in Cape May County and their work in supporting the No Early Release Act, to here in Cumberland County and Nielsa’s Law, which allows families of murder victims to display pictures of the victim at sentencing, to Assemblyman Nelson Albano and ‘Josh’s Law’ (which instituted harsher penalties for vehicular homicide cases in which alcohol was involved).”
Nielsa Mason, whose name is remembered in Nielsa's Law.
The prosecutor also praised the memory of Carmen DiGregorio, the retired Millville police officer who was fatally injured trying to save a stranger from being kidnapped in 2007.
The fallen officer was this month awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism.
“In our own community, people have made a difference for the victims that come after them,” added McRae.
The event’s keynote speaker was Susan Murphy-Milano, an author and nationally renown advocate for victims of violent crimes who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Radio and ABC’s 20/20.
Murphy-Milano witnessed her father, a decorated Chicago violent crimes detective, beat and attack her mother repeatedly throughout her life.
Eventually, she would walk into her childhood home to find her mother murdered and her father in the next room, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
During her address, she beseeched the many prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the room to do more to assist victims of violent crimes throughout the criminal justice process — especially when the accused is a law enforcement officer.
“These people are desperate and they are pleading for the life to be heard,” said Murphy-Milano of the victims she assists. “In so many cases, abusers and attackers got away with what they did, and these victims are only now being helped.”
She also stated victims should be better-educated and more involved in cases.
“Victims cannot be as silent as the crimes,” she said. “I tell them to make evidentiary wills and abuse affidavits. I tell them to collect and tag their own evidence, if they have to.
“We need to start teaching this at a different level.”
Addressing a full George P. Luciano Center, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae brought attention to those who she called pioneers and heroes in victims rights.
“We have trail blazers right here in our own area — from officials in Cape May County and their work in supporting the No Early Release Act, to here in Cumberland County and Nielsa’s Law, which allows families of murder victims to display pictures of the victim at sentencing, to Assemblyman Nelson Albano and ‘Josh’s Law’ (which instituted harsher penalties for vehicular homicide cases in which alcohol was involved).”
Nielsa Mason, whose name is remembered in Nielsa's Law.The fallen officer was this month awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism.
“In our own community, people have made a difference for the victims that come after them,” added McRae.
The event’s keynote speaker was Susan Murphy-Milano, an author and nationally renown advocate for victims of violent crimes who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Radio and ABC’s 20/20.
Murphy-Milano witnessed her father, a decorated Chicago violent crimes detective, beat and attack her mother repeatedly throughout her life.
Eventually, she would walk into her childhood home to find her mother murdered and her father in the next room, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
During her address, she beseeched the many prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the room to do more to assist victims of violent crimes throughout the criminal justice process — especially when the accused is a law enforcement officer.
“These people are desperate and they are pleading for the life to be heard,” said Murphy-Milano of the victims she assists. “In so many cases, abusers and attackers got away with what they did, and these victims are only now being helped.”
She also stated victims should be better-educated and more involved in cases.
“Victims cannot be as silent as the crimes,” she said. “I tell them to make evidentiary wills and abuse affidavits. I tell them to collect and tag their own evidence, if they have to.
“We need to start teaching this at a different level.”
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Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and
specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.
specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.
A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals,
victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing
prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. Host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show,"Time'sUp!" . She is a regular
contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes :
Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up!
a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime Susan is also the daughter of a Chicago Violent Crimes detective who murdered her mother before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.
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