We are all only human after all. Just flesh and blood. That is the way God made us and without His mercy and love we cannot travel through our life without sometimes uncontrollably wanting to strike back at people and situations that knock us to our knees.
But, as the human beings that we are, we must rely on God and the gracious, loving people that He sometimes places in our lives when they are most needed.
God’s love and strength is the first place we should look for support. But then again, sometimes we are hit so hard and fast, with such a forcible blow, that it takes time to get our bearings and to remember where our help comes from. And that is when He supplies our needs through people who love helping others.
In my circumstance, God sent some of the most beautiful people I have ever met. I am talking about the gracious women from three different Crime Victims organizations. In Boone County, the Crime Victim Office is grant-funded and is headed up by a wonderful woman by the name of Carol Martin. On the federal level in southern West Virginia, crime victims can turn to a kind and gracious lady named Traci Chapman with the US Attorneys’ Office. In addition, there are a couple of wonderful ladies in Boone County, Joann Lowery and Patty Price, who are known as Boone County Crime Victim Volunteers. They work hard to make the community aware of victim issues and victims’ needs. They volunteer their time to be seated along side victims who have to appear in the foreboding courtrooms. Their emotional support is very encouraging to victims.
Finally, our government has made available financial help for victims instead of everything being for the criminals. The criminals help provide funding for the WV Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund when they are made to pay restitution, court costs and fines for their attacks on society and innocent people such as myself. The Crime Fund pays for medication, doctor bills, counseling, lost wages, burial expenses and more that innocent victims would have to pay out of their own pockets - expenses that are not of our making, but are caused by the selfless and uncaring people who prey upon society’s innocent hard working people. I hope and pray that our elected officials realize just how much this program is needed and appreciated and that they will continue to approve and supply the funds and staff needed for such a large undertaking. As our communities are ever more and more being attacked by the criminal elements of society, we need people like Carol and Traci and the many volunteers across the state. I have seen and felt first hand their love and concern for the victims. They are under staffed, with the huge caseloads that come just into Boone County alone. The victim programs need our support and the backing and support of our government.
I dare to say that every person reading this letter, including our elected officials, has a family member or knows first hand someone who has been devastated by a criminal act upon them or their family. It’s time we stood up for the victims and make the criminals pay for the pain and suffering they impose upon innocent members of society.
If you, or someone you know, need help from the Crime Victims Coordinator, you can call Carol Martin at the Boone County Court House. That number is 369-7374. The Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund can be reached at 1-877-562-6878. I pray that you or a loved one will never need to make that call, but if so, you will be very glad that help is available.
My name is Judy Walker and I was the victim of an armed bank robbery. Four years of my life was stolen, not only from me, but also from my children, husband and friends. Crime not only affects others, it will somehow, some day, affect you also.
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