Witness Justice
Encyclopedia
Witness Justice founded in 2001 by survivors for survivors, is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Frederick, Maryland
that serves victims of all types of violence and trauma through advocacy, education, and direct support.
, and mental illness
, tips on helping a friend or loved one who has been victimized, advice on how to advocate for victims of violence, and in-depth information on trauma and trauma-informed care is all available on the site. In addition, a comprehensive Criminal Justice Terminology Guide is available to help those who are struggling to navigate through the criminal justice system, as well as direct links to each state’s victim assistance and victim compensation offices. A Virtual Community
can be accessed on the WJ Website too, which allows victims to connect and interact with others who have had similar traumatic experiences and struggles in the aftermath. Victims and their families can also request spiritual support and prayer through the multi-faith praying volunteer program available through the WJ Website.
On September 13, 2006, WJ, in collaboration with the Congressional Caucus
on Addiction, Treatment and Recovery, hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill to illustrate that trauma is the “common denominator” of all violence and disaster victims and that it has extremely destructive-but virtually ignored-mental health, substance abuse, and economic effects on individuals, families, and communities across the nation, especially as it relates to the treatment and prevention of violence. Participating speakers at the briefing included: Thomas J. Berger, Ph.D.
, Chair, PTSD & Substance Abuse Committee, Vietnam Veterans of America
, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy
(D-RI), Co-chair, Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus, LaVerne D. Miller, Esq., Director, HTH Peer Advocacy Center, A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., Director, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
, Roberta Roper, Founder, Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc., David L. Shern, Ph.D., President and CEO, National Mental Health Association.
and Wilma
, Witness Justice was not the only organization to recognize that there were massive issues related to the criminal justice
system, crime reporting and mental health
concerns. While Witness Justice worked directly with survivors that were displaced to new communities and out of the jurisdiction in which they could report the crime committed, the organization also spoke with federal legislators and agencies to address some of the very problematic aspects of our systems that leave disaster survivors without the support the need and rights that they are entitled to. Witness Justice continues its work in this area, recognizing that “lessons learned” are only that if change within our systems take place to ensure that these problems do not occur again.
, Helga West founded WJ with the vision to address the gaps in service experienced by survivors of violence and trauma, no matter the nature of the incident, where or when the incident occurred, or whether a crime was ever reported. The organization was founded with very little resource, but unparalleled passion to ensure victim rights are upheld and that survivors’ receive the support they need in the aftermath to heal. With a total annual administrative percentage of only 7%, the organization prides itself in operating efficiently and with strong business sense so that funds coming to the organization can be used to fulfill the organization’s mission in the truest sense through programs and services.
WJ conducts research and outreach to identify unaddressed survivor needs and the impact of violence on families, communities, and our nation. When WJ identifies a gap, need, or unaddressed population, the organization works to meet those needs and gaps and, when necessary, advocate with legislators, state systems, and other organizations to foster positive social change
that will provide the best potential for survivors’ healing and justice.
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
that serves victims of all types of violence and trauma through advocacy, education, and direct support.
Resources
The WJ Website offers a variety of resources that inform survivors and their families as they pursue healing and justice. Statistics on crime, abuse, self-injurySelf-harm
Self-harm or deliberate self-harm includes self-injury and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions. These terms are used in the more recent literature in an attempt to reach a more neutral terminology...
, and mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
, tips on helping a friend or loved one who has been victimized, advice on how to advocate for victims of violence, and in-depth information on trauma and trauma-informed care is all available on the site. In addition, a comprehensive Criminal Justice Terminology Guide is available to help those who are struggling to navigate through the criminal justice system, as well as direct links to each state’s victim assistance and victim compensation offices. A Virtual Community
Virtual community
A virtual community is a social network of individuals who interact through specific media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals...
can be accessed on the WJ Website too, which allows victims to connect and interact with others who have had similar traumatic experiences and struggles in the aftermath. Victims and their families can also request spiritual support and prayer through the multi-faith praying volunteer program available through the WJ Website.
Training
Witness Justice is a nationally recognized authority on trauma and provides trauma trainings to government agencies, service providers, and others across the country. The organization also serves on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Center for Trauma-Informed Care. Virtual training is offered through the WJ Website. A variety of courses are presented by the top experts.Advocacy
As an organization committed to addressing gaps in victim services, Witness Justice also advocates on issues that directly affect survivors and the support they receive. Witness Justice is a member of the Mental Health Liaison Group and the Crime Victim’s Rights Caucus Advisory Group, working with other organizations to foster change to the systems of care that so many survivors rely on.On September 13, 2006, WJ, in collaboration with the Congressional Caucus
Congressional caucus
A congressional caucus is a group of members of the United States Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives. Formally, caucuses are formed as congressional member organizations through the United States House of Representatives and governed under the rules of that chamber...
on Addiction, Treatment and Recovery, hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill to illustrate that trauma is the “common denominator” of all violence and disaster victims and that it has extremely destructive-but virtually ignored-mental health, substance abuse, and economic effects on individuals, families, and communities across the nation, especially as it relates to the treatment and prevention of violence. Participating speakers at the briefing included: Thomas J. Berger, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, Chair, PTSD & Substance Abuse Committee, Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that promotes the interests of United States military veterans of the Vietnam War era. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government...
, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy
Patrick J. Kennedy
Patrick Joseph Kennedy II is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1995 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Bristol County and Newport County, and parts of Providence County. Kennedy did not seek re-election in 2010.A member of the Kennedy...
(D-RI), Co-chair, Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus, LaVerne D. Miller, Esq., Director, HTH Peer Advocacy Center, A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., Director, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to...
, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
, Roberta Roper, Founder, Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc., David L. Shern, Ph.D., President and CEO, National Mental Health Association.
Disaster and Crisis Planning and Response
Following Hurricanes Katrina, RitaHurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
and Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
, Witness Justice was not the only organization to recognize that there were massive issues related to the criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
system, crime reporting and mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
concerns. While Witness Justice worked directly with survivors that were displaced to new communities and out of the jurisdiction in which they could report the crime committed, the organization also spoke with federal legislators and agencies to address some of the very problematic aspects of our systems that leave disaster survivors without the support the need and rights that they are entitled to. Witness Justice continues its work in this area, recognizing that “lessons learned” are only that if change within our systems take place to ensure that these problems do not occur again.
Background
The survivor of a random, brutal attempted murderAttempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
, Helga West founded WJ with the vision to address the gaps in service experienced by survivors of violence and trauma, no matter the nature of the incident, where or when the incident occurred, or whether a crime was ever reported. The organization was founded with very little resource, but unparalleled passion to ensure victim rights are upheld and that survivors’ receive the support they need in the aftermath to heal. With a total annual administrative percentage of only 7%, the organization prides itself in operating efficiently and with strong business sense so that funds coming to the organization can be used to fulfill the organization’s mission in the truest sense through programs and services.
WJ conducts research and outreach to identify unaddressed survivor needs and the impact of violence on families, communities, and our nation. When WJ identifies a gap, need, or unaddressed population, the organization works to meet those needs and gaps and, when necessary, advocate with legislators, state systems, and other organizations to foster positive social change
Social change
Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. It may refer to the notion of social progress or sociocultural evolution, the philosophical idea that society moves forward by dialectical or evolutionary means. It may refer to a paradigmatic change in the socio-economic...
that will provide the best potential for survivors’ healing and justice.