7th Annual Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference

Opening the Doors:
Victim Access to Justice

May 30-31, 2008

Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
1401 SW Naito Parkway
Portland, Oregon 97201

Conference Recap

NCVLI’s 7th Annual Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference took place on May 30 & 31, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. This year’s Conference theme, Opening the Doors: Victim Access to Justice, recognized that barriers in the criminal justice system have long prevented meaningful access for victims. The conference brought together 130 individuals from 25 states and the District of Columbia, to discuss ways to remedy this lack of access to ensure that victims can become active participants in the criminal justice process. Attorneys, advocates, prosecutors, victims, and law enforcement convened at the Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel for two days of plenary sessions and workshop presentations. They exchanged experiences, knowledge, and promising practices, and engaged in lively debate and conversations.

The conference program was packed with expert workshop presenters and intriguing speakers. The Honorable Paul Cassell, Professor of Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, drawing on his experiences both as a federal district court judge from 2002-07 and as victims’ rights attorney both before and after his time on the bench, addressed the audience on what arguments to make – and not to make – to judges considering victims’ rights cases. Roberta Roper, Founder and Board Chair of the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) along with Oliver Smith Sr., Founding Member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Concerns of Police Survivors, & Member of the Board of Directors of MCVRC, shared their unique experiences as victim survivors of violent crime, discussing how far the victims’ movement has progressed to help empower us to keep the promise for victim justice. Other nationally recognized conference faculty included experts such as Hon. Hardy Myers, Oregon Attorney General, Steve Twist, founder and president of Arizona Voice for Victims, John Clune, Co-Founder of the Victim Justice Initiative, and Diane Moyer, Legal Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

Inclusive to the conference program was an awards ceremony to honor the work of attorneys, advocates and organizations that have made significant and notable contributions to the enhancement of crime victims’ status and standing within the criminal justice system. This year, NCVLI paid tribute to the following people:

Steve Twist

President, Arizona Voice for Crime Victims

2008 Legal Advocacy Award for His Pioneering Work and Devotion to Legal Service on Behalf of Victims

Roberta Roper

Board Chair and Founder, Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc.

2008 Victim Advocacy Award For Her Commitment and Achievements in Advancing Victims' Rights

Thanks to all who helped make the 2008 Conference a success. We look forward to seeing you in 2009!

Overview: The seventh annual NCVLI Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference is an ideal opportunity for attorneys, advocates, prosecutors, and other law enforcement and criminal justice professionals to meet, network, and increase their knowledge of victim law. This year’s theme, “Opening the Doors: Victim Access to Justice”, recognizes that barriers in the criminal justice system have long prevented meaningful access for victims. The conference highlights remedies for this lack of access so that victims become active participants.

The conference’s keynote speakers and presenters include Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers; former Federal District Court Judge Paul Cassell; Steve Twist, Founder and President of the Arizona Voice for Crime Victims; Sandy Bromley, Senior Program Attorney for the Stalking Resource Center; Catherine Carroll, Legal Director at the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs; and Robin Runge, Director of the Commission on Domestic Violence at the American Bar Association. Conference topics address Oregon’s move to enforcement, media management, stalking, human trafficking, pursuit of victim justice, and technology abuse.

Conference Registration: Registration for the 7th Annual Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference is currently open. Conference tuition is as follows: Standard Rate: $319; Government, Academic, or Non-Profit Rate: $299; NAVRA Member Rate: $289; and Student Rate: $179. (Click here to learn more about the National Alliance of Victims’ Rights Attorneys, NAVRA, and to become a member.) More information on conference registration can be found on the Conference Registration webpage.

Conference Venue and Lodging: All sessions of the 7th Annual Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference will be held at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, a beautiful hotel across the street from the Willamette River and within easy walking distance of many excellent restaurants, stores, museums, and other exciting places in downtown Portland. Further information can be on the Conference Venue and Lodging webpage, including information on the availability of shuttles to and from the airport and public transportation.

Conference Brochure: The schedule of events, descriptions of the keynote/plenary and breakout/workshop sessions, and the names and titles of the conference faculty, can be found in the Conference Brochure.

CLE Credits: NCVLI has applied for a total of 11.75 General MCLE credits (5.25 credits for the Friday sessions and 6.5 credits for the Saturday sessions). Once a final determination has been made (hopefully mid-May), the number of actual CLE credits available will be posted here.

Save the Date Card: The Save the Date Card highlights some of the exciting features of the 7th Annual Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference.

Scholarships: The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVCTTAC) offers OVC Scholarships to help defray costs of conference attendance.

Child Care: Northwest Nannies at (503) 245-5288 and Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP) at (503) 524-3245 are two local organizations that offer childcare services to out-of-town visitors.

Former Conferences

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

This conference is supported by Grant No. 2007-JA-CX-K001 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

7th Annual Crime Victim Law & Litigation Conference

Opening the Doors:Victim Access to JusticeMay 30-31, 2008

Conference Recap

Former Conferences

Opening the Doors:
Victim Access to Justice

May 30-31, 2008