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November 2006
Message from the Executive Director:
Lisa Northam
Greetings to you! I hope this finds you in good health and spirits. I can hardly believe that 2006 is at its end and 2007 is upon us. As I look back over 2006, I remember with appreciation all of those who have helped the California Crime Victims grow to beyond my expectations. Where ever there has been innovation, development or progress, you the members have been in the front ranks. We wouldn’t be the organization we are today without you.
As one of the five founding directors of the California Crime Victims Coalition, I envisioned CCVC assisting staff after they had become assaulted while at work. When CCVC was originally formed it was for custody staff only. Soon after CCVC became active in the institutions the need to include non-custody staff in the organization was evident. It then became apparent to us there was a need to include member’s families also. Having worked together and with numerous other organizations over the years, I have learned that the organizations that thrives and gets the most done work together as a team. This teamwork includes CCVC members, activist, families and the local community. Believe me when I say, during this past year this type of teamwork is exactly what I witnessed. With so many CCVC activists outside of corrections it was apparent that CCVC needed a name change. The Board of Directors felt the name needed to reflect ALL our activist not only those working in corrections. So with this thought, in June of 2006 CCVC officially changed the name to “California Crime Victims Coalition”. With this endeavor we hope to incorporate all our members, families, various law enforcement agencies and friends as part of the CCVC TEAM.
One of the California Crime Victims Coalition objections is to help other victim organizations. In September CCVC along with our sister organization the Crime Victims Coalition was proud to host a fundraiser for Parents of Murdered Children at the CCPOA 2006 training conference. Parents of Murdered Children was founded by Robert and Charlotte Hullinger in 1978 after their 19-year old daughter was murdered. POMC provides the on-going support needed to help parents and other survivors facilitate the reconstruction of a “new life” and to promote a healthy resolution. Not only does POMC help the survivors deal with their acute grief but also helps with the criminal justice system. I am proud to announce that over $2,100.00 was raised. Another goal was to get CCVC activist trained throughout the state and in each institution. Our trainers were kept busy and we now have many new activist trained. Although we have not reached our goal of having trained activist in each prison we are will on our way. Last year activist training was held in the following locations: Blythe, El Centro, San Diego, and in Reno at the CCPOA training convention. Three years ago we held activist training in the Sacramento area and are in the planning stages of holding another soon. If you’re interested in having training in your area please call to set up a date, time and place.
When you first joined CCVC as a member we made an assurance to you that ALL your information would be kept on a confidential basis. So please understand this is the reason CCVC or activists won’t list the names or the amount of money that has been won in law suites against inmates. Another reason is because it’s a very traumatizing time after becoming a victim and many individuals don’t feel comfortable in talking about their victimization. . I can assure you we have won law suites against inmates and have helped members heal during a difficult time in their lives. The support we give members or family members is not always financial; CCVC looks at each individual case and helps the member and family with their individual needs. This is very personal to each member and their family and should be kept as such. CCVC is also asked how members, family and friends can help the organization. There are so many ways to help CCVC as little or as much time you can donate is of help. One way is by becoming active as an activist. The second is as simple as notifying CCVC when you hear of an assault at work or a member or their family is affected by a crime in their community.
Membership, assistance and support in the California Crime Victims Coalition of both you and your family are crucial to the strength of this organization. The entire Board of Directors joins me in sending you our admiration and thanks for your support during this past year. I hope that 2006 was a good year for you and 2007 will be even better.
Meet the Board of Directors and Activist’s of CCVC
Lisa Northam
Although, over the years I have written articles for the news letter, met many of you in person or spoke with you on the phone I never took the time to properly introduce myself. My name is Lisa Northam and I am a correctional officer at Centinela State Prison. I have worked for CDCR for 16 years. I started my career at Mule Creek State Prison then transferred to Calipatria State Prison and now I’m at Centinela. I am also the founding director and CEO for CCVC; I was a chapter president for CCPOA for over 8 years. It was during this time that I became an advocate for victims. After speaking with many correctional employees who had become victims of assaults while on duty, I realized there was a void in our victim’s assistance program. With the help of CCPOA I founded the California Correctional Crime Victims Coalition. I am so proud and honored to be part of CCVC
Kevin Thompson
My name is Kevin Thompson and I am a Lieutenant at Centinela State Prison. I have been in the department for 10 years. I started as an MTA. I then promoted to Sergeant and then to Lieutenant. I have been involved with the Crime Victims Coalition for a few years now, and at our last Board meeting I was elected a Board Member. With this responsibility, I was voted to assume the duties as the treasurer. It is my duty to ensure that membership dues are being utilized effectively. One of my goals is to develop teams of local volunteers to assist with membership drives. After all, without increasing membership we will not be able to increase services over the next year.
Karla E. Lemus
Hi everyone, my name is Karla Lemus and I am a correctional officer at Folsom State Prison. I have been in the Department since 1997 starting at Soledad State Prison. Before coming into CDCR I worked as a Fire Fighter for the Ca Dept. of Forestry in Tulare County for 4 ½ years becoming one of the first female fire fighters. My hobbies are golfing, traveling, fine dinning, dancing and meeting and helping new people. I enjoy time off with my family there’s nothing like the familia. For the past 5 years I have volunteered my days off with the Victim Services Committee. It is my responsibility to escort victims to parole hearings. I can’t express enough how rewarding it is to know I have made a victim feel at ease during this difficult time in there life. I have received so many nice letters in return. I have volunteered many hours of my off time to various service groups such as: CCPOA, Crime Victims United and CCWA, in fact I boxed for a Crime Victims United fundraiser for CCWA. I have also been on the honor guard at Folsom since 2000. I am now an activist for the California Crime Victims Coalition. Since both my husband, (we were just married on Aug. 25th) and I both work for the Department we have seen how lives are changed after people are victims, either on or off duty. I hope by volunteering for CCVC I can make a difference. Both my husband and I became members at the CCPOA convention in 2005. On November 4th 2006 we both attended CCVC activist training and will be an activist in the Sacramento area. I will be looking for more activists so watch out. My wish is to make the Sacramento area very active within CCVC. Thank you in advance for your support and I look forward to meeting you.
Brian Merriweather
Good morning all! I am a new activist to CCVC and I would like to take this time to introduce myself. I served a total of 24 years in the service, 4 of which were with the naval attack squadron. After retiring from the service, I went into the California Dept of Forestry for 2 years. I then entered the Dept. of Corrections in January 1985. After graduating from the academy I had the pleasure of working at the first 270 design prison in the state, Solano State prison. In the summer of 1987 I transferred to Mule Creek State Prison where I became involved with ABCW, and CCWA which I am still currently members of both organizations. In 1997 I promoted to correctional sergeant transferring to Salinas Valley State Prison my first level IV facility. After 18 months I transferred back to the Sacramento working at CSP Sacramento and at the academy as an instructor. For the past 5 years I have been employed Folsom State Prison. 2 years ago at the CCPOA convention I became a member of CCVC. I like what the organization stood for so I decided to become an activist. I encourage all members to become activist. Those of you living in the Sacramento area you soon will be receiving information from me regarding training in the area. I look forward to meeting many of you at this training. Be safe and if you have any questions you can get in touch with me by calling (866) 357-9388.
Rosie Montanez
Hello, my name is Rosie Montanez and I’m an activist for the California Crime Victims Coalition. Even though I do not work for CDCR I have been involved with CCVC for 2 years. I have lived in the Imperial Valley for over 10 years. CCVC is very active in the local community. I like the fact that there is an organization that helps correctional staff and community members. I have family and numerous friends in Corrections and I am aware of the danger they are faced with on a daily basis. I also have family in the Border Patrol and Customs. Just by listening to the news or reading the paper, we are all aware of the amount of victimization in our communities. A friend asked me to help out on a membership drive at Corcoran State Prison in 2004. Everyone made me feel so welcome and part of the CCVC family; I wanted to continue this relationship. Since then I have assisted at numerous drives and also at the CCPOA convention for the last 2 years. I encourage you all to become active in CCVC, you to can make a difference.
Committee Reports
Business Manager’s Report:
Kevin Thompson
It is my duty as the treasurer to report the financial solvency of CCVC. CCVC’s bookkeeping procedures call for two signatures on each check. All bills, receipts and checks are verified by two separate individuals on the financial committee. The books are then reviewed by the CCVC treasurer and then reconciled by the bookkeeper. These procedures ensure sound booking. Good accounting practices also call for non-profit organizations to be audited once every three to five years by and independent auditor. I was given direction at our last Board of Directors meeting to initiate an outside audit to be completed this year. I would like to explain what took place at the audit. CCVC first notifies our accounting firm the desire to conduct an independent audit. The auditor will pick at random a year they wish to audit. Our bookkeeper was then notified to supply all accounting records which included: Bank reconciliations, minutes, bylaws, standard operational procedures, bills, and receipts for the entire year. This audit consisted of reviewing records for fraud, efficiency, accounting methods, and general operational procedures. I am proud to announce that CCVC passed this audit with no problems and financially we are in great shape. I am attaching the letter CCVC received from the accounting firm of Hutchinson & Bloodgood.
Administrative Assistant
Membership Drive Report:
Felipe Lopez/Ramiro Zaragoza
Hello everyone! This past year was very busy for our membership drive team. We visited many prisons acquired numerous new members and gained countless friends where ever we went. We would first like to thank the activist that helped on the membership drives this past year without you CCVC would not have accomplished what we did. So thank you: Kathy and Curtis Sharps, Rosie Montanez, Ericka Lopez, Sandra Rivas, George Lucero, Mike Masters, Junior and Tina Arteaga, Chris Mc Williams, Margaret Gandara, Kevin and Beth Thompson, Travis Kissinger, Dee Long, Clay Sharps, Steve Halterman, Mike Kullander,
Alexander Kaivan, Marcelo RA , Steve Camarillo, Sgt. James Crabtree, Sgt. S.A. Sanchez, Lt. K.A. Seibel, Lt. Dave Carter, Sgt. Victor Green, Lt. D. Asuncion, Sgt. Ramos and you Lisa. Each drive was a huge success and we thank you for taking time off work and being away from your families to help CCVC.
Keep them Near and Dear
Mike Masters
Recently the California Crime Victims Coalition and its volunteers photographed and fingerprinted over 30 children who attended the Centinela State Prisons Bring Your Child to Work Day. The event was a huge success and we received numerous compliments from the parents and prison staff. We have already received request from other prisons to provide the same services at their prisons. Recently one of our members developed a new program to photograph and fingerprint the children. This program will require a small amount of equipment or training for activist to use. In the near future we will be able to provide this program to our activist to use in their own communities.
In the year 2005 119,282 children were reported missing in the State of California alone, The Keep Them Near and Dear program is a vital service that is provided to our communities thanks to the dues paid by you, our membership. For more information on missing children in California please visit the Office of the Attorney Generals Web Site at http://ag.ca.gov./missing/index.htm
Community Victims Witness
Pam Littrell / Jennifer Ramirez
I would like to express much gratitude to the California Crime Victims Coalition (CCVC), for sponsoring me to the 20th Annual Conference for Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). It was my pleasure to attend an idiosyncratic congregation, where professionals and survivors from around the nation advocate for policy change via awareness, while simultaneously serving as support groups for families during the remembrance and grief of murdered loved ones.
This opportunity has enabled me to efficiently serve victims of crime since I am more familiar with the problems and questions of survivors. I feel privileged to have listened to family’s stories and the issues encompassed along the mourning and criminal justice process.
I was particularly touched by an elderly couple who waited anxiously for the question and answer portion of the Prison Life presentation given by CCPOA’s Victims Chairperson/ CCVC Executive Director Lisa Northam and victims’ activist Mike Kullander. They expressed much worry about the location of their daughter’s murderer and wanted to know if he was incarcerated in a specific institution. I hesitantly asked for the state in which the crime had occurred. I grew concerned after the mother stated to have no idea about the courts judgment on the criminal case. Unexpectedly, while holding a tissue to her eye, the lady began to reminisce on her daughter’s life. After a few childhood stories, the elderly woman began speaking about the night that her son-in-law killed her daughter. Her story was very vivid. In fact, she was able to remember the dish she was cooking for dinner that night. I was astonished when she stated it had been 20 years since her daughter’s death. Furthermore, I learned that time does not always heal and that when someone ends the life of a loved one, there is no such thing as “closure”.
In sum, although attendees made up a diverse group from various nationalities and belief systems, they all shared the same emotions and difficulties as human beings. Overall, this was a great conference that provides a face to the tragedies and voice for the victims
Jennifer Ramirez
Victim Advocate Specialist
Victim Witness Assistance Program
Did You Know?
Lisa Northam
- The number of violent crimes in California increased by 3.2% last year, according to preliminary figures released by the state Department of Justice.
- There was a 4.4 % increase in homicides in 2005 compared to 2004, a 5.2 percent increase in robberies, and 2.6 % increase in aggravated assaults. According to the preliminary report. Rapes decreased by 2.5%
- This was the first time the state recorded an increase in violent crimes since 2001, when the rate rose by 1.7%.
- Although crime levels remain at their lowest levels in years, we cannot ignore these small increases in crime, Bill Lockyer said.
- “I am convinced that criminal street gangs and the prevalence of methamphetamine are two of the primary factors behind this recent uptick in crime. In order to further improve public safety, we need to continue to focus our attention and resources on the root causes of our crime problem”
- The state also experienced a 2 percent increase in property crime, which includes burglary, vehicle thefts and larceny thefts, the report said.
- The report compared 2005 data with 2004 data provided by 81 police and sheriff’s departments that serve populations greater than
100,000. Overall, 101,583 violent crimes were reported by the 81 police agencies in 2005, compared with 98,410 in 2004.
Retirements 2006
Drago Hernandez Alesa Gambill Sharon Ransdell June Beasley William Caldwell
H. Veldez Jr. Cozwtt Gray Charles Ransdell Betty Beach Robert Hoffman
B. Early Susan Logan S.J. Parks D.M. Elmoore George McFarland
D.L. May Dean Petzold C.E. Weeks Rose Houston Donald Fish
Lella Daniels Janet Childress David Walker R.G. Yancy David Crockett
William Henderson Dianna Meadows W.C. Roberts P.M. Ulibarri J. E. Hall
Daniel James K.N. Kim Lenny Lutz M. E. Lippert Roy Papillion
R. Thomas Riddle R. G. Wilson J.C. Carrillo Nadine Belcher Jose Brito
Mike Robinson Anthony Lee M.H. Botello Thomas Gonzalez Richard Miller
Ellis Mc Cant Joe Vega Keith Walton H.E. Amezquita Ronald Dansby
Keith Cobb Enrique Mananahac
In Loving Memory
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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OFFICERS
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