California Governor Schwarzenegger Announces 2008 Crime Victim Advocacy Awardees

04/15/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today presented the Governor's 2008 Crime Victim Advocacy Awards to 12 individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to the support and service of victims of violent crimes.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack Walsh: The Governor, joined by “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh, presented the Governor's Crime Victim Advocacy Awards to 12 recipients. Photo courtesy California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office.

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"These 12 Californians are being recognized for doing the most compassionate, courageous and selfless work there is-helping victims of crime," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "In doing so, they are turning their own pain into strength for others. I commend each of them for standing up and making a difference and for showing such leadership and dedication to their fellow Californians."

This is the first time the Governor has presented the Crime Victim Advocate Awards after he reinstated them last year. The advocates receiving awards today were nominated by their peers or by members of their communities.

The Governor has also proclaimed April 13-19, 2008, as "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in honor of this year's recipients and the hundreds of other crime victim advocates in California who work tirelessly to support victims.

The following are the recipients of the 2008 Governor's Crime Victim Advocate Awards:

* Marilyn Baldwin, Riverside District Attorney, Victim Witness Office, was one of the first victim advocates in California to travel to inmate hearings to assist and support victims.
* Marie Belmontez has been involved in Parents Of Murdered Children since 2001, serving as a victim advocacy leader.
* Kam Lou Lopez has been working with domestic violence survivors for the past nine years.
* Kimberly Peterson (formerly Sund-Carrington), Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation, served as the executive director from the organization's inception in 1999 until October of 2007.
* Matt Mullin, Associate Warden, Susanville, has served as a liaison between two state correctional institutions, the federal prison, the community and Lassen Family Services.
* Citizen's Adversity Support Team is a coalition of the City of Chula Vista, American Medical Response Services, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center and the Greenwood and Glen Abbey Mortuaries.
* Melissa Donaldson, Safe Alternatives for Everyone, has been providing services to victims of family abuse and violence.
* Riverside District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Rod Pacheco and his staff have been providing outstanding service to crime victims.
* Mia Baker (posthumous) is a pioneer of the crime victim rights movement, leading the volunteer effort that created the Los Angeles District Attorney's Victim Witness Program.
* Collene Campbell, Memory of Victims Everywhere, has worked on behalf of crime victims for more than 30 years. She founded and personally funds Memory of Victims Everywhere.
* Suzanne Brown-McBride, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, has worked for nearly 20 years to assist victims of sexual assault.
* Christine Ward, Crime Victims' Action Alliance, has advocated for victims of violent crime for over 15 years assisting domestic violence and sexual assault victims.

Source: California Governor