Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Hosts Victim Assistance Conference, Victims' Rights Day Ceremony

Attorney General Jack Conway and his Office of Victims Advocacy are proud to host the 2011 Victim Assistance Conference April 13-14th at the Capital Plaza Hotel, 405 Wilkinson Blvd., Frankfort, Ky. Approximately 300 victim service providers, advocates, social workers, attorneys and nurses from across Kentucky are expected to attend the conference, which coincides with National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 10-16. The conference is designed to alert advocates and others about pressing crime and violence issues. The annual event also offers training and complimentary continuing education.

"This year's conference will serve as a tribute to the history of victims' rights and services in Kentucky as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Crime Victims Bill of Rights and Office of Victims Advocacy," General Conway said. "Kentucky's victim advocates work tirelessly to provide a powerful voice to those who are often in their darkest hours. I would like to personally commend them for all they do to ensure justice and healing for victims and their families."

Also speaking at the conference are Rep. Joni Jenkins, Carol Jordan, Assistant Provost and Director of the University of Kentucky's Center for Research on Violence Against Women, Michelle Cruz, State Victim Advocate for the Office of the Victim Advocate in Connecticut and Sandra Harrell, Director of the Vera Institute of Justice's Accessing Safety Initiative.

Kentucky Crime Victims' Rights Day

Attorney General Conway's Office of Victim Advocacy is also hosting a Victims' Rights Day ceremony on April 13 at 3:30 p.m. at the Kentucky History Center, 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, Ky.

Nationally recognized victims' rights advocate Quincy Lucas will serve as the keynote speaker. Lucas, whose sister was murdered in 2003 by a former boyfriend, formed Witney's Lights, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence.

The Victims' Rights Day ceremony is free and open to the public.

General Conway's Office of Victims Advocacy works to ensure that crime victims are treated with respect and dignity as their case proceeds through the criminal justice system.

The office serves thousands of victims across Kentucky each year. From July to December 2010, the office responded to more than 3,300 requests for assistance.

The Office of Victims Advocacy also administers and monitors the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board, which funds child sexual abuse prevention programs and oversees the tax check-off and license plate projects for the Child Victims' Trust Fund.