National Crime Victims’ Rights Week starts on April 10th, and The Dona Ana County District Attorney’s office is kicking off the week this Saturday with a celebration at Pioneer Women’s Park, which will include a victim’s memorial walk, a community resource expo, and free food.
The event will feature victims speaking out.
Pat Acosta is a survivor of domestic violence; she says her husband began abusing her after their first child was born.
“In the pregnancy everything was fine,” Acosta said. “He was very supportive. When I had my first child that’s when the first incident occurred, he slapped me, and I just didn’t know how to react of say anything to anyone. And a lot of people that know about domestic violence know it is a hidden epidemic. No one wants to talk about it. So, I immediately merged into that personality, withdrew myself, isolated myself from a lot of things and the abuse kept getting worse and worse.”
Acosta says the abuse continued for over 4 years before she sought help.
“When I started realizing that I was becoming a different person,” Acosta said. “I lost my identity. I was very bitter with myself, I was always very angry that was not my personality. I started becoming verbally abusive toward my children.”
Acosta now works as a Victim’s Advocate to help those suffering from Domestic violence providing services that weren’t available to her in the 80’s when she needed them. Dona Ana County District Attorney Mark D’Antonio says he hopes Victim’s Rights Week helps people learn about the services available when they report a crime.
“Victim’s suffer sever emotional trauma,” D’Antonio said. “And some of the victim’s will tell you in their own words, this can last years without the proper counseling and informational resources that can help people. So, one of the reasons we want to put this together is to make people aware there are these programs, there are these resources.”
Pat Acosta says Advocates help victims through the process, giving them options, and letting them make their own decisions.
“I think there is nothing more empowering for them to know what’s available and for them to make a decision,” Acosta said. “So, when we talk about advice, you don’t want to give advice to a victim that sometimes she might not be ready. We know for a fact that a lot of times this is the man that they love, this is the people that they wanted to make a family with. So, when we start telling them you should leave him, or you should do that, rather than listening or just providing support. That’s really what we need to do. So I wouldn’t use the word advice. Just provide options, become more educated. Provide support, and support could be very different. A victim might be ready to leave, go to the shelter; another victim might say no he’s going to change because there’s different reasons why women stay. It could be fear, it could be hope, it could be love.”
D’Antonio says the victim advocates act as a friend throughout the trial process, providing support and explaining legal information.
“These victim advocates are specially trained to literally hold the victim’s hand,” D’Antonio said. “During what can be a very confusing and complicated process. So, they literally walk you through step by step before the trial starts, and they won’t leave your side until the trial or the prosecution is over. Not only do they give you information and insight into what’s going on, but they will be your advocates to make sure if you need restraining orders or anything like that they can help you do that as well.”
Acosta says testifying against their abuser can be trying for victims.
“The victim advocate I think plays a tremendous role in supporting the victim,” Acosta said. “So, the victim can get encouraged. A lot of people don’t understand that it’s very difficult for a victim to follow through. A lot of the time in cases, the evidence, and if we don’t have a victim speaking, well I think if we keep working together to provide even more support, victims will start coming forward.”
D’Antonio says victim advocates are key to helping victims make the stand.
“Our victim advocates are so empathetic,” D’Antonio said. “And so well trained in how to deal with these issues. Not only here at the DA’s office, but at law enforcement agencies as well that in the end we very rarely have a witness that just refuses or is to timid to testify. With the proper talking counseling and being made aware of the situation, what’s not to fear, and knowing she’s protected by the D.A’s office and law enforcement, I would say in 98% of the cases the trial goes forward to a successful prosecution.”
D’Antonio says Law enforcement has a responsibility to provide counseling services for victims.
This Saturday’s celebration of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week will be held at Pioneer Women’s Park from 9:30 AM to 1PM.
The region's home page is only possible with your support. Become a member, renew, or make an additional gift now. Thank you.
