Crime Victim Advocacy Center

Many victims are catipulted by the media to celebrity status.  Journalists and reporters fully invade their privacy:  following them, harassing family members, showing their homes and worksites on television and internet.  I realize that some victimizations, by rarity or special circumstance, require sharing a higher level of detail. But a majority of victims find themselves in a sort of celebrity status that is often unnecessary and uncalled for (and only sensationally feeds the voyarism of the public without newsworthy purpose).  

Celebrities choose to be celebrities…victims do not.   Celebrities understand that the career and lifestyle they have chosen means sharing intimate details with the public.  Victims should be allowed the same choice.

A June 20th St. Louis Post-Dispatch article named - and showed - a domestic violence victim’s home and address.  I find this incredibly irresponsible, not to mention unnecessary to the informational value of the story.  I ask reporters to remember that victims and their families deserve anonymity and privacy during their healing process unless they choose otherwise.  I ask the public to demand this respect from their news outlets.  Victims have few other choices in having been victimized…please be socially responsible and afford victims the choice of privacy.

Julie Lawson,
Executive Director

Last week the St. Louis community learned of the tragic death of “Good Samaritan” Roger Kruetz, the man who tried to stop theives from stealing a tip jar from a local Starbucks.  There have been many blogs and discussions about this incident, including asking, “would you have tried to stop him?”  Many people say they would, and they still would even knowing what happened to him.

Thousands of people every day come to the aid of victims or injustice.  It may be by physically helping citizens out of danger, reporting crime, helping maintain Neighborhood Watch programs, as law enforcement professionals, working in local community centers reaching out to victims, etc.  It is the everyday heros, like Roger, that inspire us the most.  People who are simply and completely dedicated to doing the right thing. 

In a national community where “no snitching” is the rule, Roger is a beautiful exception.  His death reminds us of how desperately little gain people will commit horrific crimes for (he was run over in an escape attempt - to escape with little more than $5).  But his death also reminds us of what we all hope for:  friends, neighbors, citizens who want to do (and will do) the right thing.  All of us want a Roger by our side.

My hope - my prayer - is that the community does not forget his sacrifice.  He lost his life for justice - to remind each of us that there is something we can all do, however small, to help others and uphold the values of our community.  Roger set a shining example of a caring, dedicated citizen.  I can only hope I will live up to such an example.

Julie Lawson, Executive Director

It is unfortunate that even more has to be done to protect children against unlawful predators and that registered ex-offenders who are successfully following the conditions of their release are now further punished.  That said, it is encouraging to see a City Council act so swiftly to protect their citizens as did the Florissant, MO council this past week by banning registered sex offenders from area parks and community centers (following an incident in which a registered sex offender exposed himself to a group of children at a local civic center). 

This action is similar to that of area councils and local governments who have also taken quick action to declare cyber-bullying a punishable crime following the death of 13-year-old St. Charles, MO resident Megan Meier. Whether or not you agree with the details of these laws, it is important that citizens know their local governments are working for them.  This type of quick and citizen-driven response to victims is the heart of what CVAC works for, and the projection of victims’ voices by these local governments is commendable. 

Welcome to CVAC’s blog.  This blog is dedicated to discussion of all topics that affect crime victims, including the community as a victim.  If you need more information or immediate assistance, please call us 24-hours a day at (314) 652-3623.