Old Fashion Picnic - National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims
In 2007 U.S. Congress designated September 25 as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. As such, we are partnering with many Southern California victim advocacy groups in sponsoring an Old Fashion Picnic in memory of our lost loved ones.
Get your picnic basket together, grab a blanket and some chairs and come join us for a day of new memories. We’re going to be picnicking around the Lighthouse, directly across from the Queen Mary. We’re planning activities for the kids and lots of food and entertainment for the adults. Remembrance ceremony will take place from 3 to 5 p.m.
Details
If you’re interested in volunteering to help, email us or call Jane or La Wanda.
Two hundred pictures of homicide victims lined the roadway around the Homicide Victims Memorial in a powerful tribute of lost loved ones
Details
L.A. Marathon Fundraiser - Great Success in the Pouring Rain
JHV members and other victims along with District Attorney personnel showed their grit by walking three-mile segments of the of the Los Angeles Marathon in pouring rain on the first day of spring Sunday, March 20, 2011. They jogged and walked in memory of their loved ones and all victims of homicide. Details
Knowing your Rights
As a Victim of Crime
During the last few months Justice for Homicide Victims and Justice for Murdered Children have joined forces holding Crime Victims' Clinic to help educate all victims of crime to ensure they know their constitutional rights here in California. We promise to keep you informed of upcoming Clinics and to provide a recap of those meetings. If you are interested in attending, or need additional information, we are just an email or phone call away. Details
Former JHV Board Member, Ralph Meyers, had the following article printed in the Bellingham Herald on July 27, 2010, remembering the murder of his son, Tom
Details
Were you the victim of a crime and the court ordered restitution?
The California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation may have collected money for you. Contact the Office of Victims & Survivors Rights & Services to inquire if you have unclaimed money from a direct order of restitution. To update your address or obtain additional information call us, toll free at 1-877-256-6877
Katie James, Manager
Office of Victims & Survivors Rights & Services
Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
916-341-7064 katie.james@cdcr.ca.gov
Judges reinstate some Proposition 9 parole rules
A federal appeals court Thursday upheld strict parole revocation rules approved by California voters in 2008, overturning a federal judge’s decision against Proposition 9.. Details
Long Time JHV Board Member LaWanda Hawkins named a Los Angeles Freedmon's Sister
When LaWanda Hawkins received the call that she was selected as a Los Angeles Freedom’s Sister, her response was classic: “You don’t mean me; how did you find me?”. Details
JHV Board Member Honored
Jeanette Chavez, mother of Sammantha Salas, was recently named "Woman of the Year" by local Assemblyman. Details
KTTV Fox 11 Interview with Dr. Henry “Nick” Nicholas and Marcella Leach on Marsy's Law
Dr. Henry “Nick” Nicholas and his mother Marcella Leach were interviewed on KTTV Fox 11 in Los Angeles about Marsy’s Law. They were guests May 17 on the Midday Sunday show hosted by Emmy award-winning crime reporter Tony Valdez, who also reports on Fox 11’s “L.A.’s Most Wanted” news segment. Details & Video >>
Marsy's Law: Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008
Marsy’s Law is the strongest Victim’s Bill of Rights in any state in the nation. Its passage means that, for the first time, victims in California have meaningful and enforceable rights. The law includes these rights:
- The rights to justice and due process
- The right to notice of all proceedings
- The right to be present whenever the defendant has the right to be present
- The right to be heard --at critical stages of the criminal justice system-- any time that a victim's rights are at issue
- The right to have victims' safety considered before any release decisions are made
- The right to know when an offender is being released, or escapes
- The right to protect victims' confidential records
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- The right to refuse to submit to interrogation by a defendant or his lawyer before trial
- The right to confer with the prosecutor
- The right to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, and to be treated with fairness and respect
- The right to restitution
- The right to a speedy trial and to reasonable finality
- The right to enforce these special rights in any court
- The right of victims be informed of their Marsy rights-- just as defendants are given their Miranda rights
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Marsy's Law gives victims a meaningful opportunity to participate in parole proceedings and their safety – and the safety of the general public – are the critical standard, before any release decisions are made. This has meant setting a new maximum of 15 years between parole hearings.
Download Marsy's Law Bill of Rights 2008
Thanks to recently enacted Marsy's Law
Heilemann Family wins 15 year Parole Denial
The 1987 killing of Palisades High School student Clinton Heilemann shocked the community. His parents, Arnold and Evelyn Heilemann sprung into action becoming victim advocates strieving to help other families devastated by murder. Arnold serves as JHV president and Evelyn was Treasurer until her death last year.
In a January 5, 2009 hearing at Vacaville, the Board of Prison Terms mandated a 15 year denial for further parole hearings under Marsy's Law, which was passed last November by voters, giving victims and their families icreased rights. The board, which based parole requests on several factors including future employment and living plans, improvement through self-help programs, a psychology evaluation, education, remorse, restitution and responsibility for the crime, heard from several speakers including members of Justice for Homicide Victims, Arnold Heilemann, Clinton's sisters, an aunt, cousins and friends Kenneth Waco and Matthew Williams, who was wounded in the shooting
July 3, 1987.
Remembering Our Beloved Bob Leach
1914-2008
Justice for Homicide Victims’ co-founder and President Robert W. Leach passed away March 30, 2008 following a lengthy illness. Bob has championed the rights of homicide victim survivors over the last twenty-five years following the murder of his step-daughter, Marsy Nicholas. In 1983, Marsy, then a senior at UC Santa Barbara, was murdered by an ex-boyfriend, Kerry Conley.
(read
more) 
Seeking
Justice for Slain Loved Ones
Los Angeles Times Covers the
JHV Memorial
"There's
not a writer yet who can describe the feeling," Jack Reilley
said. "The rage and the helplessness and the sense of loss
and despair. Victims get a certain look on their face that we
all recognize and know. And then you have to do something about
it."
(read
more)
Victims'
Rights Week, 2009
Help JHV Celebrate The Memory
Of You Loved-One!
The
annual JHV Victims' Rights Week Memorial celebration will be held At the JHV Homicide Victims Memorial (just inside Gate 19) at Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary on Sunday April 26, 2009. More information to follow.
Extraordinary
Leadership In Victims' Rights
JHV & Los Angeles County District Attorney
Honor Robert Leach
JHV
President, Robert Leach was honored for his extraordinary leadership
in victims' rights at the JHV Annual Awards Banquet
on December 4, 2005. The ceremony was held at the Hotel Bel
Air and was attended by many supporters, including L.A. District
Attorney, Steve Cooley.
(read
more)
includes video 
