No one asks to be a crime victim. For many, the experience is the worst situation they will ever face. And for some, it is also their last.
My official role with Marsy's Law for Kentucky began this past fall, but my journey as a crime victims' advocate began nearly 15 years ago. On May 1, 2005, my cousin Lindsey was brutally raped and murdered in her college apartment. Since that horrific day, my family and I have sought to transform our agonizing firsthand experience into a mission to help crime victims and their families.
This is why I support Marsy's Law for Kentucky and why I ask you to do the same, once again. Crime victims need our support.
The loss of my cousin inspires the work I do every day. After she was murdered, I decided to pursue a PhD and make a difference as an educator. I've spent the last decade researching and teaching about the patterns and trends of victimization, the impact on the victim, and the importance of community and court responses to supporting those who have been affected by crime. When I had the opportunity to be a part of the Marsy's Law team, I seized it. Driving awareness of the need to provide and protect basic constitutional rights is more than a job, it's a passion.