New HOPE II grants now available

MCVRC, in partnership with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), is pleased to announce a new round of HOPE II grants. The HOPE II program offers awards of $50,000 to faith-based and/or community based organizations that serve underserved crime victims in high-crime urban areas. The goal is to create, expand or improve victim services.

The Request for Proposal is on the MCVRC website. The deadline to apply is July 9, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. EST. The award period runs 12 months from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. Both established and new organizations are eligible to apply. For more information email HOPE II Project Director Josh Cohen.

Trauma article quotes Roberta Roper

The March/April 2007 edition of the Crime Victims' Report quotes MCVRC's Board Chair Roberta Roper. The newsletter features the article Incorporating Trauma-Informed Practices in Federal Victim Services. The article, written by Randy West of Witness Justice, focuses on psychological trauma as a central crime victim issue.

The Crime Victims' Report is a newsletter published by Civic Research Institute. Written by professionals for professionals, the newsletter focuses on new programs and legal developments that affect and assist victims of crime.

MCVRC staff to present at victim conference

Two of MCVRC’s own are slated to present workshops at the 2007 Mountain State Victim Assistance Symposium. Executive Director Russell Butler and Director of Services Pauline Mandel have been tapped to present “Legal Clinics for Crime Victims” and “Legal Representation for Victims of Federal Crimes.”

This free, annual conference is geared towards helping professionals better provide comprehensive services to victims of crime, violence and abuse. It is scheduled for July 18-20, 2007 in Charleston, West Virginia. For more information contact Tracy Dorsey-Chapman in the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 800-659-8726 or by email.

Roberta Roper participates in panel discussion

On May 10, 2007, MCVRC founder and Board Chair Roberta Roper participated in a panel discussion on media ethics in crime reporting. The discussion, titled "Crime, Mass Media and Virginia Tech: an Examination of Ethics" was hosted by the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and moderated by National Public Radio's Robert Segal.

You can listen to the entire panel discussion in either Windows Media or Real Audio.

Russell Butler discusses truth-in-sentencing

MCVRC Executive Director Russell Butler discusses truth-in-sentencing in a recent May 10, 2007 Baltimore Sun article.

Governor honors former MCVRC attorney

On May 4, 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Board of Victim Services honored one of MCVRC’s own.

Former Staff Attorney Tracy Delaney received a Governor’s Citation in recognition of her exemplary efforts to assist victims of crime. Until this past April, Tracy had worked as MCVRC’s Senior Staff Attorney, helping numerous victims pursue justice through the legal system. She recently left MCVRC to join a private law practice in Charles County, Maryland.

In the picture at left, MCVRC's Roberta Roper and Tracy pose for a picture at the Awards Ceremony.