HomeMy WebLinkAbout83-72 - Supporting McGeorge School's Legal Services Program - Victim's Rights129
RESOLUTION NO. 83-72
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING MCGEORGE SCHOOL
OF LAW'S NEW LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM RELATING TO
VICTIMS' RIGHTS.
WHEREAS, there have been more than 30,000 willful homicide victims in
California during the past 20 years; and
WHEREAS, the total annual number of reported major crimes committed
in California has increased from 276,658 in 1962 to 1,207,549 in 1981; and
WHEREAS, it is more than twice as likely today that a resident of the
State of California will be a crime victim than it was 20 years ago; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of not only victims and their
families but for all Californians for this unfortunate scenario to be
immediately changed for the better; and
WHEREAS, the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime has recently
focused national attention on the plight of crime victims; and
WHEREAS, the most effective and expeditious way to make positive
change is to create a systematic and universal, statewide structure for
providing services to victims and their families; and
WHEREAS, the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, is
now in the process of creating such a statewide structure, with its ulti-
mate goal being to deliver services to crime victims and their families;
and
WHEREAS, that statewide structure will use law school clinical
programs, a network of legal, medical, and lay volunteers and the sustained
commitment of political, social, civic, and religious leaders and organiza-
tions to pursue the goal of providing the following services everywhere
in California:
(1) Represent victims of violent crime and their families before the
State Board of Control in compensation hearings;
(2) Represent victims and their families in adult and juvenile courts
during sentencing, final disposition proceedings, and restitution
hearings;
(3) Represent victims and their families in adult and juvenile parole
hearings;
(4) Represent victims and their families in civil litigation against
perpetrators or responsible third parties;
(5) Assist victims and their families in obtaining assistance from
public and private agencies;
(6) Establish a victims' hotline by use of a statewide toll-free
number so that victims and their families may easily gain access
to advice and assistance when needed;
(7) Compile a comprehensive list of victims' assistance resources
including legal and medical counseling, financial, and other
resources to which victims can be referred;
(8) Produce and distribute throughout California the necessary audio-
visual and print media public service announcements to inform
the citizenry about victims' rights and promote the services
made available through the statewide McGeorge School of Law
Victims Resource Center;
(9) Create and maintain a statewide network of volunteer lawyers to
assist in providing legal services to victims and their families;
(10) Provide direct mailed material to victims concerning victims'
rights and crime prevention;
(11) Compile and maintain a library and brief bank of victims'
rights;
(12) Do scholarly research on victims' rights;
(13) Prepare and publish articles and other publications relevant
to promoting services to victims and their families;
(14) Act as a clearinghouse of information for victims' assistance
resources;
(15) Provide legal assistance to victims' advocacy and service
programs;
(16) Train attorney and nonattorney victims' advocates concerning
the legal rights of victims;
(17) Prepare and file amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in
carefully selected local, state, and national victims' rights
cases on appeal;
(18) Assist victims to enforce restitution orders against
perpetrators;
(19) Support the National Victims' Assistance Legal Organization
in its efforts to aid victims and promote their rights;
(20) Promote awareness of the plight of victims and their families;
and
WHEREAS, there is no similar comprehensive statewide program for
victims and their families;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Costa Mesa to provide all possible encouragement and support to McGeorge's
new, most praiseworthy, and ambitious statewide legal services program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk shall transmit copies of
this Resolution to the President of the United States, the Attorney General
of the United States, and the Governor and Attorney General of the State
of California.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of July,
ATTEST:
1
City Clerk of the City of Cosa sa
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
I, EILEEN P. PHINNEY, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City
Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and fore-
going Resolution No. 83-72 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by
the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 18th day of
July, 1983.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of the City of Costa Mesa this 19th day of July, 1983.
Cit Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of t
City Council of the City of Costa M11,7Z