Where to learn the latest on crime victim rights

The Navajo County attorney's office will host its second annual symposium on crime victims' rights April 15 in Holbrook, Ariz.

The symposium will cover new developments in the field for professionals, as well as information for victims who may not realize what rights they have. The daylong event will take place at the Catholic Family Center (212 E. Arizona. Ave.).

Pam Rodriguez, community services director in the attorney's office, said last year's symposium attracted more than 150 participants, including social workers, medical personnel, law enforcement, behavioral health counselors, victim advocates and some victims.

This year's theme is "Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past."

The meeting will offer information about local assistance for victims, including the new family advocacy centers opening in Show Low and Holbrook.

This year's symposium will feature keynote speakers who lost loved ones to violence. The speakers are Dan Levey, director of the Arizona attorney general's Office of Victim Services, and Bobbi Sudberry, who started a foundation to assist children subjected to or involved in violent relationships.

Levey lost his brother to a carjacking.

Sudberry founded Kaity's Way after her 17-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn Marie, died in a murder-suicide committed by her estranged boyfriend, also 17.

Other scheduled speakers are Maricopa County Deputy Attorney Jeanine Sorrentino, whose work focuses on child abuse and domestic violence, and Judy Gorman, who works with Arizona's Adult Protective Services Program.

Sorrentino will talk about sex abuse and religion. Gorman will discuss elder abuse.

Symposium workshops include teen dating violence, cyber-bullying, Internet fraud, and mandatory reporting of abuse.

The winner of this year's Distinguished Victim Service Award will be announced during the event luncheon. Last year's award went to Dr. Hannah Rishel, a Holbrook pediatrician who is trained in conducting forensic exams and interviews of child victims of sexual assault.

The event will also include an announcement of who won the student poster contest for Navajo County's National Victims Right Week. Among the entries are several from Navajo students, Rodriguez noted.

The symposium is open to the public but there is a $25 registration fee that includes breakfast and a lunch.

Next week is the 30th Annual National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Information: 928-524-4026 or www.navajocountyaz.gov/attorney/victimssymp.asx or  www.facebook.com/victimssymposium.

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