NCVLI’s annual Crime Victim Law Conference, now in its 13th year, continues to be the only national conference focusing on rights enforcement in criminal cases, which is a critical but often overlooked component of holistic victim services. The Conference provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to provide effective legal services to victims of crime. The Conference will take place June 20-21, 2014 in Portland, Oregon.
Registration is now closed but you can still register at the door. Email ncvliconference@lclark.edu for livestream registration.
The conference theme: Never Whisper Justice; Demand Victims’ Rights is a call to action for the country. We need to demand victims’ rights through litigation and legislation and this conference will provide the tools for this effort.
Q: How many CLE credits are available through Conference?
A: For Oregon Attorneys: Prior Conferences have had 11-13 Oregon CLE credits available. NCVLI is in the process of applying for Oregon CLE credit, including at least 1 hour of ethics. We will have a precise number of approved credits available soon. For Other Attorneys: For states beyond Oregon please see the next FAQ.
Q: Are my CLE credits earned at Conference applicable outside of Oregon?
A: Attendees seeking CLE credit outside of Oregon will be provided with a certificate of attendance which notes the number of hours of training. Attendees can then petition their state Bar Association for credit. NCVLI does not seek certification outside of Oregon.
Q: Can my organization provide information to conference attendees? If so, how?
A: NCVLI will have an unstaffed space for victim service nonprofit and governmental organizations to display literature such as brochures, pamphlets, and leaflets. Space is limited, however. Please contact us at ncvliconference@lclark.edu to discuss the display of your materials.
Q: Are scholarships available for attendees?
A: Yes, professional development scholarships and a student scholarship are available. The registration and tuition page will be available shortly with more details.
Q: Can I get a DVD or CD of Conference content?
A: NCVLI does not provide CD or DVD of Conference materials. We do, however, provide attendees access to a password-protected website on which all Conference materials (e.g. PowerPoints, cases, pleadings) are uploaded and can be viewed and downloaded for personal use after Conference.
Q: Can I register for just one day of Conference?
A: Yes, single day rates are available. The registration page will be available soon and will detail single day options.
Q: I registered for Conference but am only able to attend one day or cannot attend the event at all, can I transfer my registration to someone else?
A: No. We are unable to accommodate requests for transfer of registration from one party to another. If you have extenuating circumstances and would like to know more, please contact us at ncvliconference@lclark.edu.
Q: I am unable to attend Conference but would like a copy of Conference materials. How do I obtain a copy of the materials if I am not an attendee?
A: All materials provided at Conference or made available on the password protected website after the Conference are solely for the benefit of paid Conference attendees. If you are a paid attendee but simply cannot attend you will still have access to the password-protected website after the Conference. If you are not a paid attendee we cannot provide you the materials.
Q: Is transportation provided to the conference?
A: At this time, we are anticipating that the conference will be in walking distance to both conference hotels. Transportation to/from the airport will be arranged by the attendee and affordable light-rail service will be available between the airport and conference location/conference hotels.
Each year NCVLI accepts nominations for Outstanding Achievement Awards in three categories: Legal Advocacy, Gail Burns-Smith Excellence in Victims’ Services, and Victims’ Rights Partnership; and Service Awards in two categories: Pro Bono of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
The 2014 Awards have been announced:
Outstanding Achievement Awards
Amy Terrible, JD
2014 Legal Advocacy Award
NCVLI’s Legal Advocacy Award recognizes crime victims’ rights attorneys who have dedicated and committed their time to representing victims of crime in the criminal justice system.
In 2012, Amy Terrible launched the Crime Victim Advocacy Center of Tulare County to represent victims of crime in Central California. A former prosecutor, Amy’s true passion is to achieve justice for victims by directly representing them in criminal cases against their offenders. She has worked on a range of cases from representation of the surviving family of a murder victim, to a complex case involving multiple jurisdictions in the theft of a car across state lines, to stepping in as the attorney for a child-victim in family court, to representation of domestic violence victims. Click here to learn more.
Catherine Harper Lee
2014 Gail Burns-Smith Excellence in Victim Services Award
A member of our Board of Directors from 2002 until her untimely death in 2009, Gail Burns-Smith was a tireless leader in the victim services community. This award honors her legacy by recognizing outstanding efforts to advance the rights of crime victims.
Catherine Harper Lee is the founder and executive director of The Justice League of Ohio, which is Ohio’s only Crime Victims’ Rights Legal Clinic. For the past 20 years, Cathy has been pursuing her passion: restoring faith and balance in the criminal justice system and she founded TJLO in 2003 help her pursue that passion. TJLO was founded on the principle that victims of crime deserve and require legal representation. The Justice League’s Crime Victims Rights’ Legal Clinic provides free legal representation to victims of violent crime throughout Ohio to ensure their constitutional and statutory rights are enforced and protected from the time a crime is first reported throughout the criminal justice process. Click here to learn more.
Courthouse Dogs Foundation
2014 Victims’ Rights Partnership Award
NCVLI’s Victims’ Rights Partnership Award recognizes the collaborative efforts of individuals and/or organizations who have devoted their time to advancing crime victims’ rights.
The Courthouse Dogs Foundation is a nonprofit staffed by retired senior deputy prosecuting attorney Ellen O’Neill-Stephens, veterinarian Celeste Walsen, and the lovely courthouse facility dog Molly B. Together they promote justice with compassion by helping prosecutors, detectives, victim advocates, judges and legislators understand how facility dogs can provide a sense of well-being and security to vulnerable victims and witnesses during stressful legal proceedings. Through their tireless efforts, Ellen and Celeste have shared their innovative program and partnered with other professionals to protect victims. As a result there are now 67 courthouse facility dogs working in 25 states. Click here to learn more.
2014 NCVLI Service Awards
Shelbi Day, JD
2014 Pro Bono of the Year
NCVLI’s Pro Bono Award recognizes an attorney or firm who has dedicated significant time to partnering with NCVLI in the protection, enforcement, and advancement of victims’ rights. The recipient has either worked alongside NCVLI attorneys to assist with NCVLI’s work on legal technical assistance requests, amicus curiae briefs, and public policy projects; has provided direct representation to victims of crime in criminal proceedings; or, has served as local counsel in the filing of amicus briefs.
Shelbi Day has devoted her career to civil rights work and has had the privilege of working on several precedent setting cases on a diverse range of issues. Since 2007, Day has focused her work exclusively on LGBT- and HIV- related issues. Most recently, she was a Staff Attorney in the Western Regional Office of Lambda Legal, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Florida, and Staff Attorney at the Southern Regional Office of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. She is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Shelbi Day began volunteering for NCVLI in 2013 after relocating to Portland. Since her arrival, she has worked on legal research memoranda and supported NCVLI’s amicus curiae efforts. Her work has helped NCVLI support survivors across the country. Click here to learn more.
Elizabeth Morrison
2014 Volunteer of the Year
NCVLI’s Volunteer Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a deep commitment to victims’ rights by providing significant contributions to NCVLI’s work on behalf of victims.
Elizabeth Morrison came to NCVLI in November 2013 after graduating from Washington State University with her Bachelors of Arts. There she studied Political Science with an emphasis in Pre-Law. Her interests include the Military Legal System as well International Law. From event planning to data entry to creating publications, Elizabeth has been a part of many aspects of NCVLI’s work for victims. So far Elizabeth has donated more than 250 hours to NCVLI with plans to continue donating through the end of the year. Click here to learn more.
Past Recipients
Legal Advocacy Award
2013 – Russell Butler
2012 – Erin Olson
2011 – Steve Kelly
2010 – Heidi Nestel
2009 – Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project
2008 – Steven J. Twist
2007 – Jamie Mills
2006 – Cynthia Hora
2005 – Paul Cassell
2004 – Richard D. Pompelio
2003 – Jay Howell & Cynthia Lee Carter
2002 – Lyn Schollett
2001 – Wendy Murphy
Gail Burns-Smith Excellence in Victim Services Award
2013 – Chanpone Sinlapasai, JD
2012 – Jennifer Storm
2011- Anne Seymour
2010 – Steve Doell
2009 – Steve Derene
2008 – Roberta Roper
2007 – John Stein
2006 – Diane Moyer
2005 – Kathy Skaggs
2004 – Gail Burns-Smith
Victims’ Rights Partnership Award
2013 – Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST)
2012 – Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center & Denver District Attorney’s Office
2011- Alaska Office of Victims’ Rights
2010 – Victim Witness Section of the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arizona
2009 – Mónica Ramírez
2008 – Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, James McIntyre, & Russ Rato
2007 – Attorney General Hardy Myers
2006 – Grant County Prosecutor’s Office & Dano, Gilbert & Ahrend P.L.L.C.
Pro Bono of the Year Award
2013 – Perkins Coie LLP
2012 – Michael Fell
2011 – Keith Franz
Volunteer of the Year
2013 – Caroline Park
2012 – Matthew Merryman