The compassionate, devoted members of NCVLI’s Board of Directors come from all walks of life, and many bring the perspective of personal experience with victimization to their work for victims.  In this NCVLI Board Member Spotlight, we aim to share with the community a glimpse into the insights of the people working behind the scenes to help shape NCVLI’s work for victims.

Board Member Sarah Gustafson shares how she became involved with NCVLI and why others should get involved with victims’ rights.

Why did you first get interested in working with NCVLI and victims’ rights?
I am an attorney who has worked with victims of domestic violence, and while I am no longer an active member of the bar, I am encouraged by continuing to help victims of violence.

As an organization what is NCVLI’s greatest strength?
NCVLI’s greatest strength is its employees and volunteers who do the work of the organization to advocate for victims who don’t have enough of a voice in our criminal justice system.

What are your hobbies?
I ride a Harley Davidson Sportster and scuba dive whenever I can.  I grumble through the winter or travel to warm climates to pursue my hobbies.

If you could change one thing about the current victims’ rights environment, be it legal, political, public recognition, victim social/psychological services, etc., what would it be?
I would like to see a national act to protect the rights of victims from overbroad invasions into their personal privacy and an acknowledgement that victims’ rights to privacy exceed the right of an accused criminal to wander aimlessly through the documents and internet postings of victims’ personal rights.

Why should someone else get involved with NCVLI and victims’ rights?
I would like to see more attorneys volunteer to help victims of crime and to that end, I would like to make sure that NCVLI is equipped and funded to provide the support and education to bolster the attorneys who are willing to donate their time to such an important endeavor.