Susanne Falenczykowski joined NCVLI in February 2018 as an Administrative Assistant. View Susanne’s bio on our Staff Page or read on to learn more about Susanne in her own words.

What 1 thing has surprised you or have you learned about victims’ rights since you started working at NCVLI?
I was really surprised to learn about how different laws in different states impact the way victims’ rights are interpreted and enforced across the country. A person who has been a victim of crime can have a completely different experience navigating the legal system from state to state. It made me realize how important organizations like NCVLI are when it comes to bringing awareness and consistency to victims’ rights whether it’s through technical assistance to attorneys working with victims of crime, or through education and training in states across the country.

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?
One change I would like to see made in the way we approach victims’ rights is ensuring that services are accessible and equal to all demographics of our diverse communities. Crime does not discriminate against whom it affects, and neither should service providers who are committed to protecting the rights of all victims of crime. Organizations should be routinely evaluating and updating policy and procedure to include components such as meaningful language access for limited-English proficient populations, accessibility for people who experience disabilities, and encouraging diversity amongst staff in order to best provide comprehensive and culturally informed services to victims.

What has been the most rewarding thing you have done in your personal life?
One of the most rewarding experiences that I have enjoyed in my personal life has been reconnecting with my extended family in Poland a few years ago. It was my first time visiting Poland, though I have been back many times since!

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy traveling, learning new languages, cooking and baking, and reading. I also enjoy knitting, though I am often too ambitious with my knitting skills and rarely finish what I start!