In March 2023, the Nebraska Division of Parole Supervision (DPS) hosted its first Victim Services Forum at the Community Engagement Center at the University of Nebraska Omaha. With over 35 attendees from State agencies and non-profit organizations, we were able to learn the roles of various entities and engage in discussions about victim services in Nebraska.
We were able to learn from various individuals who are leaders in their fields. The Forum started with a keynote address from Dr. Tara Richards who presented on the importance of collaboration, information sharing, and coordinated community response teams. Nebraska Board of Parole Chair Rosalyn Cotton also spoke about the Board’s role in ensuring victims are heard and that any safety concerns are addressed. Next, our grant partners from the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center focused on how crime survivors navigate the criminal justice system, how we can better meet the needs of victims, and how the Board of Parole can continue to support victim survivors.
Day two of the forum commenced with guest speaker Amber Leake, Victim Services Director with the Virginia Department of Corrections, who presented Virginia’s victim notification system and how Virginia’s victim services team and services have grown over the last several years.
DPS was grateful for this opportunity to bring so many people together to work towards a common goal of victim services. We thank our presenters, speakers, and participants, and look forward to collaborating with advocates across the state to better support survivors of crime in Nebraska.