King County’s first-ever Summit on Crime Survivors ignited calls upon public officials to commit to keeping survivors of violent crime at the center of policy decisions. Held in June at the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture, the summit brought together survivors, families of victims, victim advocates, and public officials to discuss the gap of support service for survivors navigating the justice system.
“We’re at a unique opportunity right now to ask for and get a commitment from our folks who are running for office,” Tiffany Attrill, former victim advocate and founder of the Victim Justice Coalition, said. “It’s an opportunity for the King County Executive position to do something different – to do more for crime victims and survivors.”
According to Rami El Gharib, restorative and community justice manager at the King County Executive Office, only 14% of the county’s $63 million public safety budget goes to services for survivors while 86% goes to criminal services.
Charleen Kriens, whose son Austin Wenner was murdered in 2020, attended the summit. She shared her experience going to the Violent Crime and Victim Services located in Pierce County for monthly group therapy sessions, calling it “her saving grace.” Unfortunately, the organization closed down in 2023, following the departure of their founder Lew Cox…