Verber Salazar, Eggman meet with violent crime victims, survivors and family members
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San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office organized a gathering between community members and state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman on Friday, Dec. 3.
Victims and survivors of sexual assault and/or violent crimes met with the law-writing Stockton representative and discussed how their experiences could shape legislative proposals and amendments.
The meeting was part of the DA’s Office “Survivor Sessions” series, where those in attendance could “tell their stories and show our local legislator (Eggman) where the gaps are in the law for victims, their families and survivors of violent crimes,” said Elisa Bubak, public information officer for the DA’s office.
“The goal of today is two-fold — educational and therapeutical — to let people understand how laws are made and go through the legislative process,” Bubak said.
“Every day crime survivors find the courage to keep moving forward,” said San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar. “Today, they harnessed that courage and put it to work. I am incredibly grateful to Sen. Eggman for taking the time to hear our survivors and being willing to partner with our office to ensure public safety.”
“Speaking with survivors and victims of violent crimes this morning with the San Joaquin County District Attorney was incredibly powerful and moving,” Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton, said. “Listening to their stories, you could hear and feel their strength as they navigated their way through grief and anger.
“I was honored to be invited to address this group of brave individuals who are seeking purpose out of terrible loss. The voices of victims and survivors are important to hear within our criminal justice system,” Eggman said.
Though this meeting has passed, the DA’s office has recurring meetings where community members can participate, additional to resources offered daily to victims, survivors and family of those who’ve experienced sexual assault and/or violent crimes.
If you are in an emergency situation, call 911. If you are not in an emergency, here are phone lines to different resource departments at the DA’s Office:
San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office
Domestic Violence Unit - (209) 468-8979
Victim/Witness Program - (209) 468-2500
Women's Center
Main Office - (209) 941-2611
24 Hr Sexual Assault Help Line - (209) 465-4997
24 Hr Battered Women's Help Line -(209) 465-4878
Family Justice Center (partners with DA's office)
(209) 468-2600
Child Protective Services
24 Hr Response - (209) 468-1333
Child Abuse Prevention Council
(209) 464-4524
San Joaquin County Mental Health
(209) 948-4484
24 Hr Response - (209) 948-7111
More general resources can be found online at sjgov.org/da/resources. For resources more resources available to victims, survivors and/or family members, additional phone lines are listed at sjgov.org/da/victim-resources.
Record reporter Laura Diaz covers social justice and societal issues. She can be reached at ldiaz@recordnet.com or on Twitter @laurasdiaz_. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Verber Salazar, Eggman meet community: Resources for violent crime victims
