Crime survivors speak out for justice reform at Ohio Statehouse

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Survivors of violent crimes spoke out at the statehouse as they shared their painful stories Wednesday morning. Many were left with trauma and nowhere to turn, but they're fighting to get lawmakers to listen up and help.

A national network of crime survivors called “Crime Survivors for Safety And Justice” has been building a movement across the country. It has eight local chapters in California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and right here in Ohio. The groups hope lawmakers will make "common sense" legislation that will help victims of crime. They also want to divert money to trauma centers instead of more prisons.

About 200 people from all walks of life and across the state gathered at the statehouse to talk with lawmakers about helping crime victims and give them the resources they desperately need.

“In 2007, my high school sweetheart and the father of my children was beaten to death with a baseball bat,” said a crime survivor India Brown.

Brown traveled from Cleveland to share her painful story of losing her sweetheart and her little brother.

“He was standing at a bus stop waiting to go home, and he was shot and murdered,” Brown said as she fought back tears.

She said she didn’t know how to deal with the pain and be a mother at the same time.

“I worked two jobs, managed two kids, went to school, so it was very difficult to have the support,” Brown stated.

She found the help she needed when she learned about “Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice.” The national network helps survivors while shaping public policy. One of the group's top goals is to reform the criminal justice system.

“It’s wasteful spending, we’re throwing money away, it’s harmful to communities, we’re throwing people away and most important it’s doing little to nothing to actually address cycles of trauma and harm that lasts for generations,” said co-founder of the group, Lenore Anderson, as she referred to the current criminal system.

That’s why Ohio lawmakers are already doing something about it, she added.

“What Senate Bill 3 does it opens the door to allow us to reform our drug laws and our sentencing laws,” said Senator Cecil Thomas of Cincinnati.

The bill will help low-level offenders re-enter the workforce. It’s something that is near-and-dear for Representative Stephanie Howse.

“My younger cousin Robert got sentenced to 43 years in prison for aggravated robbery,” said Representative Howse, D-Cleveland. “They were like, she just threw him away... They said he wasn’t redeemable."

Howse said Ohio is leading the way when it comes to helping victims of crime. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle created eight trauma recovery centers across the state; two in Columbus. It’s a place that’s done wonders for Brown’s recovery.

"With the Trauma Recovery Centers they do provide that wrap around support,” said Brown.

But the group said there’s still a lot more work ahead.

If you would like to learn more about them visit the organization's website here: www.cssj.org.