Annual advocacy event calls for stronger voice for crime victims

By Camille DeVaul · Mon Apr 27 2026

County leaders and advocates gather to honor survivors, highlight victims’ rights during Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Month

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Community leaders, advocates, and residents gathered on Wednesday, April 15, at the Katcho Achadjian Government Center to recognize Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Month during the annual advocacy event hosted by the District Attorney’s Office Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.

Held in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 19-25), the event served as both a tribute to survivors and a call to action, emphasizing this year’s national theme: "Listen. Act. Advocate."

The gathering featured remarks from several guest speakers, including Morro Bay Police Chief Amy Watkins, CASA Executive Director Marina Bernheimer, and CASA Advocate Marabeth Middleton. Attendees also included local law enforcement partners, San Luis Obispo County leaders, and community supporters.

District Attorney Dan Dow addressed the audience with a message that challenged long-standing perceptions of the justice system. He urged attendees to rethink the language commonly used, advocating for a shift from the “criminal justice system” to what he called the “criminal and victim justice system.”

“That one word — ‘and’ — matters enormously,” Dow said. “Every time legislators, policymakers, and voters hear those words, they will be reminded that every decision, every reform, every sentence has a profound and lasting impact on a real human being who was harmed.”

Dow highlighted the progress made in victims’ rights over the decades, pointing to key milestones such as Proposition 8 in 1982 and Marsy’s Law (Proposition 9) in 2008, which established 17 constitutional rights for crime victims in California. Despite these advancements, he acknowledged that many victims still feel overlooked.

“Their dignity as individuals — their right to be present, to be heard, to be informed — is too often an afterthought rather than a priority,” he said. “Marsy's Law did not end that struggle. It gave us the tools and the constitutional mandate to fight it. And fight it we must."

The event also highlighted the scale and importance of victim advocacy services in the county. In 2025 alone, the Victim Witness Assistance Center supported 9,880 victims of crime, offering services ranging from crisis intervention and emergency assistance to court support and restitution guidance.

Each case represents more than a statistic, Dow said: "Each of those nearly 10,000 people represents a life disrupted, a family shaken, a human being who deserves to be seen and supported."

Founded in 1977, the Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center was among the first of its kind in California. This year marks its 49th anniversary, a milestone that reflects decades of dedication to helping victims navigate the aftermath of crime and the complexities of the justice system.

"Forty-nine years of walking alongside victims. Forty-nine years of saying 'you will not be forgotten,'" Dow said. "You will be seen. You will have a voice in the criminal and victim justice system."

Looking ahead, Dow invited the community to begin planning for next year’s 50th anniversary celebration, which will honor the center’s longstanding impact and reaffirm its mission.

Throughout the event, speakers and organizers reinforced the importance of community involvement in supporting victims. The center provides a wide range of services, including crisis intervention, emergency assistance, resource referrals, victim compensation claim support, court accompaniment, and case updates — all aimed at helping individuals rebuild their lives.

As April marks Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Month, organizers encouraged the public to reflect on the role they can play in advocating for victims year-round.

Lastly, Dow reminded the audience, “Justice is not complete until the victim — the survivor — is included."