DA Victim Services conducts 50th victim awareness class
(Woodland, CA) – On April 13, 2022 – The Yolo County District Attorney Victim Services Division, in conjunction with the Yolo Day Reporting Center (DRC), recently completed its 50th victim awareness workshop. The Day Reporting Center, which is coordinated by the Sacramento County Office of Education, is a program that is designed to assist those who are re-entering the community from prison and jail. With both in-custody and out of custody sites, all programs are designed using industry best practices that address criminogenic needs and client risk levels in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
The Victim Awareness class is led by District Attorney Victim Advocate Heather Blair. The class is designed to provide those individuals on probation or parole, who are enrolled in the Yolo DRC, a means to engage in facilitated, open-minded, victim-centered discussions.
The Victim Awareness workshops are offered every six weeks at the DRC. Participants are also educated on the impacts of paying restitution. At the conclusion of the class, students complete a short survey to identify what each student is taking away from the class.
For the past eight years, DA advocate Blair has provided in person workshops that encourage participants to listen to real life stories where knowledge has meaning. Because of COVID, classes have been offered virtually.
Blair stated, “many of my students have committed horrible crimes, such as domestic violence, but that doesn’t mean they’re horrible people. Many of my students have been victims of crimes themselves. Meeting with them gives me the opportunity to help develop empathy and understanding of the lasting effects of being a victim of crime, and show them that by increasing their knowledge and changing their future behavior, they can be part of the solution.”
To date, 564 individuals on probation or parole have attended the class. “We know that warehousing people in prison doesn’t rehabilitate them,” said District Attorney Jeff Reisig. “Our victim advocates provide invaluable support to our victims and they also work with those people on probation or parole to help them understand how they can make the community and victim whole.”
Pete Smith, Project Specialist for the Yolo DRC mentioned the partnership he has had with the Yolo DA’s office since 2014. “DA Victim Advocate Heather Blair and the DA support dog, Aloha, were the perfect balance for this program. From the start, the DRC has been so excited about the opportunity for those on parole or probation to heal and reintegrate into the community by learning how to listen to the victim’s voice.”
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