4/24/13 - This week is National Crime Victimsâ Rights Week, and Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt presented awards to local victimsâ rights advocates today to recognize their services. Among the recipients of the annual Above and Beyond award was the Court Appointed Special Advocate program run through LACASA. Known as CASA, the program utilizes volunteers who are assigned to advocate for children involved in the legal and social service system. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. The program currently has 34 volunteers overseeing 29 cases involving more than 50 kids. Valerie Webster is one of the volunteers who were recognized for her efforts and told WHMI that having served as a special education instructor for 20 years, she always felt that children's rights were often overlooked in the court system and was eager to actively help change that once the CASA opportunity came along. Also recognized was Daniel Chepeska, the Supervisor of the Livingston County Probation and Parole Office who credited his staff with making sure that the rights of crime victims, no matter who they were, were always paramount in their work. An award was also given to Unadilla Township Investigator Ryan Hamlin, who was honored for his assistance to Kim and Chuck Gauthier after they were robbed and the thieves tried to extort more money via threatening text messages. (JK)
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