MADISON, Wis –  Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Justice will be hosting  the 5th Annual Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Conference later this week. The free, two-day virtual event is scheduled for April 16-17. It will feature a diverse group of presenters who will focus on efforts to improve the implementation, enforcement, and accessibility of crime victims’ rights and services within the state. 

The event will be held shortly after the sixth anniversary of the April 7, 2020 ratification vote for Wisconsin’s crime victims’ rights constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law. The conference is also timed around National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which begins Sunday, April 19. 

The conference includes over 20 presentations and workshops on topics ranging from helping young people impacted by crime to protecting victims’ privacy to trauma informed spaces. Some noteworthy speakers at the conference include:

  • Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.
  • William Kellibrew, a global advocate for human, civil, children, and victims’ rights who has shared his lived experience as a crime victim. At age 10, Kellibrew witnessed the murder of his mother and brother. His story of survival has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN and several other media outlets. 
  • Dr. Cath Hill, a professor in social work at Lancaster University and leader of the Bee the Difference research project, which highlights the support needs of young people affected by terrorism. Hill and her 10-year-old son survived the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017.
  • Ayleen Charlotte, a crime victim who was defrauded of $150,000 and subject of The Tinder Swindler, one of Netflix’s most watched documentaries of all time. 
  • Renee Williams, the chief executive officer of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

You can see the full conference agenda here.

The virtual conference is open to all stakeholders in the criminal justice system, including victim attorneys, prosecutors and defense attorneys, judges, community advocates, victim-witness coordinators, and survivors. Those interested in participating in the free event can register at the conference website found here. 

“The annual Victims’ Rights Conference is an opportunity for stakeholders and the community to hear from state, national and even international crime victim advocates to share knowledge, develop new strategies, and hone a unified effort that supports victims of crime in Wisconsin,” said Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Director Nela Kapic. 

“Through this conference, those who protect and support crime victims can hear a variety of perspectives about where things stand with respect to victim services and victims’ rights and consider how to build on the progress that’s been made over time,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to those who are participating in the conference.”

Media Note: For media who wish to schedule an interview with a representative from Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin or receive additional information, please contact Madelyn Hughes at mh@platform-communications.com.