DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997                 TAG: 9704040186

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 28   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   44 lines

TAKE NOTE: IT'S VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

Ken Ferebee, director of the city's Victim/Witness Assistance Program, believes crime victims have suffered enough without being victimized again by the court system.

Ferebee - who runs a one-man program - offers a wide range of services to victims.

The program, which is operated through the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, provides help under a new law that was implemented last July to give victims even more rights than they had had before.

This week is being observed as Victims' Rights Week in Suffolk and across the nation.

Victims and witnesses in felony cases, the more serious crimes, receive a letter from Commonwealth's Attorney C. Phillips Ferguson and a brochure outlining their rights and the services available to them.

Ferebee helps the victims in securing restitution for their losses.

He notifies victims of dates the alleged perpetrator will be in court as well as plea negotiations and final dispositions of cases.

He helps them obtain protective orders and assists them in preparing victim impact statements.

If necessary, he will arrange for an interpreter.

Victims and witnesses also have other rights. They must not be penalized by their employer if subpoenaed to testify in court.

They can be reimbursed for certain medical bills, lost wages and counseling expenses for sexual assaults.

And families can be reimbursed for up to $2,000 of funeral expenses of victims.

Court companionship is also available to victims, who can also request a separate waiting area during court proceedings.

Payments to victims are partially funded by fines levied against individuals convicted of felonies and misdemeanors in local courts.

Ferebee's office will be expanded after the new courts complex is completed in early 1998.

But until then, there's no room for extra personnel so he concentrates mainly on cases in Circuit Court. MEMO: For more information about the program, call 925-6387.

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