The 12th Annual Navajo County Attorney’s Office Victims’ Rights Symposium will be held Wednesday, April 26, offering a full day of certified training for individuals who work with victims at every stage of the criminal justice process, featuring speakers and workshops for professionals, youth and the public. This year’s symposium is being held during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and supports the national theme, “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.” The keynote speaker will be Kayleigh Kozak, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who is the inspiration for Kayleigh’s Law, which allows victims of certain violent crimes to petition the court to secure a lifetime injunction against their assailant. The symposium will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Northland Pioneer College’s Snowflake campus, located at 1611 S. Main St., in Snowflake. Participants may attend in person or virtually and registration is $10, including lunch. This year’s symposium is sponsored by Arizona Public Service, the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council, Action Medical and the Navajo County Attorney’s Office. APAAC’s support for this training is made possible by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family STOP Grant Program. “This symposium offers an annual opportunity for all of us who interact with victims to delve into the best practices and latest learnings surrounding how to most effectively support, protect and secure justice for victims,” said Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon. “I look forward to seeing representatives from every part of the survivor’s journey at the symposium: first responders, medical personnel, investigators, law enforcement officers, counselors, prosecutors and judicial representatives. By engaging with and learning from survivors, we will ensure our responses and services to victims and survivors are credible, meaningful and centered on their individual needs.” Anyone who is interested in victims and victims’ rights is welcome to attend. Workshop topics include: * Restitution, presented by Amy Bocks, Arizona Attorney General’s Office. * Victim Impact Panel- Parents of Murdered Children, presented by Harley Feldman and Kim Bryssellbout. * “One Pill can Kill” Youth Workshop, presented by Nexus Coalition. * The Newest Drug Dealing Trends, presented by Master Sergeant Tommy Morga with the Arizona National Guard Drug Demand Reduction and Outreach * Domestic Violence and Firearms, presented by Lauryn Fjell, Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Most workshops are AZPOST, CLE and/or COJECT certified, so attendees may earn continuing education credits. The youth workshop is free to youths aged 13 to 18. Teachers interested in attending with students may contact Navajo County Director of Victim Services Roxanne Pergeson at roxanne.pergeson@navajocountyaz.gov. “This year’s symposium calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed and supported,” said Carlyon. Pre-registration tickets are available at Eventbrite.com, search “Navajo County Victims’ Rights Symposium.” Tickets are available at the door beginning at 8 a.m. the day of the event. For more information, visit ncaosymposium.com.
