23 April 2004

2004 Annual Crime Victims’ Rights Conference

Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Phil Kline are hosting the 2004 Annual Crime Victims’ Rights Conference on April 27-28, 2004. The conference will be held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, 1717 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka.

“This Crime Victims Rights Conference has outstanding speakers from around the nation and it showcases important programs that have been developed in Kansas to assist victims of crime and survivors,” said Governor Sebelius.

This year’s conference will offer 29 workshops and eight keynote presentations. Among those presentations include Gracia Burnham, Rose Hill, who will be sharing her story of survival on April 27 during the lunch. Other Keynote Speakers include Dr. E.K. Rynearson, Medical Director Separation and Loss Center, Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA; Reverend Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis, Chaplain, Chicago Police Department, Chicago, IL; Lundy Bancroft, Family Issues Specialist, Northampton, MA; Connie Kirkland, Program Director of Sexual Assault Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; Detective Michael Johnson, Plano Police Department, Plano, TX; Dr. Ruth McRoy, Professor of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin; John Madden, Professional Speaker, Trainer and Motivator, Wichita, KS.

The conference is being held the week following the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year the national theme is “Victims Rights: America’s Values,” which reminds us that some of the most important values to crime victims are values that all Americans should be afforded: equality, protection and justice.

Governor Sebelius will speak on Tuesday, at 12:20PM, and will then introduce Gracia Burnham. Attorney General Kline will speak on Wednesday at 12:00PM, and will then introduce Dr. McRoy.