Unsung heroes

A reminder of the dedicated work of advocates for victims/witnesses

At a time when incivility and a lack of compassion seem to be a trending mode of behavior, I’m compelled to shine a light on a team of unsung heroes who consistently resist that trend. In many counties (my experience is in Hennepin), there are victim/witness advocates who work tirelessly to support individuals who have witnessed or been affected by crimes. These advocates support people who are fearful while testifying against criminals or who have been devastated by a crime. It’s the advocates’ job to guide these victims and witnesses and to keep them feeling informed and feeling safe through a process that is incomprehensible and can often compound the trauma they’ve experienced.

The circumstances these advocates encounter on a daily basis would make most people run for cover. Our family was carried through a gut-wrenching process that ran the course of a year and required three days in court. The behavior of the defendant’s family was uncivil, to say the least. Our advocate, Janice, stood calm and strong against that. She was kind, compassionate, informed and fierce in her effort to protect us from things completely out of her control. She gave us confidence and made us feel cared for in what can feel like an uncaring system. She was a hero to us.

I received the sad news last week that Janice had passed away. It was a shock and struck me in a deep way I never would have imagined. I know her colleagues will be working overtime to take on her caseload so that no one has to navigate on their own the difficult labyrinth that the judicial process can be.

When families are in the midst of this process, they often forget to adequately recognize the advocates or all the other “behind the scenes” or front-row professionals for the difficult work they do. I would like to tip my hat and say thank you on behalf of all those who have been supported by these unsung heroes.

The entire team of professionals who work under the leadership of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman do their work with compassion, integrity and respect. They maintain civility despite the circumstances and behaviors that are often directed at them. They follow the example he leads by. I’d like to thank them all and express my condolences to them for the loss of their kind and gentle colleague — an unsung hero. Rest in peace, Janice.

Colleen Ronnei, Chanhassen

Read the letter on the Star Tribune.