Juneau - Key legislation designed to improve crime victim notification overwhelmingly passed the legislature today. The bill garnered bi-partisan support, passing the Senate and House unanimously. Senate Bill 25 authorizes and funds an automated victim notification telephone system for the Department of Corrections.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Johnny Ellis (D-Anchorage), had nearly lost hope of seeing this critical legislation passed this session. "Grassroot efforts gave this legislation new life," Ellis said.

Police chiefs and victim advocacy groups across the state flooded legislators with telephone calls and letters in recent weeks. In Anchorage, Mayor Rick Mystrom, Chief Municipal Prosecutor John Richard, and activists from Victims for Justice, the Alaska WomenÕs Resource Center (AWRC), and Alaska Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC) contacted legislators in support of the bill.

Ethel Barenz, a Wasilla resident and victim of domestic violence, carried her message to lawmakers in Juneau (see page 2). "The intentions of the victims' rights constitutional amendment are noble, however without implementation, I am neither informed nor safe," Barenz said. "My attacker has threatened revenge. My family needs adequate notification in order to take life-saving precautions."

"This bill is needed to bring the state into compliance with the victims' rights constitutional amendment, " Ellis remarked. "It resolves unfinished business we have with victims of violent crime."

Representative Allen Kemplen is sponsor of companion legislation in the House.