Two short months ago, I had the pleasure of being a volunteer at the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) annual conference. I had a wonderful experience, and dare I say, a unique one. Compared to many of the attendees — experienced attorneys and victim advocates — I was a layperson. I was attending the conference as a recent undergraduate with no current plans of pursuing a law degree. From my mother, an attorney who works in this area, I have a peripheral understanding of crime victim work. It was she who encouraged me to accompany her to the conference. I am so glad she did.
While my eyes were opened to the nuances of many topics throughout the conference, from Title IX to AI sexual abuse, I am writing here to share the two takeaways that seem to have affected me the most. I am grateful to have acquired these insights, and though you may already be familiar with the ideas I share here, I offer them to you in the hopes that they will reinforce what you are already aware of or perhaps introduce you to a new perspective.
1. Trauma-Informed Interactions
Many sessions engaged with the topic of trauma, such as vicarious trauma and trauma-informed care. During the pre-conference, Dr. Chris Wilson defined trauma as perceived threat and perceived loss of control creating lasting changes in the brain. By this definition, being a victim of crime entails experiencing a trauma. A crime victim’s brain becomes sensitized to the possibility of threat, which can induce defensiveness and difficulty listening, concentrating, and communicating effectively. Fortunately, these negative effects can be soothed by social connection. Thus, when interacting with a victim of crime, it can be incredibly beneficial to make an effort to connect with them. For instance, display safe, kind eyes, signaling that you honor the other person’s experience and humanity. Also, keep in mind that even if you perceive them to be in a perfectly safe, calm environment, they may be perceiving threat, hindering their ability to engage with you attentively.
My personal takeaway from this information is that I ought to treat everyone with this level of care and empathy. Because when I’m moving through the world in my everyday life, I have no idea if the people I encounter are crime victims or not. The cashier at the grocery store, the person in line next to me, the neighbor I pass on a walk, the waiter taking my order — they may have all experienced a trauma. Of course, they may not have. But if it’s possible that someone I meet could benefit from a little extra gentleness in my eyes or an added kindness in my tone of voice, then I will try to offer it.
2. You Are Not Alone
Attending this conference — seeing such life and vigor in such a disheartening time — unexpectedly imbued me with a sense of strength, of communal solidarity. I suddenly felt motivated and inspired in a way I hadn’t been in a long time. This all hit me at the end of the first full day of the conference while attending the Voices for Justice dinner. Though it sounds cliché and quite dramatic, looking out at the full room, I felt a palpable, united passion and a profound sense of you are not alone. It felt to me as if the presence of everyone there was echoing:
You are not alone in witnessing the recent challenges that have been arising in the world, particularly to crime victim advocacy work, and you are not alone in reacting with feelings of concern, anxiety, and fear.
You are not alone in your frustration, anger, and confusion as to how people in power fail to see the undeniable importance of this work, and you are not alone in refusing to respond quietly.
You are not alone in your commitment to fight for what — and who — you know matters.
I, personally, had felt somewhat isolated in these emotions. I logically knew that I was not the only one who had these concerns, but the only people who had voiced them to me were my mother and a handful of close friends. I hadn’t yet seen and conversed with many similarly affected individuals face to face. It is perhaps the outcome I am most grateful for from these three days of knowledge and growth.