A minor victim of sexual assault recently found herself under attack again - this time from a barrage of subpoenas from the defense seeking records ranging from her rape crises center records, to 17 months of her Facebook page, to her diary.  Fortunately, this victim was working with a great system-based advocate and prosecutor in Santa Maria, California.  That prosecution team put the victim in contact with NCVLI and we quickly paired this victim with a pro bono attorney.  Together we are fighting to quash the subpoenas and protect this victim’s state constitutional right to refuse discovery, and her state and and federal rights to privacy.  There are many amazing parts of this story from the strength of this young survivor, to the passion of her parents to ensure she has a voice in the system, to the victim-centered prosecution team that referred the case to NCVLI, to the dedication of the pro bono attorney who had to fly from Northern to Southern California to appear in court beside this family.  We may not win every legal fight, but together we are making an impact!

Are you a pro bono attorney interested in taking a case to ensure a victim’s rights are protected?  Please consider joining NAVRA, our network of pro bono attorneys.  Visit www.navra.org to learn more.

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NCVLI's legal technical assistance ensures that every attorney and advocate can make the best arguments for the victims they serve.