The theme of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past” and Bay Area law enforcement agencies and community groups today are hoping to do just that.
Crime victims will be among those honored by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office at its annual justice awards ceremony this afternoon.
Special recognition will be given to the victims and witnesses involved in the 2007 attack at Creighton Bakery in the city’s Twin Peaks neighborhood, in which an inmate mistakenly released from San Quentin State Prison stabbed a 15-year-old girl and a good Samaritan who intervened.
A doctor who witnessed the crime came to the victims’ aid, and another witness chased after the stabber when he fled.
“It’s a pretty amazing story,” district attorney’s office spokeswoman Erika Derryck said. “It really is an amazing example of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things.”
The attacker, Scott Thomas, was sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder in August 2010.
Led by District Attorney George Gascon, the event will also honor members of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, San Francisco police, and members of the district attorney’s Bureau of Investigations and Victims Services Unit.
The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is holding a luncheon today in honor of the crime victims’ week.
An elder abuse victim will be recognized, as will victims of the brutal 2008 ‘toy box’ murder, in which a Santa Rosa man murdered the mother of his children and stuffed her body in the children’s toy box.
“It’s a time for us to honor crime victims who have shown courage coming forward to report their crime and overcoming all of the devastating impacts of crime to become survivors,” Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook said.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen and Sheriff Laurie Smith teamed up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving this morning to raise awareness about DUI crashes and remember victims of those crimes.
Marin County officials are also hosting a reception today in San Rafael.
Erika Heidecker, Bay City News
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