Courting The Pain Of Those In Court
Kurt Wolfgang addresses the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable on behalf of the victims of crime September 14. PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center Based in Upper Marlboro Is Protecting Crime Victims’ Rights
By Tiffany Young
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAOUL DENNIS AND AMIR STOUDAMIRE
After serving years in the Maryland General Assembly representing Fort Washington, Kurt Wolfgang is the Executive Director of the Maryland Crime Victim Resource Center, an organization funded in part by federal grants administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) and the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), that helps victims of crime.
A native of Prince George's County, Kurt is working with crime victims and their families regularly to give them support and seek the justice they deserve.
“With the leadership of Vince and Roberta Roper and the grace of God and the help of some intrepid legislators, we have championed more than 100 legislative changes for the benefit of crime victims mostly in Maryland, but nationwide,” Wolfgang says.
The Maryland Crime Victim Resource Center is celebrating 40 years of supporting crime victims' rights. As the country, the state and the nation endure the current rise in violent crime, gun violence and mass shootings, organizations such as the Maryland Crime Victim Resource Center gain greater importance in the world we live in.
"Anyone in this nation who has ever been able to address the court in a victim impact statement needs to give thanks to Roberta Roper." That's how important this organization has been and how important the life work of Vince and Roberta Roper has been,” Wolfgang said in his presentation at the September 14 meeting of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable.
From simple crimes to theft to the worst of disasters in people's lives, Maryland Crime Victim Resource Center advocates for those who are otherwise overlooked and left behind. Similar to a civil rights movement for an overlooked population.
“Prosecutors have some sympathy but they don't represent the crime victim's interest. They represent the state. In ways that are still not available lesser advanced states than Maryland, our organization of outstanding attorneys and advocates represent the interests of crime victims who just a short time ago had no right to speak in, attend, or even know about the existence of criminal justice proceedings,” Kurt said.
The crime rate has increased in the county and organizations like Maryland Crime Victim Resource Center are calling on elected officials to address the problem. “There are counties who do support our organization financially. Prince George's is not one of them, despite the fact that we are located
There and that most of our-- well, not most, but more than any other jurisdiction in the state, our crime victims come from Prince George's County,” Kurt said.
