Victim advocate honored
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POLSON — During a visit to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock presented Jenifer Blumberg with a 2010 Crime Advocate of the Year award.
Blumberg is the CSKT grants manager for the Victims Assistance Program and executive director of DOVES. DOVES stands for Domestic Violence Education and Services.
Bullock, as the state’s chief law enforcement agent, said advocates for victims have one of the most difficult jobs in the criminal justice system. “Advocates speak for those who don’t have a voice,” Bullock said.
Bullock characterized victim advocates, such as Blumberg, as bright spots around the state and said only two awards are given statewide.
The award was a surprise to Blumberg who said she was “really surprised, really touched.”
Following Blumberg’s award, Bullock introduced Joan Eliel, Program Specialist for the Office of Corrections, Protection and Victim Services, a division of the Department of Justice. Eliel and CSKT Chief Judge Winona Tanner unveiled a new tool to better protect victims of abuse and violence. This new tool is the Hope Card, which Eliel described as “a small version of a permanent order of protection.” An order of protection is commonly called a restraining order.
The Hope Card contains information about the person restrained under the order, including their photo, name, birth date and other identifying information as well as information about those protected, including children.
The Hope Card will “save law enforcement a ton of time,” Eliel said
Montana is a pilot project state for the Hope Card, Eliel said, and the Crow tribe and the CSK tribes are also pilot projects within the tribal nations. The project was funded by a federal grant, and the goal is to obtain further funding for the rest of the reservation communities in Montana.
The Hope Card was the brainchild of Bureau of Indian Affairs Agent John Olivera, who was stationed on the Crow Reservation. Tanner and Eliel, as well as Crow Judge Angela Russell have been working on Olivera’s idea for at least two years. Tanner said the Hope Card would make communities safer.
Anyone who has a permanent order of protection may request a Hope Card on Department of Justice’s website at www.doj.mt.gov by going to the victim services tab and then clicking on Hope Card.
