"Rough" day in Crime

I'm a criminal prosecutor, but what I do cannot be summed up in only two words. I had a chance to explain my job to a 12 year old victim of crime today. In our office, we keep photos of past crime victims we've represented with the attorneys that handled their cases. As he browsed, I told him this: none of these people hired us to represent them. None of my clients ask me to file lawsuits for them or sue anyone. Not one of the people that I speak for ever asked to be involved with the courts. They are "victims."* They are the people that someone else chose to exploit, and they didn't have a choice in the matter.

Everyday is different for me. Some days I'm choosing a jury and presenting a case to the "people" I'm supposed to be speaking for. Other days are more mundane: filing papers, returning phone calls, meetings with law enforcement. Today, was one of the most stressful, depressing, rewarding days that I can remember. I worked from 8am to 5:30 pm without a lunch break. A lot of that was just waiting. A lot of that was small talk with the family of the 12 year old I mentioned before.

I lost today. Not a trial, but the motion I filed with the court on behalf of my child victim. I lost, but it didn't feel like a loss.

Sometimes, the most important thing I can do is let the "victim" know that I'm still here. That he's not in this alone.  Let the perpetrator know that I'm still here. He can't continue to do what he wants without consequences. That I will speak when others can't. That - win or lose- he'll have to answer for his actions.

Today I got to sit across the table from one of the smartest, most optimistic, well-rounded children (not just victims of crime, but all children) I have ever known. Today I demonstrated to him that I care for him and what happens in his life. Today he learned that the courts will listen and treat him like a human being even when there is nothing they can actually do. I have never been prouder to lose.


* Many people prefer the term "survivor." All victims are targeted by other individuals, and all choose their own destinies after that happens. I continue to use victim in quotation marks to highlight the distinction.