Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) Apology Letter Bank (ALB) program coordinators recently visited Valley State Prison (VSP).
Antonette Ramirez-Rhode and Veronica Pedraza, ALB coordinators, observed a Pathway session. Martina Lutz Schneider and other program facilitators from the Ahimsa Collective Organization facilitated the session.
Two guest speakers shared their stories during the visit. The first speaker spoke of lifelong abuse in every form committed by the same people in one survivor’s life. He shared how he chose to set boundaries and continue to overcome.
Another speaker shared about their son’s experience as a victim. He experienced an attempted murder which left him paraplegic for eight years before he succumbed to his injuries. They discussed how in the 8 years; the crime took a toll on his own health and life.
He shared that he has forgiven the offender and has assisted in not having him retried for murder. The father participated in the Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) program and expressed how this made a huge impact on his healing. He wishes to continue to share his son’s story as part of his continued healing and honoring his son.
The ALB coordinators provided information and examples to the incarcerated population of what emotions are expressed from victims and their families.
For more information about the Apology Letter Bank program or the Victim Offender Dialogue program, email OVSRS at victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov.
Story submitted by Katie James, Chief
Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
