Kanawha County District Attorney's Office launches 'Victim's Voice' initiative to enable tougher action against violent criminals – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kanawha County prosecutors say they are fed up with violent crimes involving firearms, sex crimes and crimes against children being treated like any other offense. To change that, they are increasing penalties.

Kanawha County Prosecutor Debra Rusnak met with sheriffs, commissioners and other Kanawha County officials Tuesday morning to announce the launch of Victim's VOICE, “The New Community Empowerment Initiative for Violent Offenders.”

“For too long, violent crimes involving firearms, sex crimes and violent crimes against children have been treated like any other crime. That ends today. Enough is enough,” Rusnak announced at the press conference on Tuesday.

Starting Tuesday, the Public Prosecutor's Office will implement the new directive, which includes the following:

— No agreed personal bail bonds or bail reductions for defendants charged with serious weapons crimes, serious sex crimes, or crimes of violence against children

— No agreed release for treatment for defendants accused of such crimes

— No agreements that downgrade crimes to misdemeanors for defendants

Rusnak said these policy changes, which accompany the VOICE initiative, would help make the system more fair and equitable by requiring greater accountability for those accused of violent crimes and better protection and justice for victims.

“The district has seen enough bail bonds with low or no bail, enough routine releases for drug treatment, whether appropriate or not, and enough settlements that were no settlements at all for the victims,” ​​she said.

Rusnak said she has created five new supervisory positions in her office as part of the initiative to help identify available resources, learn about attorneys' needs and characteristics, and provide advice and mentoring.

In addition, district attorneys would discuss settlement offers with department heads to ensure they reach the best and most equitable resolution in cases of this nature.

Rusnak said she was tired of seeing one violent case after another pass through her office, with the consequences seemingly going unchecked and harsher penalties for such serious crimes not being considered.

“I realized we just weren't doing enough, and so I realized we needed to put some different policies in place to get better outcomes in the cases, to allow for better communication with my office and the victims, and also to allow for better communication with my office and law enforcement officials,” she said.

Rusnak said they hoped the message it would send to defendants of violent crimes that these crimes would no longer be taken lightly would deter them from committing them in the first place.

“Perhaps it will serve as a deterrent and prevent these individuals from committing such crimes and ensure the safety of our citizens and society,” she said.

Rusnak said she would like to see the initiative implemented not only in other counties across the state, but across the country.

She said it was a goal that protected everyone involved.

“Ultimately, our job as prosecutors is to make sure we get justice, that we do the right thing and that we keep the community safe. And that's exactly what we're trying to do with the Victim's Voice initiative,” Rusnak said.