The Rights of Victims Matter, Too

By Marina Sampanes Peed
Executive Director of Mosaic Georgia
April 7–11 marks National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW)—a time to honor survivors, acknowledge those working in victim services, and examine how our systems respond to harm. This year’s theme, KINSHIP: Connecting and Healing, is both a reflection and a call to action. It reminds us that when people experience trauma, they don’t just need procedures—they need people. Connection. Compassion. Respect. And rights.
The System at Work
When a felony crime occurs in Georgia, it is considered a crime against the State, not just against an individual victim. So the adjudication system and rules are built to protect due process for the accused, and rightly so. But what about the crime victim? The person who was abused, assaulted, or trafficked is not a party to the charges; they become a witness—or more pointedly, a piece of evidence—in the pursuit of justice. They are essential to the case against the accused, but the system is not structured around their needs, trauma, or recovery.
That’s why the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, including the passage of Marsy’s Law in Georgia, is so important. It brought clarity and legal weight to what many already knew was necessary: that crime victims deserve to be informed, present, and heard throughout the judicial process.
Marsy’s Law affirms a crime victim’s legal right to:
- Be notified of and present at court proceedings
- Be heard at key moments like plea or sentencing hearings
- Confer with prosecutors
- Be treated with dignity and fairness
- Seek restitution and protection
- Be free from unreasonable delay in proceedings
- File a motion if their right to be notified is not honored
These rights do not interfere with the rights of the accused—they are meant to ensure the person who was harmed is not lost in the fast pace of docket-setting and legal negotiations. This is particularly critical for victims of sexual violence, who face unique and deeply personal challenges in the aftermath of assault.
When someone is sexually violated, it’s not only their body that’s harmed—it’s their sense of self, safety and trust.
It’s the loss of agency, safety, and control. Survivors often describe feeling belittled, frightened, and powerless—not just in the moment of the assault, but long afterward. Their world is changed, and their trust in others—especially systems—is shaken.
For assault survivors who do report the crime (most do not report), they do so seeking more than legal action. They want validation that what happened to them was wrong. They want to feel safe again. And most of all, they want to prevent the person who harmed them from doing it to anyone else.
But the criminal justice system is a highly technical environment. Victims have no legal standing in the proceedings, limited voice, and little control over how or when the case progresses. And the defense will make every effort to discredit the victim and their allegations. Imagine navigating that system—while trying to work, go to school, raise children, or keep food on the table. The emotional toll is immense.
System-induced trauma occurs when systems and their processes cause compound stressors which create negative, traumatic responses; this can occur in places created to mitigate trauma.
Within this system are many deeply committed professionals—prosecutors, investigators, judges, and advocates—who work tirelessly to uphold justice and support survivors. While the structure may not always center the needs of victims, the compassion, patience, and determination of the people inside the system can make all the difference.
Clients consistently tell us that their most positive experiences came from interactions with people in the system who took time—who didn’t seem rushed or distracted, who listened, and who treated them with kindness and respect. Participation resistance increases when survivors don’t feel seen.
We are all busy and under-resourced. And yet, remembering the humanity in one another makes the work more productive, more compassionate, and more worthwhile.
Mosaic Serves Victim’s Needs
At Mosaic Georgia, we stand in that space between systems and survivors. We serve children, teens, and adults who have experienced sexual abuse, exploitation, and other interpersonal violence. Our role is to help survivors navigate the aftermath—through trauma-responsive care, legal advocacy, counseling, and community-based healing. We also collaborate with system partners to ensure victims’ rights are upheld and their needs recognized throughout the process.
Through our Wholeness Collective, we offer restorative practices that support mind, body, and community—because resilience requires more than surviving; it requires connection.
That’s why KINSHIP resonates so deeply. It reminds us that survivors are not “cases” or “evidence.” They are human beings—with names, families, fears, and futures.
As we say often:
“When a survivor comes forward, it’s not just a report—it’s a risk. A leap of faith.”
“The frontlines of prevention aren’t in courtrooms—they’re in classrooms, workplaces, homes, and communities. It starts when we call out behaviors and attitudes that allow harm to grow.”
“If you’ve ever wondered whether you should say something, you probably should.”
Every Role Matters
Ways you can support survivors and strengthen our community
If you’re a parent, teacher, or employer:
- Create environments where people feel safe to speak up.
- Listen without judgment. Believe them.
- Learn the signs of abuse—and what resources are available.
- Let people know: “You’re not alone. Help is here.”
If you’re a survivor of sexual violence:
- Whether or not you’ve reported the crime, you deserve safety, dignity, and healing.
- What happened to you was not your fault.
- You have rights, and you are not alone.
- Mosaic Georgia is here to support you—on your terms, at your pace.
If you’re a funder or donor:
- Your investment in Mosaic Georgia helps survivors access trauma-informed care, legal advocacy, and holistic healing.
- With your continued support, we can reach more people and build a more responsive, connected system of care.
If you work in the justice system:
- Your role is critical. Survivors remember the professionals who took time, listened, and treated them with respect.
- Your leadership shapes how the system functions—and how victims feel in it.
- Thank you for showing up with compassion, even when resources are stretched thin.
Together, we can ensure every survivor is seen, heard, and supported.
My abuser was someone I loved, trusted, and wanted to know and be known by. He was someone I saw every single day. My family accepted him and welcomed him.
If you’ve followed my blog or read previous posts, you know the excitement I expressed for the popular television show, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. I literally could not wait for the show to air in 1999. We only had antennas and two televisions in the trailer where I could watch the show. One television was in the living room but that is where my siblings often did their homework in the evening. The other television was in my mom and stepdad’s bedroom. When my stepdad invited me to watch the show, it seemed like the best of both worlds. Time with the person I trusted and loved AND I got to watch what I believed would be the best show ever.
It seems strange to label sexual abuse as gentle, but from a physical perspective, it was, in the beginning. I didn’t leave the room that first night in any kind of pain. But emotionally, I was filled with ambivalence.
I LOVED the show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
I ENJOYED getting the undivided attention of my stepdad.
I TRUSTED my stepdad would never do anything to harm me.
I was DISGUSTED by the evidence of the abuse on me.
I was CONFUSED by the passive threat he made before I left the room.
I FEARED someone would find out about our new secret.
At eight years old, these were strong, complex emotions that totally overwhelmed my system. I could not assess what was true, right, or healthy. As a result of the ambivalence, I had to rest on my default belief which was based on a general trust of people older than me. I needed those people to survive. If I could not trust them, how would I make it in the world?
Kids should be able to long for and love quality time with a parent. It is normal and healthy for a child to desire those things. My need for that perception of love was normal. I chose what was normal over and over- quality time with my stepdad and getting to watch my favorite show. Though it came with other hard feelings, the desire for love and acceptance won, over and over again.
So, ambivalence kept me quiet for a long time. And it keeps a lot of kids quiet.
When you hear a child disclose abuse, please know they have likely fought through the power of ambivalence. It is an incredible step of courage and bravery to go against the defaults to tell their story. Please accept that the ambivalence will not disappear overnight. Healing takes time.