Crime Victims Act Introduced in Congress

"On Thursday, July 30, Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX) and Jim Costa (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Crime Victim Rights Caucus, introduced H.R. 3402, 'The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009.'"

This is big news for organizations like Witness Justice as it will ensure that more funds are set aside to support critical crime victim services. The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act would establish a minimum VOCA cap through 2014 and still leave a substantial balance in the Fund to ensure ongoing stable services.

VOCA stands for the Victims of Crime Act. "It is a federal law, enacted in 1984, that provides financial assistance to support a variety of services and activities to assist victims of crime."

VOCA established a Crime Victims Fund, supported by the very people who create the need for victim assistance - the criminals. As part of their penalty, convicted federal offenders pay fines to the Crime Victims Fund that is then turned over to services that benefit the victims. "Most of the funds are distributed to states who use those funds to provide financial support to local direct victim service providers, such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and victim-witness assistance programs." No taxpayer dollars are involved.

In 2010, the minimum amount to be allocated to the Crime Victims Fund is set at $705 million. The cap minimum will increase by 23 percent each year for the next four years. By 2014, the VOCA cap would be $1.6 billion.

If you haven't yet, START TRAINING!

There are under 3 months to go until Team Heal Trauma gathers for the Marine Corps Marathon, and that means one thing: it's training time.

Patti Finke, Coach of Team Oregon from Portland's Marathon Training Clinic, says you need at least 3 months "of steady mileage to get that muscle and connective tissue fitness needed to be ready for all the miles of marathon training." The following are some of her tips to get going:

1. Go Shoe Shopping - don't wait until the Expo to get those new New Balances or saucy Saucony's. Find a technical running store like Fleet Feet and "plan to spend at least 45-60 minutes trying on, running in and having someone watch you run in several models of shoes."
2. Pump Some Iron - aerobics are good, but putting muscle on your quads, hamstrings, and glutes will adequately prepare you for the stresses of 26.2 kilometers of pavement striking up yor legs.
3. Flex-Ability - your muscles get tighter as they grow stronger, so make sure and stretch them out. Improving flexibility is key to avoiding cramping and strains. Finke says, "The best time [to stretch] is when the muscles are warm and relaxed. That usually means after you run, not before. You can warm up by walking, or slow jogging and then do a little light stretching."
4. Alternate Long & Short Workouts - this builds your endurance without overloading you and even takes into account some much needed days off.
5. Have Fun!

And oh yeah - Stay hydrated...this, of course, is key to maintaining a healthy exercise regimen but will also prevent cramping and exhaustion.