MANSFIELD — Victims of crime now have a safe space to cope at the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, thanks to a new room entirely donated by the community.
A brand-new crime victim room at the Prosecutor’s Office was unveiled on Friday morning in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Located immediately to the left upon entering the Prosecutor’s Office, what was once a crowded storage room with florescent lighting is now a warm, inviting space.
“We wanted to make it look welcoming, and make it look safe and comfortable for the people that we serve that come into this office,” said Prosecutor Gary Bishop.
Bishop explained that while the office does have a waiting area, it is a public area with a lot of foot traffic, including from police officers and other agencies and members of the public.
“There is very little privacy for victims of crime and witnesses,” Bishop said. “Now we’re going to have a place where they can come and be shielded from the limelight, so to speak.”
The Prosector’s Office first approached the Richland County Foundation a few months ago, seeking a way to find funding to create the victim’s room. Julie McCready, a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees, heard about the project and decided to take it on personally.
“My husband Tom and I decided we would donate my design services and furniture for this, and we partnered with other local businesses,” McCready said.
In addition to McCready Interiors/Norwalk – The Furniture Idea, services for the crime victim’s room were donated by Oswalt Office Furniture, Kastran Karpets, the Richland County maintenance department, and WMFD-TV news anchor Brigitte Coles.
Bishop explained that the Prosecutor’s Office “adopted” Coles for Christmas last year after the local anchor went through some serious health concerns. Coles was diagnosed with Spindle Cell Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in November, and underwent open heart surgery in January to have a tumor removed.
“She took some of the money we had donated to her and donated it back to us for this cause,” Bishop said. “We used the money she gave back to do the window dressing, and it occurred to me that a window lets light in, and that’s Brigitte Coles.”
The new crime victim’s room features comfortable surroundings, refreshments inside a mini refrigerator and a kitchenette area, and a TV with family-friendly DVDs for children to enjoy.
“Everything about the room was donated, there wasn’t a cent that came out of any budget, everything was donated by community members to help,” McCready said. “For my husband and I, our family has been in business in this area for 93 years, so it’s always our passion to give back to our community whenever we can.”
Kathy Ezawa, director of The Domestic Violence Shelter, said such a room is imperative for victims who might be intimidated by the legal system.
“Having a space like this provides some comfort, and people can relax a little bit more and be able to talk to the advocates about what’s going on and not be so fearful,” Ezawa said. “It’s not easy coming in and talking about your issues, and nobody wants to admit they’re going through some kind of victimization.”
Bishop thanked all those involved in making the room possible in a standing-room only ceremony on Friday at the Prosecutor’s Office.
“I am so grateful to all of you for helping us to make this happen, and making this an indication of how we want to put victims first in Richland County,” he said.
