Alaska AG asks for attorneys' support in fight against sexual abuse

May 24, 2010

Sullivan says without an attorney, victims can see the legal system as a scary labyrinth that can't protect them and doesn't help them. (Rich Jordan/KTUU-DT)

by Jackie Bartz
Sunday, May 23, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan says it's time for attorneys to do their part in Gov. Sean Parnell's campaign to end the state's cycle of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Sullivan wants to increase the number of attorneys representing victims, and he wants them to do it for free. He says that last year 100 victims went without representation -- and that's 100 people who could have been helped.

Every year, hundreds of Alaskans march to raise awareness about the problems of sexual assault and domestic violence. It gets the message out, but Sullivan says it's time to head from the courthouse lawn to inside the courtroom. That's why he's holding a training summit for attorneys on doing pro bono work for victims Monday night, at the BP Energy Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"The idea is to hear, to listen to other attorneys to get a sense of the importance, because if this is something that the entire Alaska bar comes together on we can meet this goal -- we can literally meet this goal," Sullivan said.

Earlier this month Sullivan sent a letter to attorneys across Alaska, encouraging them to provide more pro bono services to victims of abuse.

"You take victims of these kind of crimes and you enable them to use the legal system as a shield, and in some ways as a sword," Sullivan said. "And a lot of ways sometimes without a lawyer, they view the legal system as some kind of labyrinth that is scary, can't protect them, doesn't help them."

Women's shelter officials say legal representatives are an important piece of the puzzle.

"When they're coming to an attorney, they are in crisis," said Suzi Pearson, executive director of Abused Women's Aid in Crisis. "What's happening in the relationship has hit a crisis point, and oftentimes that's significant danger for not just the victim, but also their children."

Attorneys play a key role in divorce proceedings, custody battles and in obtaining protective orders.

"Oftentimes it's a challenge for them to verbalize what's happening because they're still in crisis," Pearson said. "With an attorney they're able to process that, and the attorney can help voice those concerns."

Pearson says attorneys can help move the state in a positive direction by volunteering as the voice for victims.

"Victims just don't have access to funds and resources to pay for an attorney -- it's expensive to have an attorney to represent you," Pearson said. "So these pro bono attorneys are very critical in evening the score as far as where things are in those civil programs, the civil law."

Their message may not be as loud as the masses, but choosing to volunteer time for a victim sends an equally powerful message. And it helps take the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault one step further.

Sullivan says he plans to represent a victim in court this year. A spokesperson for him says it's very rare for an attorney general to do so.

Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com

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