BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: C.J. Robinson is shown with Founder of VOCAL Miriam Shehane, who was present for the awards ceremony. (Photos by Sarah Stephens/EAN)
The organization VOCAL, short for Victims of Crime and Leniency, bestowed six awards Friday at the Attorney General’s Office in Montgomery, one of them being the Miriam Shehane Award, received by Chief Deputy DA C.J. Robinson, 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Autauga, Chilton and Elmore Counties.
In 2015, Robinson was named Alabama Assistant District Attorney of the Year, and in 2017 became the first prosecutor to graduate from the police academy, also serving as a VOCAL board member.
On Friday, his talents, drive and “feistiness” were one again recognized.
According to VOCAL officials Robinson has provided exemplary service and demonstrated dedication to crime victims in numerous cases he has handled in which VOCAL has been involved. In particular, he has performed diligently to protect child victims of sexual assault and bring their offenders to justice.
Earlier this year, with the proposed mass-release of offenders in his circuit as the criminal justice system struggled to deal with the coronavirus epidemic, Robinson’s painstaking efforts ensured that the situation was handled with the safety of victims and the community as the foremost concern.
“It is important to the families of murder victims that their loved ones are not forgotten,” said VOCAL Founder Miriam Shehane. “Sept. 25 has been designated as National Day of Remembrance for murder victims to ensure they will always be recognized.”
VOCAL State Director Janette Grantham said, “We want to honor those who have gone above and beyond in seeking justice for crime victims.”
In speaking of Robinson, Grantham said that she believes he has “A lot of Miriam in him,” and he doesn’t take no for an answer. “One of the things about C.J., he said something one time about swinging the Sword of Justice. That has always remained with me, and that is why we had to have Lady Justice (on the award) with a big sword, and make sure the aim is true. We have been involved in a lot of cases in Elmore County. We know how C.J. is, and he doesn’t take no for an answer. When he sees something that he thinks could be wrong, he goes about it right then. He doesn’t wait for it to happen. And that is the spirit of Miriam.”
As for Robinson, he said, “When I started law school, they took us outside and showed us the sign that says School of Law, not School of Justice. You don’t always find justice. We don’t always get there but that is what we are trying to do. 2020 has been a crazy year. Above everything else, we go to court and fight for people who have the absolute worst day of their lives. Try to remember that. We are there to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Everybody in this room….what you stand for is that fighting spirit. I am very honored.”
Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL) is a 501©3 non-profit organization which was established in 1982. VOCAL is an advocacy group for victims’ rights consisting of concerned citizens, victims of crime and their families, law enforcement officers, attorneys and others interested in reducing crime and improving the plight of its victims. For more information, contact Janette Grantham, VOCAL State Director, at jgrantham@vocalonline.org.
VOCAL has been successful in making changes to the Alabama Legal System, and they have a growing number of supporters.
They have branched out over the nears with new programs in Alabama to help victims of rape, child abuse and domestic abuse as well.
Other awards presented Friday included:
State Volunteer of the Year -Willow, a black Labrador mix with midnight dark eyes and a quiet disposition, is a facility dog, well-trained to be a calming presence for traumatized victims. She works with her handler, Tamara Martin of the Office of Prosecution Services, to provide comfort and security to victims during forensic interviews, counseling sessions and while testifying in court. She is a canine hero, serving as a soothing companion to victims who must replay to investigators and the court their painful physical or sexual assaults.
Victim Service Officer of the Year – Melissa Cupit, Victim Service Officer for the 37th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, is the epitome of what a VSO should be. She not only dedicates her time to victims, but she puts her heart into every one of the cases she works, treating that victim’s family members as her own. She is noted for going out of her way to ensure that victims are taken care of, finding resources to provide for their physical needs of food and lodging and easing their pain with a comforting shoulder to cry on.
VOCAL Angel House Award – Samantha Stevenson is helping VOCAL realize a dream of many years, to create a memorial garden with a walkway of bricks inscribed with victims’ names. Through her assistance, various organizations and groups are lending their generous helping hands to make this come true. Because of her, many victims will have the comfort that their loves ones are remembered in this special way. Samantha is the Chief Victim Service Officer for Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. She also serves on VOCAL’s Executive Board as the Secretary/Treasurer.
Crime Victim Service Award – Barry Matson and Tricia Mellberg of the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services provide heroic services to victims in countless ways. A notable achievement of significant impact to victims came with the acquisition of a $6.3 million grant that provided 88 certified victim service officers for the offices of district attorneys throughout Alabama. They were also instrumental in expanding the facility dog program of which Willow was the first, throughout the state. Barry Matson is executive director and Tricia Melberg is deputy director.
Prosecutor of the Year – Brandon Hughes is the District Attorney for the 37th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. He has made victim advocacy a top priority, with a strong commitment that crime victims and their families would be informed and involved throughout the criminal justice process. He takes care to treat families with great dignity and respect, and is firm in his determination to see that justice is provided to victims. Notably, he is handling the tragic case of Aniah Blanchard, a young woman who was kidnapped from Auburn and murdered last fall.
About Miriam Shehane, A Founder of VOCAL
When Miriam Shehane’s daughter, Quenette, was murdered in 1976 years ago, Miriam was thrown into a new world, trying to navigate a legal system she felt was not fair to victims of murder or their families.
In 1982 she helped found VOCAL to start a victim’s rights movement to reshape the Alabama judicial system. She has said that the thought of her daughter being forgotten is something she could not allow. It gave her the drive necessary to speak out, and offer help to other families who lost a loved one.
Quenette Shehane was a Birmingham-Southern College graduate on Dec. 20, 1976, and was supposed to make a quick trip to a nearby convenience store to get salad dressing to go with the steaks her boyfriend was cooking at his fraternity house. She was kidnapped from the store parking lot, raped and killed. Her body was found the next day, according to an Associated Press article from 2012.
Seven trials involving three young men ended with one being executed nearly 14 years after the crime, another sentenced to life in prison without parole, and the other getting a life sentence, the article reads.
