"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves".--Thomas Jefferson(1820)

Justice For Few

Welcome to the home of Justice For Few, a website whose purpose is to illustrate and explore the inequities facing victims of crime in today's judicial system. This site is in it's infancy, but my hope is that this will eventually be a place to end the silence, collaborate, network, research and advocate for change.

In introducing myself and my work, it is neccesary to state that I am a survivor of a violent crime. I am also the survivor of a justice system that stripped me of both my ability to fight back against my perpetrator and my faith and belief in the protection of the law.

Despite clear and compelling evidence-- along with my willingness to testify against my perpetrator, I was denied that right by then James City County/ Williamsburg Commonwealth Attorney George Fairbanks. His reasons were many and varied, ranging from cases of more "importance" to "concern" for how I would be "torn apart" by defense lawyers.

In the end, I was told that although he believed the crime had occured- it would be a "malfeasance of justice" to try a case that could be difficult to prove.

In the beginning, I was overwhelmed with shock and disbelief. I felt so crushed. It was beyond my comprehension that someone could hurt me SO BADLY... and that, in turn, I could be sentenced to eternal silence and submission by the very entities that I went to seeking protection.

I learned the hard way that the victim of a crime in our legal system is not actually the "victim" at all- instead they are a witness. I learned that the state is the "victim"- and as such, the Commonwealth Attorney acting on the state's behalf- has the SOLE discretionary power to prosecute or dismiss cases at will.

I learned that there is absolutely NO system of checks or balances on the arbitrary nature of this power!

I learned that there is NO avenue of appeal or process of registering a complaint for a victim who disagrees with a prosecutor's decision not to prosecute. This lesson taught me about the true meaning of "SILENCE".

I learned that I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS...

I learned to QUESTION the "way things are"

I learned that others have suffered this INJUSTICE as well...

I have learned that I can use my voice to speak out against these gross violation of civil rights...

I hope that you will join me.