http://www.linordocumentary.com/2009/07/13/thanks-for-interesting-post/ Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:49:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.linordocumentary.com/2009/07/13/thanks-for-interesting-post/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Alexa Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:11:08 +0000 http://www.linordocumentary.com/?p=187#comment-55 Like others who have shared their stories on this page, I never thought I would say the words "I am a rape survivor". I was raped almost 10 years ago when I was 18. Since that time, after experiencing the trauma of criminal trials first hand, my parents and I began a foundation that tries to make the trial process less burdensome on victims and their families. We do this by providing funds for family members to travel to and from the location of the trial. This is helpful in many ways, for example when I was attacked it occurred in Boston MA and I was from Lewiston NY. The states only pay for the victim to return and testify so my parents paid for several trips back and forth to Boston and then a three week trial. I would not have made it through the trial and this man would not have been found guilty without my testimony. This is an alarming trend in the American Criminal Justice system, the defense attorneys try and wear down victims until they are so exhausted physically, emotionally, and financially, that they cannot continue. If you are reading this and need help please look at our website www.ithappenedtoalexa.org. Also thank you to all of you for sharing and surviving and to Linor for reminding us that sharing our stories WILL make us stronger. Best now and always, Alexa Like others who have shared their stories on this page, I never thought I would say the words “I am a rape survivor”. I was raped almost 10 years ago when I was 18. Since that time, after experiencing the trauma of criminal trials first hand, my parents and I began a foundation that tries to make the trial process less burdensome on victims and their families. We do this by providing funds for family members to travel to and from the location of the trial. This is helpful in many ways, for example when I was attacked it occurred in Boston MA and I was from Lewiston NY. The states only pay for the victim to return and testify so my parents paid for several trips back and forth to Boston and then a three week trial. I would not have made it through the trial and this man would not have been found guilty without my testimony. This is an alarming trend in the American Criminal Justice system, the defense attorneys try and wear down victims until they are so exhausted physically, emotionally, and financially, that they cannot continue. If you are reading this and need help please look at our website http://www.ithappenedtoalexa.org. Also thank you to all of you for sharing and surviving and to Linor for reminding us that sharing our stories WILL make us stronger. Best now and always, Alexa

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