Contact your Representative to Help Protect Crime Victims' Rights
By MADD | July 19, 2012 | Filed in: General , Victim Services

We need your help to give crime victims the rights they deserve, but time is running out.  Please call or email your United States Representative today and urge him or her to co-sponsor House Joint Resolution 106 (H. J. Res. 106), a proposed U.S. Constitutional Amendment for Victims’ Rights.

This amendment would protect the vital rights of crime victims to be notified of proceedings, to be present at proceedings, and to be heard on important decisions.  Right now, every state has statutory laws and most states have state constitutional amendments protecting victims' rights, but these laws are ineffective. 

Even in states giving "strong protection" to victims’ rights, fewer than 60 percent of the victims were notified of the sentencing hearing and fewer than 40 percent were notified of the pretrial release of the defendant.  This is largely because defendant rights are enshrined in the federal Constitution – 23 separate rights in all – but victims' rights are state-based.

The only way that crime victims’ rights will be protected is to even the playing field through a federal constitutional amendment—House Joint Resolution 106.

At least 100 co-sponsors are needed to move it forward as the legislative session draws to a close.  So please contact your representative today by phone or email.  Your voice matters!

Click here to find your U.S. Representative's contact information, or click here to email them through madd.org.

MADD—Serving Victims Every Eight Minutes!
By MADD | June 28, 2012 | Filed in: Victim Services

First there’s the crash, then the lifelong impact.

Thankfully, MADD is just a phone call away to provide support for drunk and drugged driving victims.  In 2011, MADD provided victim services to over 63,000 victims and survivors nationwide!  That means serving one victim and survivor every eight minutes at no charge.

These services include grief support, help navigating the criminal justice systems and community referrals.  Services are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year through the 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435) Victim Services Support Line.  A helpline specialist takes care of the immediate needs of callers and then refers to a local community MADD advocate for ongoing support.  The helpline is sometimes a lifeline for victims and survivors at their most vulnerable moments.

If you or someone you know is a drunk or drugged driving victim, please don’t hesitate to call if you need a compassionate ear.  MADD helps survivors survive. 

Meet MADD Tennessee’s Program Specialist, Phaedra Marriott-Olson
By MADD | June 19, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Underage Drinking , Victim Services

The Knoxville News Sentinel recently featured an article about Phaedra Marriott-Olson, MADD Tennessee Program Specialist and drunk driving crash survivor.

In May of 1996, the car Phaedra was driving was hit head on when a driver with a .08 BAC crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic.  Phaedra spent five and a half weeks on life support after the crash that left her paralyzed.  At the time, the legal limit to drive in Missouri was .10, so the driver was not charged with a DUI.

Phaedra did not waste any time turning her tragedy into a positive message.  Even from her hospital bed she worked to put an end to drunk driving by allowing students to visit her hospital room to see first-hand the effects of drinking and driving.

Today, 21 surgeries later, Phaedra works full time for MADD Tennessee working with youth, giving parents the tools to talk to their teens about the dangers of underage drinking, and teaching death notification to law enforcement officers.

Jan Withers says it best: “Phaedra is an inspiration to me and many others who have been victimized by impaired driving.  She has turned her trauma into reaching out and helping others.”

Read the full article from The Knoxville News Sentinel.

Why We're Here: Michael Haynes
By MADD | June 4, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services , Victim Stories

Michael Haynes was a loving husband, an amazing father, son, brother, uncle and a friend to so many.  He loved spending time with his family, playing with his children and his Xbox.  Michael cared deeply for serving and protecting others, which greatly influenced his life and career choices.

Michael joined the United States Army after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th and served his country with pride, courage, honor and integrity in Iraq.  After he was honorably discharged, Michael joined the Montana Highway Patrol in 2006 to make the roads safe for his family, friends and fellow Montana residents—and he was great at his job. In his three years on the Highway Patrol, Michael Haynes received high marks from his supervisors, and was an aggressive enforcer of DUI laws.

On March 23, 2009, Michael was on-duty when a drunk driver traveling in the wrong lane crashed head on into his patrol car.  Michael died from his injuries four days later, leaving behind his wife, Tawny, and two young children.

Following Michael’s death, legislators and other state officials agreed that something needed to be done about the drunk driving issue in Montana and try to remedy their stance as one of the worst drunk driving states in the country.

Michael’s wife Tawny has taken over his passion to get drunk drivers off the road and has become an outspoken advocate for stricter drunk driving measures.  She has worked with legislative committees to examine the effectiveness of Montana’s laws and to see how they can be improved, and was also heavily involved in the passing of the 24/7 Sobriety Program Act for repeat offenders.  Since the drunk driver that killed Michael was reportedly served 13 drinks before he got in his car to drive home, Tawny is also an advocate for stiffer over-serving law and has worked on mandatory alcohol training for servers.

"I want to do the right thing," she said. "I want his death to mean something; I want some good to come out of this."

Why We're Here: Daniel Riemann
By MADD | May 3, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services , Victim Stories

Daniel Riemann was a 25-year-old outgoing, “people-person” with an amazing laugh. Daniel had recently graduated from Kansas University and was just promoted to manager of the retail store where he worked. He had his whole life ahead of him with a very promising future.

After hanging out at a friend’s house after work, Daniel was walking in a crosswalk in the Kansas City town square, when he was struck by a drunk driver. The driver fled the scene, leaving Daniel helpless. Several hours passed before anyone found him or called an ambulance, and when they arrived on the scene Daniel was already dead. This happened early in the morning on Sunday, May, 11, 2008—Mother’s Day.

The Riemanns had an annual Mother’s Day tradition; the family would get together for lunch at Red Lobster. Since Daniel wasn’t sure if he would be able to make the Mother’s Day lunch that year because of work, he gave his grandmother the Mother’s Day card he wrote for his mother to give her at lunch. By the time she opened it, Daniel was gone.

While the Riemanns were at their Mother’s Day lunch, police were still trying to determine Daniel’s identification. He had left his wallet and I.D. in his car. His family thought he was at work, so the fact that he didn’t show up for lunch was not surprising; there was no reason to be alarmed or to start looking for him. They were notified later that afternoon that their beloved son and brother had died after being struck by an underage drunk driver leaving a graduation party.

Daniel was the oldest of four siblings, but was also very close to his extended family. Family and friends were very important to Daniel, and at his memorial services friends from all over the world came to celebrate his life by telling funny stories and memories of their friend.

Now Mother’s Day has a very different meaning for Kelly Riemann, Daniel’s mother. Each year she does something to honor her son, like bracelets or bumper stickers, for everyone who knew and loved Daniel.

This Mother’s Day, we honor Kelly and Daniel Riemann, as well as all others who lost a mother or a child to drunk driving or underage drinking.