It Keeps Getting Worse

The NYS Crime Victims Board really fucked up my application for compensation, so I asked for reconsideration last July 2009. Then I was strung along for six months, providing the info I was asked for, but not hearing anything from CVB Chairwoman Tina Stanford. Then, on December 18, 2009, she offered to meet to resolve it. Then she very abruptly sent a letter that I got on Christmas Eve saying she could not reconsider her decision. No meeting was ever held.

Then in February 2010, there was a conference call, which was led by Stanford's lawyer. I learned a great deal more about CVB dysfunction. Nothing came of that.

So, I had an appeal hearing on Monday, March 22, 2010 -- supposedly. Actually, I went for my appeal hearing, and then I was excluded from my appeal hearing. They told me to sit in an office at the far end of the hallway, and I could not see who was being brought into the hearing -- my hearing, where I have the legal right to ask questions and hear what is said.

Once again, the NYS Crime Victims Board flagrantly breaks the law.

When I got a chance to go into the hearing room for my hearing, it was just for me to speak (no opportunity to question anyone else, ie. the cops). And it was all done on video. See, in Albany, you talk to a television. In the other CVB offices, your hearing is with real live board members at the hearing. There isn't anything in the CVB regulations that permits this unequal treatment of crime victims.

And this is what's hard about the video: there is a delay. You keep feeling like the board member who asked you a question won't let you start speaking, and won't let you finish your thought. You can't make out their faces.

And then it was all over. I was told I was done, time to move on, more people to hear from.... and I was told to leave.

Again, this is MY hearing, my APPEAL hearing, and I have a right to make my case, and question witnesses and hear what they say. It's a basic fundamental right.

As soon as I arrived for my hearing, I knew things were not being done right, so I asked to speak to a CVB lawyer. I was told to wait. It was never addressed. No CVB lawyer, no one addressed it.

So, after the hearing, I called Ms. Stanford and complained. Her secretary said to write a letter, so within an hour I was back at the CVB office delivering a letter.

This was more than 48 hours ago, and I have not heard from Ms. Stanford.

I can really hardly believe this awful dreadful experience, like it's all a bad dream I can't wake up from. I wonder how many crime victims in New York are being screwed like this.