1. Office of Victims Advocacy
Victims' Rights Day Commemoration
April 22 | 12:00pm-1pm | Capitol Rotunda
Special Guest Speaker: Mr. John W. Gillis was born in Lexington, KY where he received his
secondary education and graduated from Douglas High School. He received his Bachelor’s Degree
at California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern
California, Los Angeles.
Mr. Gillis has a long and distinguished career in criminal justice, including victim issues. He is the
former National Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U. S. Department of Justice. He served with the
Los Angeles Police Department for more than twenty-six years. Following the 1979 murder of his
daughter Louarna, he became a founding member of Justice for Homicide Victims (JHV) and the
Coalition of Victims Equal Rights, statewide organizations that worked on behalf of the rights of
victims and their families. He is also the co-founder of Victims and Friends United, an active member
of Memory of Victims Everywhere, and Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). He is currently a
board member of the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) headquartered in Portland,
Oregon.
National Crime Victims' Rights The Office of Victims Advocacy will be celebrating
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, "Engaging Communities — Empowering Victims" on a Day
of Celebration, Wednesday, April 22 from Noon-1:00pm in the Capitol Rotunda, Frankfort.