October 9, 2008
UWPD’s crime victim advocate honors the memory of Rebecca Griego with her work
Michele Puckhaber, the UW Police Department’s first-ever crime victim advocate, says she thinks often of Rebecca Griego as she does her job.
Griego, a UW staff member, was murdered by an abusive ex-boyfriend on campus on April 2, 2007. The event stunned and saddened the UW community and brought an intense new focus on protecting employees from the threat of violence — both on campus and in their personal lives.
That focus has been renewed this fall with the universitywide SafeCampus public information campaign reminding faculty, staff and students that “preventing violence is everyone’s responsibility.” (To learn more, visit online at www.washington.edu/safecampus.)
As she discussed the ways in which she can assist crime victims at the UW, Puckhaber said with feeling, “I come in to work every day and try to really honor Rebecca Griego’s memory, and do the best I can for her.
“The University did a lot of soul-searching and a lot of exploring on what we can do to make sure this doesn’t happen again. And one of the things that came out of it was this position.”
The job of crime victim advocate seems a perfect fit for this former community advocate for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program. Before that job she earned a master’s degree from the UW’s School of Social Work, a program she praises highly.
Puckhaber was hired in April to assist any member of the UW who has experienced a crime or who feels threatened — at work or at home — by possible relationship violence. Her job, as stated by the UWPD Web site, is “to help crime victims, their families, and even witnesses, through the process of physical, emotional and financial recovery.”
Though on the job just a few months, she gets a superb review from Ray Wittmier, longtime UWPD assistant chief now serving as interim chief. Wittmier said: “Michele was the perfect selection for our first Crime Victim Advocate position. We needed someone who would dive right in and search for opportunities to assist crime victims, and that is exactly what she’s done. She’s a self-starter and clearly has the natural desire to help people.
Puckhaber said, “I’m available to work with any victim of a crime here on campus, if it’s been reported to the UW Police. Typically I am working with people who have been harmed during an assault, a strong-arm robbery or there’s been either physical harm or severe emotional harm.”
Crime victims have rights under Washington state law, she noted. “Part of my role is making sure all their rights are being respected and also educating them about the criminal justice system and what they can expect, what’s going to happen. Oftentimes it takes a long time for a case to go from being reported to being prosecuted.”
She also helps victims track the cases they are involved with. “Often the victim is very interested in seeing that justice is done, and wanting to know if (the offender) has been released from jail or not, and where that person is.”
Her assistance to crime victims includes, but is not limited to, helping them:
• Find resources on or off campus for counseling, health services, legal assistance and housing.
• Obtain protective orders from the court system for domestic violence, harassment or sexual assault, including assistance with paperwork and even transportation to court.
• Navigate the court system and prepare for appearances
• Make plans to assure future safety.
“So that’s who I primarily work with,” said Puckhaber, who has an easy, warm smile and does not wear a police uniform. “But if your bike was stolen — which happens all the time on campus — and you are really emotionally distraught and that really upset you, I would be available. I am willing to talk to anyone who’s been a victim. It’s really dependent on how that person experiences the crime and how it affects them.”
In some cases, a crime need not have taken place in order for employees to seek Puckhaber’s help. “In terms of domestic violence it doesn’t have to rise to the level of a crime,” Puckhaber said. “Because a lot of domestic violence is about power and control, and that can happen in a lot of different ways that are abusive and controlling but not necessarily criminal.
“So I work with anyone who has those types of concerns that might escalate into violence.”
As a member of the UWPD, Puckhaber said she is of course required to report any actual crimes to the police for investigation, just as she must report any suspected child abuse or the abuse of a vulnerable adult.
She also advises clients about the different levels of confidentiality: “That’s one of the good things about being able to refer people and to have connections with community programs,” she said. “Because I am a member of the Police Department, it’s not completely confidential because my records can be subpoenaed. But if they talk with an advocate who’s based at a community program, those records are confidential, they are privileged, so they have that complete protection.”
As a professional and as an alumna, Puckhaber sounds pleased to be working to protect crime victims — and potential crime victims — at the UW.
“I love being here and I love working with the diversity of clients,” she said. “I have a passion for social work and I feel very lucky to be in a position where I get to interact with all different sorts of people from all walks of life.”
If you feel you need Puckhaber’s assistance or have questions for her, call 206-543-9337 or e-mail her at mpuck@u.washington.edu. For more information about the UWPD and its programs, visit online at www.washington.edu/admin/police.
SafeCampus and violence prevention at the UW
It’s a message that you’ve likely heard before, but it bears repeating: “Preventing violence is everyone’s responsibility. If you’re concerned, tell someone.”
It’s also the heart of a new, universitywide public information campaign being conducted this fall by SafeCampus. Early identification of potential violence and intervention plans play an important role in keeping our community safe. One of the main goals of the SafeCampus campaign is to raise awareness of how violence can enter and affect the UW community. You can learn more at http://www.washington.edu/safecampus/.
The campaign features new Web sites and posters already put up around campus, one of which asks, “Does your partner treat you with equal respect?”
SafeCampus is a collective effort of key players in campus safety and violence prevention created by the President’s Advisory Committee on Violence Prevention. Human Resources’ Violence Prevention and Response Program acts as the central point of communication and the coordinating unit for violence mitigation activities throughout the UW. Other campus players include Student Life, Human Resources, the Bothell and Tacoma campuses, UW and Harborview Medical Centers, the UW Police Department, Academic Human Resources and the Graduate School.
SafeCampus telephone numbers are answered 24 hours a day by staff specially trained to receive reports of potentially violent situations and provide resources and referrals to UW services.
SafeCampus numbers and Web sites for the three UW campuses are:
• Seattle: 206-685-SAFE (7233), www.washington.edu/safecampus.
• Bothell 425-352-SAFE (7233), www.uwb.edu/safecampus.
• Tacoma 253-692-SAFE (7233), www.tacoma.washington.edu/safecampus.
