Linda Fairstein: “On the Side of the Angels”

The quote above is incredibly appropriate, as we are convinced that there is a very special place in heaven reserved for this extraordinary woman. You can't speak of rape prosecution or victims' rights advocacy in this country without owing a debt of gratitude to the woman who in large measure is responsible for changing the way sex crimes are handled in American courts today.

Linda Fairstein led the Manhattan District Attorney's Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit for 25 years. She oversaw the prosecution of some of the most high-profile cases of the times, the "Preppy Murder" case and the Central Park Jogger case among them. During her tenure, incredible strides were made in the legal system, in police departments and in the public eye. Laws were passed that made it easier for a victim to have her day in court. Special Victims Units were formed in police departments all over the country and people began talking more openly about rape and the stigma felt by its victims. Linda was one of the first prosecutors to embrace the use of DNA in sexual assault cases, a technology that in 20 years has revolutionized rape trials around the world.

Even though she's left the DA's office, she continues to share her legal experiences today, albeit fictionally. Through the eyes of the protagonist in her nine best-selling crime novels, readers can get a glimpse into the world of sex crimes detectives and prosecutors. To find out more about her 'Alex Cooper' novels, visit: www.lindafairstein.com.

Recently, Linda talked with Katie Couric of CBSNews about the changes she's seen over her years in the legal system, and about the continued problem of sexual violence in America. You can read her interview at: www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/03/08/couricandco/entry2549241.shtml, or by going to Linda's blog and linking to the article.

We adore Linda Fairstein and have the UTMOST respect for the work she's done, and continues to do, on behalf of sexual assault survivors everywhere. She's an inspiration to more than just us, too: Dick Wolf used her as a model for Stephanie March's character of Alex Cabot on Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit.

Sources: In addition to the links above, additional biographical information was found at http://www.harrywalker.com/speakers_template.cfm?Spea_ID=560 and at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Fairstein. 

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What We're about..

"No one can POSSIBLY know what I'm feeling right now."

"I can't even speak the words to tell anyone what happened."

"I'm never going to feel OK again."

"I feel like I have no one to turn to."

"If anyone knew what happened to me, they'd never see me the same way again."

These are just a few of the thoughts that can run through the mind of someone who's been raped. Recovery after an assault can be a long and sometimes frightening process, with frequent doubts, questions and challenges arising that could leave a survivor wondering where they can turn. Fortunately, there are many great resources available to assist them in their healing process. There are websites dedicated to educating survivors (as well as friends and family) and providing counseling support resources— RAINN is one of our personal favorites. There are also websites that assist survivors in other aspects of healing, from sharing their experiences with other survivors via message boards and communities to rallying against these horrific crimes by "taking back the night" (http://www.takebackthenight.org).

Survivor2survivor is just a little bit unique in that we are all about helping victims cut through the clinical and get real about what it takes to put their lives back together after rape. We are survivors ourselves and it is our mission to address the realities of recovery as we know it—the sometimes soul-chilling and messy process that it is. We strive to help survivors stand tall and speak the truth about their victimization by helping them to realize that they are not alone, that they do not have to remain silent out of shame or embarrassment. On our site they can read about some of the emotions they could experience on their healing journey, access books and novels that address the topic of sexual assault, learn about some of the coping strategies that have worked for other survivors, and find links to additional helpful websites. Friends and family can also check out the site for information on how to support someone they love who has been assaulted.  Please check out our main site at http://www.survivor2survivor.org.

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