CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - In 1988, Joanna Katz, then
19, endured the horror of being abducted at gunpoint by five
men, then being raped, beaten and tortured. After that, the
nightmare just seemed to continue.
The men were convicted and sentenced to up to 35 years in
prison.
But when they later became eligible for parole, Katz was
forced to relive the horror several times a year and travel
hundreds of miles to Columbia each year to keep the
perpetrators behind bars.
"After the conviction, it is not over - it is not the end
of the story," said Katz who on Wednesday sat next to Gov.
Mark Sanford as he held a public signing ceremony for the law
making it easier for victims of violent crime to give
testimony at parole hearings.
The law requires parole hearings be held the same day if
there is more than one perpetrator convicted of a crime
against the same victim. It also will allow victims to provide
testimony over closed-circuit television, so they don't have
to make multiple trips to Columbia for parole hearings.
"I know now that in the United States, we now have one
state that has stepped up to the plate, stepped forward and
said we will do something about it," said Katz, who helped
push for the changes in state law.
Katz' story was chronicled earlier this year in the
documentary film "Sentencing the Victim," which was telecast
as part of the Independent Lens series on the Public
Broadcasting System.
It described the crime and the anguish Katz suffered
opposing parole for the five men. Under the old law, Katz and
others opposing parole in similar situations, were required to
relive the trauma several times a year and travel to Columbia
to attend hearings.
"For all of you who kept telling me how important it was I
come forward and tell my story - and as hard as it had been -
I appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts and
encouragement," she said.
The new law means victims will never have to oppose parole
more than once every two years.
Victims also will be able to testify for parole hearings
via closed-circuit television. Trident Technical College will
be the first of three sites that will offer the
teleconferencing technology.
"We're here today because of Joanna Katz," Sanford said.
"This bill to me is all about Joanna Katz and her personal
determination in carrying this through."
The governor said the measure in part is about making
government more efficient and more responsive to victims. But,
he said, there is also a deeper purpose.
"Joanna deserves a tremendous amount of credit because this
bill is being signed into law not only because of her
determination, but also because of the way she chose to make
good of evil," the governor said.
The bill was officially signed earlier and took effect last
month.
