What is The Justice League?

The Justice League of Ohio is a non-for-profit legal clinic servicing all counties in the state of Ohio.  We provide the following services: 1) Free legal assistance to crime victims, including direct representation in the criminal justice system to uphold crime victims' rights; 2) Informational and technical assistance to attorneys, service providers, and legislators on crime victims' rights laws;

3) Direct representation of victims and assistance to attorneys in issues involving Crime Victims Compensation.

Our History

The Justice League of Ohio has helped over 700 victims of violent crime obtain equal access to justice:

  • 71% of our victims are children
  • 52% are victims of child sexual abuse
  • 20% are victims of domestic violence
  • 12% suffer from child abuse
  • 8% are assaulted
  • Nearly 75% of the children assisted are girls and close to 90% of the adults assisted are women.

Our Founder 

Catherine Harper Lee is the founder and Executive Director of The Justice League of Ohio - Ohio's only victims' rights legal clinic based in Powell, Ohio. Catherine is a native of central Ohio. For seven years, Cathy was owner of Enervision Media Productions and Ackison Productions, marketing and commercial television production companies in Ohio and Chicago, Illinois. For the past 20 years, Catherine has been pursuing her real passion - restoring faith and balance in the criminal justice system and in 2003, she founded TJLO.

Cathy serves on the Ohio Council on Victims Justice, Ohio Sexual Assault Task Force, and is a member of the Sertoma, Kiwanis, Powell Chamber, National Crime Victims Law Institute, National Center for Victims of Crime, Ohio Victim Witness Association, and the central Ohio Association for Justice.  For her work in protecting the rights of children and families victimized by crime, Cathy has been honored with the following awards:

 

  • To be featured in author Ben Sherwood's upcoming book entitled "The Survivors Club" (fall 2008)
  • Featured in People Magazine: Hereos Among Us - 9/7/08
  • Ohio Attorney General 2007 Special Achievement Award
  • Rotary Club of Columbus Service Above Self Award 2007
  • Rotary Club of Columbus Paul Harris Fellow Award 2007
  • Columbus Ohio City Major Michael B. Coleman Certificate of Recognition 2007
  • Ohio House of Representatives Special Tribute Award 2007
  • Powell Chamber of Commerce Powell Citizen of the Year Award 2006
  • Soroptimist International Improving the Lives of Women Award 2006
  • Kiwanis Club of Powell Making a Difference in a Child's Life 2005
  • Appearances on American's Most Wanted, the O'Reilly Factor, and Scarborough Country - March 2006
  • Profiled by nationally syndicated columnist Mike Harden 2005

 In addition, Cathy has been a presenter and keynote speaker at numerous conferences throughout Ohio and nationally.

 

 

What are the mission and goals of The Justice League?

The Justice League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to help ensure that the constitutional, statutory, and inherent rights of victims of violent crime are upheld throughout the criminal justice process. The goal of The Justice League is to restore faith and balance in the criminal justice process.  The Justice League opened a legal clinic in 2007 and currently staffs three attorneys who work towards upholding victims rights across the state of Ohio. The Justice League also does outreach in the Ohio community to raise awareness about the prevalence of victim rights violations and the need for proper criminal justice responses.  

The Justice League assists all victims of violent crime including victims of homicide, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, assault, and stalking.

About 98% of victims' rights violations involve women & children who are victims of domestic violence and rape.

Currently 61% of violent, personal, and property crimes are not reported because citizens recognize that the rights of defendants & offenders are favored over the rights of citizens who have been victimized by crime and as a result have lost faith in the criminal justice process.

Collected Crime Data

"...the National Center for Victims of Crime says the fact that 61 percent (or 15 million) violent, personal and property crimes went unreported, points to an overall lack of confidence in the criminal justice system." National Center for Victims of Crime   "The Department of Justice estimates that only 30% of rapes and sexual assaults are ever reported. Of those reported, only 20% of the cases are prosecuted."- Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Department of Justice  

1 in 3 sexual assault victims are under the age of 12- Snyder & Sickmund 

"...there is a significant - if not widening - gulf between the public's expectations and the current performance of the criminal justice system."- Council of State Governments   

"Victims needs and rights are often ignored.  Policies and practices that respect victims' rights and address victims' needs will benefit the entire community and the entire justice system.  Victims should be the primary customers of the justice system."- International Association of Chiefs of Police  

"Victims are overlooked in the criminal justice system. We need to strike a better balance between the rights of the victim and the rights of the accused." -National Sheriff's Association 

History of The Justice League

Click here to read about the history of The Justice League of Ohio.

The Justice League assists with victims compensation claims for victims of violent crime and their families. Please watch the following PSA for more information about The Victims Comp Fund.

Welcome

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