Ana Giron promotes justice for victims of crime

Ana Giron recalls a time assisting a young woman at trial who had been a victim of sexual assault. During the trial the young woman had to watch a tape depicting her being raped by three men. Upon seeing the tape, the woman asked for a break, left the courtroom and became ill.

“Court was set to resume and I had only five minutes to help her compose herself. Somehow I was able to convince her that she had done nothing wrong and stabilized her enough to go back into the courtroom to continue her testimony. I didn’t do anything miraculous and I didn’t have any magic words, but it made a world of difference that someone cared enough, didn't judge her and believed that she deserved better,” Giron says.

Having worked in the criminal justice system for two decades, Giron, director of the Victim Services Unit at the Department of Attorney General, recognizes that the focus of our great, yet imperfect justice system is geared toward preserving defendant’s rights, while the person whose life is most affected by the actions of the defendant tends to be the one most forgotten in the eyes of the law.

“To be able to bring human compassion and understanding to someone who’s thrown into this process and to empower someone who feels powerless, and to give someone back their sense of dignity - that’s what truly inspires me,” Giron says.

In addition to informing victims of their rights, assisting them in court, and helping them better understand and participate in the legal process, Giron also serves as a conduit between the Attorney General’s office and Dominican immigrants. As the daughter of Dominican immigrants, Giron utilizes her own experience to break down cultural barriers and thereby deliver tremendous assistance to this particular segment of the population. She has provided much needed cultural insight to various members of the law enforcement community, resulting in a better understanding of the issues that confront Rhode Island’s Hispanic population.

“Simply stated, Ana Giron consistently demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty in promoting justice for the victims of crime, never seeking recognition she so richly deserves,” Patrick C. Lynch, attorney general for The State of Rhode Island says.