Supporters’ Stories

Dorislee Gilbert is the Executive Director of the Mary Byron Project (MBP), a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing justice to end intimate partner violence. Dorislee is an experienced attorney who is leading MBP’s appellate advocacy program providing appellate legal representation to survivors of intimate partner violence in civil appeals related to intimate partner violence. For fifteen years before joining MBP, Dorislee was a felony prosecutor in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. During that time she tried more than 25 cases before juries, handled more than 75 cases in Kentucky’s Appellate Courts, and argued multiple times before Kentucky’s Supreme Court. Dorislee has interacted with, conferred with, and assisted hundreds of victims of crime during her career. In 2019, she was named Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney of the Year.

Donna Pollard dares to believe in a world where young girls can be free from abuse and exploitation. A native of Kentucky -- a state burdened with thousands of cases of abuse and a history of child marriage -- she is leading the charge for change.

John W. Gillis has a long and distinguished career in criminal justice, including victims’ issues. After working as a police officer for two years with the New York Port Authority, Gillis served with the Los Angeles Police Department for more than twenty-six years, retiring in 1988 at the rank of lieutenant. Gillis was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in September 2001 as the National Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U. S. Department of Justice. On October 3, 2011 (in Phoenix, Arizona) Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery appointed John W. Gillis as the new Chief of the County Attorney’s Victim Services Division.

Iowa’s victims’ rights amendment grants equal rights under the constitution. It does not take away any rights from the accused.

State Investigator Kristen Liberto understands the need for stronger crime victims’ rights in Mississippi. Victims of crime deserve more from Mississippi’s criminal justice system.

As a marriage and family therapist, Tara Mills understands the need for equal victims’ rights.

Sheriff Travis Patten has seen firsthand the need for stronger crime victims’ rights in Mississippi. Marsy’s Law will ensure victims of crime have a voice in the criminal justice system.

“Marsy’s Law is an opportunity for us to position this state to do some badly needed process improvement to the criminal justice system that ensures victims will not fall through the cracks; that they will be heard and that there will be an ongoing commitment to victims’ rights.”