SACRAMENTO –Assemblymembers Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton) and Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) were named “Legislators of the Year” by Crime Victims United at the Annual Victims March on the Capitol today.  Crime Victims United is a victims advocacy group, led by Harriett Salerno, that helps organizes the annual march and is very active in lobbying the legislature and state government on matters related to crime and crime victims.

Aghazarian and Galgiani were honored at a Capitol rally following the march that was attended by the Governor and many State Legislators and Law Enforcement Officials.  Hariett Salerno made the announcement, citing the past and present work of both Aghazarian and Galgiani on behalf of crime victims.

Aghazarian, currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, was honored by the award and pledged to continue his work on behalf of crime victims.  “Protecting our families from violent crime by keeping criminals in jail where they belong will continue to be my priority on the Public Safety Committee,” said Aghazarian.  “Criminals must be serving their full sentences and the victims of crime need to be the focus of our attention.  I thank Crime Victims United for their hard work and dedication in making our state safer and making sure that victims have a voice.”

Galgiani, whose family experienced a loss that remains unresolved, has worked with the Crime Victims organization for some years as a member of their Advisory Board.  During her own campaign for the State Assembly last fall, Galgiani helped CVU in their efforts to pass Jessica’s Law (Prop. 83).  Galgiani and three other state legislators have introduced a four bill package of Child Safety Legislation sponsored by the National Association to Protect Children and Crime Victims United.

“We must shine the light on sexual predators by passing this package of legislation that help us protect our children,” said Galgiani.  She acknowledged the many crime victims and their families that participated in the march and rally, “I thank every one of you here today for your courage and for turning pain into power.”

The Child Safety Legislation package includes bills authored and co-authored by Assemblymembers Nicole Parra, Bonnie Garcia and Cathleen Galgiani and Senator Jim Battin.  The bills are AB 487 (Intensive Monitoring Parole Officers); AB 440 (Offender Data); AB 1475 (Commercial Computer Techs – Mandatory Reporters) and SB 590 (Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces).