The
November 9, 2013, episode of American Heroes Radio
features a conversation with Crime Victim’s
Advocate Karen L. Bune.
Program Date:
November 9, 2013
Program Time:
1500 hours, PACIFIC
Topic: Crime
Victim Advocacy
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2013/11/09/crime-victim-advocacy
About the Guest
Karen L. Bune currently serves as a Patient
Relations Representative at Inova Alexandria
Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. She serves as
the liaison between the Chief Executive Officer
and the patients. She assists patients during
their hospitalization and interacts daily with
nurses, physicians and other medical staff
throughout the hospital. She addresses patient
complaints, conducts investigations, engages in
conflict management, receives patient compliments
and works cooperatively and collaboratively with
the entire staff of the hospital in conducting
reviews of complaints to bring them to
resolution. She writes correspondence and review
findings for the signature of the Chief Executive
Officer. Ms. Bune serves on five committees of
the hospital: She is Co-Chair of the
Patient/Family Advisory Committee and a member of
the Bio-Ethics, Patient-Flow, Domestic Violence,
and the Active Shooter committees.
Karen L. Bune has had a 34 year career in the
criminal justice system—18 years of which have
been in victim services. She has specialized in
working with victims of domestic violence. She
worked on a project as a Consultant and Team
Leader for the development and implementation of a
domestic violence training program for the
Internal Revenue Service. Ms. Bune is
passionately devoted in her ongoing efforts to
focus on issues concerning domestic/family
violence and victimization.
Ms.
Bune is also a passionate advocate for law
enforcement and police officers. She has engaged
in a major fundraising and public relations effort
in 2013 for a critically injured officer who was
shot in the head and, as a result, suffers from
Traumatic Brain Injury. Ms. Bune also serves as a
consultant on victim issues for the Office for
Victims of Crime and the Office of Juvenile
Justice Programs for the U. S. Department of
Justice. She is a nationally recognized speaker,
consultant, and trainer on domestic violence,
victim issues and the criminal justice field.
In
addition, Ms. Bune is an Adjunct Professor at
Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and
George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where
she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in
criminal justice and victimology. She is an
occasional lecturer/guest speaker at American
University, Washington, D. C. Ms. Bune is Board
Certified in Domestic Violence and Board Certified
in Traumatic Stress. She is also a Fellow of The
Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.
Ms.
Bune holds a Master of Science degree in the
Administration of Justice (M.S.A.J.), with
distinction, from American University, Washington,
D. C. Ms. Bune received her Bachelor of Arts
(B.A.) degree (Cum Laude) in American Studies from
American University, Washington, D. C. She is
bilingual in Spanish.
She
has received numerous awards for her contributions
to public service and, specifically, for her work
in the arena of victims’ services and victims’
rights. Ms. Bune is listed in the 2013 editions
of Marquis, Who’s Who in the World and Marquis,
Who’s Who in America. She serves as a member of
the Visitor’s Board for Marymount University in
Arlington, Virginia. Ms. Bune was also appointed
to the Institutional Review Board of the Police
Foundation in 2013.
She
serves on the Speaker’s Bureau for George Mason
University in Fairfax, Virginia. Ms. Bune is a
nationally recognized speaker, and she has spoken
on a variety of topics including domestic
violence, elder abuse, workplace
victimization/violence, drinking and driving,
leadership and ethics, media issues, The “Queen
Bee Syndrome” in the workplace, and numerous other
topics. She has presented in Georgia, Delaware,
Las Vegas, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Maryland and
Washington, D. C. Ms. Bune has also appeared on
live television and radio, and she has been
interviewed by newspapers for stories. She is a
Subject Matter Expert on Domestic Violence.
Ms.
Bune was instrumental in making a convincing
argument for repeal of the Spousal Privilege Law
in Maryland. Based on her initial efforts and
effective communications skills, legislation was
written and a sponsor was obtained in an effort to
repeal the Spousal Privilege Law in Maryland. Ms.
Bune testified in 2006 and 2007 before the
Maryland Legislature in Annapolis, Maryland for
repeal of the Marital Privilege law.
Ms.
Bune participated in the International Association
of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 1999 Summit on Victims
of Crime. The findings of the summit were
presented to former President Clinton and the
Congress of the U. S. She also participated in
the National Forum on Terrorism in Breckenridge,
Colorado in July 2002. Ms. Bune served as a
member of the IACP National Advisory Board on
police-based victim response.
Ms.
Bune is a freelance writer. She is currently an
Expert Contributor/Writer for Police One. She is
also a writer for nycop.com, APCO, The Maryland
Daily Examiner and The Gazette newspapers. She
previously has written for lawofficer.com and is a
former Victim Specialist Contributor Writer for
Officer.com. Ms. Bune is also a former Citizen
Reporter for The Washington Times Newspaper. Her
extensive articles have been published in
newspapers and professional publications
worldwide.
On
several occasions, Ms. Bune testified before the
Maryland General Assembly on victim-related bills
including sentence reconsideration and repeal of
the Spousal Privilege law in domestic violence
cases. In addition, she has hosted visiting
foreign delegation to the U. S. and provided them
knowledge concerning American policies and
practices related to crime victims.
Ms.
Bune is Past President (2003-2004) of the American
Society of Public Administration, Northern
Virginia Chapter, and she is a member of numerous
other professional organizations.
Bune
has received numerous awards for her professional
achievements. Among them, and most recently, she
received the 2011 American University Alumni
Recognition Award. She also received the 2011
citation of Congratulations from the Maryland
General Assembly for exemplary public service for
domestic violence victims in Prince George’s
County, Maryland and for the cause of justice in
the state of Maryland. She received the Chief’s
Award (2009) from Prince George’s County Maryland
Police Chief Roberto Hylton; it is the highest
departmental award and one rarely given to
civilians. She was inducted into the Wakefield
High School Hall of Fame (Arlington, Virginia) on
June 12, 2009 and recognized for her career
achievements in victim services and, specifically,
for her impact on domestic violence issues. She
was nominated for the 2011 Gladys Spellman Public
Service Award and received a Certificate of
Recognition Award (2011) from Prince George’s
County Executive, Rushern Baker. Ms. Bune
received a 2011 Official Citation from The
Maryland General Assembly congratulating her for
extraordinary public service on behalf of domestic
violence victims in Prince George’s County and the
cause of justice throughout Maryland. Ms. Bune
appears in the 2013 editions of Marquis’ “Who’s
Who in the World, and Marquis' Who’s Who of
American Women.”
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