'Every Victim--Every Time'

The family of David Rosenbaum was tremendously impacted by this crime. At the time of his death, Mr. Rosenbaum's wife, Virginia, was suffering from colon cancer. Tragically, Mrs. Rosenbaum died six months after her husband's death. His two children and other family members were severely affected by this incident. At the sentencing hearing for Mr. Jordan, Mr. Rosenbaum's son, Daniel, told the judge, "I can't imagine a punishment that would fit this crime."

The newly elected Mayor of the District of Columbia, Adrian F. Fenty (D), acknowledged the systemic failure that occurred prior to his election to office. He stated, "The entire District of Columbia government stands today as a symbol of outrage at the senseless death of David E. Rosenbaum and, in a joint sense, that there has to be accountability for what happened." He also said, "This was a failure of the government, the most tragic kind of failure the government can have."

The family of Mr. Rosenbaum subsequently filed a $20 million lawsuit against the District of Columbia and Howard University Hospital. Their motive was not financial. Instead, it was directed towards reform. The family subsequently dropped the lawsuit and reached a settlement with the city to create a task force to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Rosenbaum's death, with a report to be issued within six months. The Rosenbaum family's desire is to prevent a recurrence of this type of victimization in the future.

The Rosenbaum case illustrates the vital importance of meeting the needs of every victim, every time. The family's efforts echo the words of Robert F. Kennedy,

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope..."